On Mon, 25 Aug 2008 08:26:05 -0400, dgk wrote:


I'm guessing, with no real knowledge, that the compressor went. There
was a burning smell, the fuse blew, and when I ran an extension to the
refrigerator to get that working, smoke came from the big black thing
at the bottom.

That's probably a sea otter. Are you sure the smoke wasn't just
from his cigarette?

So, I'm guessing compressor. Is that likely?

The way you describe it, yes.

If so, a new compressor is around $180, much cheaper than a new
refrig. The parts guy (Sears) says that anyone can replace the
compressor, that I can get a do-it-yourself guide for $15.

I get a lot of my advice from parts guys. I'll never forget the one
who explained that I didn't need a press to get the lug bolts out of
my front wheel hub, or to get them back in, like the shop manual said.
He was 100% right, and saved me much time and money.

But this wone seems to have ignored the need for freon, and the need
to pressurize the system, and probalby the need to evacuate it first.

Is he saying that freon comes included with the compressor?


A new model would be around $600 and a big pain. Is replacing a
compressor so hard?

I'll have to read the other answers to find out.