"RichK" wrote in message
...

A bit tricky refrigerator problem. Unit is 12 years old Sears (made by
GE)
top freezer. Symptoms are that it starts and cools for a while, but stops
and does not restart. Compressor quite hot - can hold finger on it for 4
sec. All fans are running. Coils clean.

Sounds like overload, but why is it overloading? How hot should the
compressor case get in normal operation? Could a bad run capacitor cause
that?

Bad cap? Could be. A new one is a cheap test.

N