Before You Call For Service - Kenmore 51271 Owner's Manual

Before You Call for Service
Savetime and money Check this list of causes of minor
operating problems you can correct yourself.
Refrigerator does not operate
o May be in defrost cycle when motor does not operate for
about30 minutes°
• Temperature control in OFF position.
• If interior light is not on, refrigerator may not be plugged
in at wall outlet.
• If plug issecure and refrigerator fails to operate, plug
lamp intosame outlet to determine if there is tripped circuit
breaker or burned out fuse.
Motor operates for long periods
• Modern refrigerators with more storage space and a
larger freezer require more operating time,,
o Normal when refrigerator isfirst delivered to your home--
usually requires 24 hours to completely cool down,
o Largeamounts of food placed in refrigerator to be cooled
or frozen,,
o Hot weather--frequent door openings,
• Door left open,
• Temperaturecontrols set too coldo See page 4,
• Condenserneeds cleaning, Refer to page 13,
• Check ENERGY-SAVING TIPSon page4,
Operating sounds
o The high speed compressor motor required to maintain
near zero temperatures in the large freezer compartment
may producehigher soundlevels than your old refrigerator.
• Normal fan air flow--one fan blowscold air through the
refrigerator and freezer compartments--another fan cools
the compressor motor.
• These NORMALsounds will also be heard from time to time:
o Defrost timer switch clicks at defrost°
• Defrost water dripping.
• Temperature control clicks ON or OFF
• Refrigerant boiling or gurgling,
• Crackingor poppingof cooling coils caused by expansion
and contraction during defrost and refrigeration following
defrost.
• Ice cubes dropping into the bin and water running in pipes
as icemaker refills.
Motor starts & stops frequently
* Temperaturecontrol starts and stopsmotor to maintain
even temperatures_Thisis normal,
Door not closing properly
• Door gasket on hingeside sticking or foldingove_ Tocorrect,
put a small amount of petroleum jelly on face of gasket.
Vibration or rattling
• If refrigerator vibrates, more than likely it is not resting
solidly on the floor. The front roller screws need adiusting,
or floor is weak or unevem Referto page 3_
• If dishesvibrate on shelves,try moving them_Slight
vibration is normal
Foods dry out
• Foodsnot covered, wrapped or sealed properly.
Fresh food or freezer compartment temperature too
warm
• Temperature control not set cold enough° Refer to page 4°
• Warm weather--frequent door openings.
• Package may be holding door open°
Frost or ice crystals on frozen food
• Door may have been left ajar or package holding door
open°
g Toofrequent or too long door openings,
• Frost within package is normal.
Slow ice cube freezing
• Door may have been left ajar.
Set temperature of freezer compartment cotder.
ice cubes have odor/taste
• Old cubes need to be discarded. Empty ice bin every
30 days,
• Ice storage bin needs to be washed.
• Unsealed packages in refrigerator and/or freezer
compartments may be transmitting odor/taste to ice cubes.
• Interior of refrigerator needs cleaning° Refer to page t2,
Automatic icemaker does not work
• tcemaker feeler arm in OFF (up) positiom
• Water supply turned off or not connected_
• Freezer compartment too warm_
• Cubestoo small--water shutoffvalve connecting
refrigerator to home water line may be clogged°
• Sometimescubes fuse 1othe side of the ice mold and hold
the feeler arm in the OFF (up) posltiom Removethis ice to
restart the icemaker_
• Piled up cubes in storage bin may cause icemaker to shut
off prematurely. With icemaker feeler arm in OFF (up)
position, level cubes in bin by hand.
• When leveling cubes by hand, you may have pushed the
feeler arm into the OFF (up) position by mistake_
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