Newbie needs help

[Gruff]

Hello lads and lasses,
I'm a newbie here so please be gentle!!!!

Let me introduce myself
I'll admit upfront I'm not an RE, in fact I served my time as an Aircraft Technician and then moved into the Rail Industry about 20 yrs ago focussing on pneumatic control systems.

In all walks of life these days, electronic control of just about everything - cars, white goods, etc seems to promote the early and cost-ineffective demise of otherwise perfectly servicable equipment. If its not the control system, its inferior "value engineered" mechanical components. My above Victor Meldrew attitude has been provoked once more by the early demise of my very own fridge freezer 2 days ago. (2 year old Hotpoint FFP187B) with the inconvenience, wrath of my wife and wasted food pressing for a timely resolution :D

Thats where hopefully you guys come in ??!

Symptoms are:
everything defrosted, light works ok, power supply ok, fan working all the time but stops when fridge door opened and resumes when door closed.

I've gathered from other threads on this forum and separate research that possible probs are:
1) faulty circuit board behind the temperature control
2) refrigerant / control circuit fault
3) faulty auto defrost
4) Defective defrost heater
5) Incorrect location of defrost heater on evaporator (n/a on my model?)
6) dead compressor (really?)
7) faulty compressor relay

From the negative things I've read about "modern" Hotpoints these days, I'm trying to decide whether to cut my losses and ditch the whole thing and buy a better brand (?) or persevere and find a relatively cheap fix with your collective help. I just dont want to keep trying new parts which may end up more costly than what I bought the machine for.

If you guys suggest cut and run, then what would you recommend?
I have an AEG dishwasher and AEG washing machine which are 11 yrs and 9 yrs old respectively and have never had a single problem. Is AEG the way to go? or any other recommendations - Bosch, Miele? Anyone selling a 30 year old Frigidaire?!

Thanks in advance for anything you can advise.

Gruff

[Gary]

Should we add to your list of symptoms that the compressor isn't running?

[Iceman1956]

Hi Gruff

The first thing is to check out the compressor ? check out the continuity of the windings, also check for earth leakage. If the compressor has problems then replace the whole fridge it is cheaper in the long run. That said it could just be the relay on the compressor and a simple test unit can be made with a box and a switch with spring return. to simulate the relay.

[paul_h]

Nice intro.
Is it iced up?
Is the compressor running?
Is the compressor trying to run, ie frequent clicks or shakes from the back of the fridge?
Yes I have a 30 y/o frigidaire, and I would sell it to you, but as you can imagine, they're very solid and postage would cost a lot :D
top tip: A 10 yr old cyclic defrost hoover fridge/freezer is just as solid and reliable with the benefit of two exterior doors, I've got one of them too!

[Andy AC]

Hello Gruff, as mentioned before - is it iced up in the freezer compartment? If it is you may get away with changing the probes, which are relatively cheap. However if it still didn't cure the problem, new pcb or defrost heater, which are expensive, especially the board.
I had one of those things a couple of years back, it drove me mad, ended up binning it and got a separate upright fridge and freezer - non frost free, so no problems:p