Thanks everybody for your input on the fridge. It appears to be the
thermostat. I tried unplugging it overnight and then turning on again.
Same symptoms. The thermostat switching mechanism is in a plastic box
screwed to the side of the fridge compartment. So it is subject to any
humidity changes. The sensing bulb is attached to the cooling plate
underside. Since the behavoir didn't change after a 24 hour plus off
period I decided to look inside the box. The box is held to the inside
with one screw and a tab. Just unscrewing the the retaining screw and
swinging the box away from the side started the fridge compressor. Now
it is cooling properly. So either the capillary tube is faulty or the
switch contacts are dirty. I think. Anyway, I will be taking apart the
switch mechanism to see if I can clean the switch contacts. If that
doesn't work I do have a little temp controller that I can set to an
exact temp that I can substitute for the thermostat assembly.
Thanks again for all the reaponses.
Cheers,
Eric