Before You Call For Service - Kenmore Sears refrigerator Owner's Manual

Before You Call for Service
Savetime and money. Check this list of causes of minor
operating problems you can correct yourselL
Refrigerator does not operate
o May be in defrostcycle when motor does not operate for
about 30 minutes°
•Temperature control i n OFF position.
•If interior light i s noton,refrigerator may notbe plugged
in at wall outlet°
• if plug is secure and refrigerator fails to operate, plug a
lamp intosame outlet to determine if there is a 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--
usuaflyrequires 24 hours to completely cool down_
o Largeamountsof food placedin refrigerator to be cooled
or frozen°
• Hot weather--frequent door openings.
o Door left open_
o Temperature controls set too co_doSee page 4.
• Condenser needs cleaning. Refer to page t3o
• Check ENERGY_SAVING T IPSon page 7.
Operating sounds
o The high speed compressor motor required to maintain
near zero temperatures in the large freezer comportment
may produce higher sound levels 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 NORMAL soundswil! also be heard from time to time:
o Defrosttimer switch clicks at defrost.
• Defrostwater dripping.
• Temperature control clicks ON or OFF°
a Refrigerant boilingor 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
o Temperatu re control startsand stopsmotor to maintain
even temperatures. Thisis normal
Door not closing properly
mDoor gasketon hinge side sticking or foldingover. 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 screwsneed adjusting;
or floor isweak or uneven_Referto page 3.
o 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.
• Door left open for long time.
o Packagemay be holding door open,
Frost or ice crystals on frozen food
* Door may have been left ajar or package holding door
open_
oToofrequent or too long door openings°
o Frostwithin package is normal_
Slow ice cube freezing
* Door may have been left ajar.
o Set temperature of freezer compartment colder.
Ice cubes have odor/taste
o Old cubes need to be discarded, Empty ice bin every
30 days.
•lce 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 12o
Automatic icemaker does not work
• lcemaker feeler arm in OFF (up) position.
• Water supplyturned off or not connected°
• Freezer compartment too warm_
• Cubestoo small_water shutoffvalve connecting
refrigerator to home water line may be clogged.
a Sometimes cubes fuse to the side of the ice mold and hold
the feeler arm in the OFF (up) position. Removethis iceto
restart the icemaker.
e 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 pushedthe
feeler arm into the OFF (up) position by mistake.
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