Thanks for the "reminder" on the thermostat... As a "Baby Boomer DIY'er" (total Vietnam Vet geek), I appreciate not having to re-invent the wheel on repairs. And that is accomplished with others, like you, who take the time to share on RUclips. Thanks from SoCal
Good job! It's nice to see someone actually fix something instead of hauling it to the dump. I also will look for a cause when something quits working, it has saved me many dollars over the years.
Wow best mini fridge diagnostic vid. I did what you said and got the compressor to start. After it turned off I turned the thermostat to the right and it turned on again. The fridge is now working. Thank you
Thank you so much! my daughter's Nostalgia Electrics fridge quit cooling after only about 8 weeks of use. They replaced it but the new one did the same when we brought her home for the summer. the compressor runs when hubby turns the thermostat all the way back but it still won't cool. Now we can fix it and not have to be ticked off for spending 250.00 for a "awesome" dorm fridge that doesn't work!
Fixing one of these in five minutes is unusual. Make sure you haven’t totally bypassed the thermostat - like plugging the compressor directly into the mains without a thermostat or locking the thermostat "full on" - or your compressor will run nonstop, freeze everything in the fridge and burn up the compressor. Just thought I would mention that. Please subscribe… it’s important to us convenience savers! :-)
I bought a "Magic Chef" Mini Fridge for $30 bucks, I've had it from almost a year and it's running pretty good. I've always wondered about the compressor and when it go out. I'd rather fix that damn thing than buy another mini fridge when it does crap out. Great Video.
Thank you so much for disecting and explaining the thermostat workings. It is one of the things I have always wanted to know how they work, but never had the time, or a thermostat to work it out. Now when my kids ask how it works I can at least sound quite smart, even though I'm not.. lol Thanks for taking the time to teach an old Aussie something new ATB for your holliday Matt
I picked one of these up as the person was walking away from setting it out at the curb. I found the same part with free shipping for about $3.12 from China. It now runs like new! I reused the white rubber sleeve and I trimmed the end of the temp. knob since the new part was pushing it out too far, not allowing the door to close. Now I'll simply flip it for about $75 on Craigslist!
Good fix Ron. I've found out that defrost clocks and the heaters go bad on the full size refrigerators can be easily replaced. and save you a bundle. Good video Thanks for sharing it.
Excellent. Thanks for sharing. The thought of you searching your shop for a camo beer can is hilarious! I spread coffee cups (and pencils and tape measures and...) through the shop until I run out and then make a sweep to find them all.
I appreciate the video. Especially after I went through the same journey to fix mine. If I bought the thermostat locally at the appliance repair shop it would have been $32.50. Sears, $50. I ended up ordering from Amazon, $3.80 and free shipping from China. Now to wait a month. I should have ordered 50 to resale at a fair price with fast shipping!
I keep band-aids, super glue, adhesives, and other shelf life sensitive materials in the fridge which lengthens their life. A band-aid sitting around in a hot shop, soon no longer wants to stick when you need it. Thanks for watching. Please Subscribe! Ron
Thanks Ron, enjoyed this on Thanksgiving morning. I love fixes like this, a little more work but cost saving and somewhat rewarding on a small scale, and the small things are important as well.
Nice breakdown. Very clear. I'm going to try this today. Now that I know, perhaps I can mitigate the expression of the "tinkle tinkle pop." And adjust the tension screw. A couple of weeks ago I got a new starter and capacitor for $7 on Amazon. It's now working but the fridge only gets down to 50°(f)
i know this is old but thanks man! saved me some money! after watching how it works i just gave the box a little hit with the screw driver and boom fridge fired right up
I would have been very curious to open p the new piece to see how the old one was defective. But for $8 and some down time on beer fridge, it was a great fix! Thanks for sharing. Now back to the organ.
Maybe there is a hole in the bellows assembly. All the small movement over the years could of put a hole in the bellows. Thanks for the video, this looks exactly like the problem that my mini-frig has. I'm going to take out the thermostat and look for a number.
You are the coolest!! I love your videos but it's quite rare to get a laugh from them. This one was quite funny! I have never heard or seen Keystone Ice before. I'm curious now how it tastes... You remind me a lot of myself.... I love taking things apart just to see how they function. Thanks Ron! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Danny Herrera Made by Coors. Comes in 30 can packs so it is easier to carry home. They make Keystone Ice and Keystone Light. I refer to them as "leaded" and "unleaded" and prefer the "leaded". :-)
I had a compressor type dehumidifier that stopped working. Took it apart and found that the start capacitor had melted. $5 for a replacement and the dehumidifier has worked fine for the last two years. Many people would just have thrown it out and bought a new one. I have received vaccuum cleaners for free because they didn't work well or overheated. When I cleaned the washable(!!!) filter they were as good as new.
Just to update on the new replacement part, it's does work and the only modification needed was to make the connectors a little wider with a flat screwdriver to slide over the new prongs.
Glad it worked for you and appreciate the comment. FYI mine ran for another 10 months or so... then the compressor locked up. Unfortunately, these are not made to last very long. Please subscribe. That is what keeps this channel going. Ron
We live in a throwaway society. Has been that way for the better part of two decade or more. I could easily name 50 people who would have thrown that out and got a new one. Naming people who would fix it? Well, that'd be possible on one hand.
One thing i'd do is to remove the coil shelf all together and make it straight. Then i'd mount it against the back. Maximum exposure across the whole height of the box. Tho i don't know if you can remove the coolant safely, so that's the kicker.
aserta They're flimsy pressed alu these days, flattening it out would probably cause stress fractures, but I agree, in theory, if you didn't need a freezer compartment, that layout would be the best
***** I think that pressing the coil in a tub of hot water with something like two sticks that have the ends covered in cloth would alleviate much of the stress. Then, there's also the possibility of getting some copper tubing and making your own coil. The hot water method, i've seen it done on an alu coil that got hit. It works if you're going really, really slow.
Glad you enjoyed it. Look around my channel... you may find something else interesting. Thanks for watching. Please subscribe! That is what keeps this channel going. Ron
I have a black and decker mini fridge like this one. It's a purple mini fridge and it stop cooling also and i kept it for years hoping to have someone fix it everyone one tells me to throw it away. The fans turn on and all it just doesn't cool. I search to see how much to buy another one and it's close to $200. I was so happy to see this video. I going to try to see if i may fix it my self. Any extra pointers. let me know. thank you so much for this video.
+puertoricanqueena Sounds like it has been around for a while. Mine didn't have a fan. Obviously if I haven't seen it I have no idea what it is. So that means you are on your own and up for experimentation. Good luck. Experimentation can be fun.
Your B&D mini fridge could be a model which is thermoelectric rather than using a compressor, which explains why your fridge uses a fan; airflow is needed to keep the hot end of the thermoelectric junction cool. As for finding a replacement mini fridge, you may want to consider buying used. Sometimes, people will sell these things for real cheap.
May I have a question: Does the Whirlpool 4.3 cu ft Mini Refrigerator have a fan somewhere in it? If it does, where is the fan located? Thank you for the answer.
Sorry, I am not familiar with the Whirlpool 4.3 Cu Ft mini refrigerator. Generally these small refrigerators do not have exposed coils or fans. If there was a cooling fan you would be able to locate the coil (possibly by removing the rear panel covering the motor) and such a coil would be full of lint and hair and the coil and the fan would require occasional cleaning. The small refrigerator compressors short-cycle (on/off many times per day) and the coils are buried inside the body of the refrigerator and do not require a fan. Thanks for watching!
@@RonaldWalters2010 Thank you for the reply. The bottom portion of the rear panel is open for about 9" high. I see the compressor with a bunch of wire and small copper pipe, but there is no fan in that opening area.
Did removing the freezer compartment door make the fridge run cooler/more efficiently? We never use the freezer so why not make it run better by giving it more surface area.
I think it must help to leave the door off. I ended up putting my door back on because I wanted to store some epoxy in there. Then a year or so later the compressor locked up and that was the end of this particular mini-fridge.
do you have to buy an exact type of overload protector or are they mostly compatable? Ive searched everywhere for the exact one in my fridge and its not for sale.
my mini fridge starts cracking. is that normal? it's brand new & i recently let the ice inside the little freezer melt away so it shouldn't be cracking anymore but it still is more then before.
I have an Igloo mini fridge that is probably 8-10 years old. Compressor comes on and runs when plugged in but doesn't cool. I tried using your "hard contact" test with the Thermostat but the compressor doesn't engage. It only engages and runs when the Thermostat is turned to come off hard contact and turned to one of the coolness settings. Is this a Freon problem?
Can't really say for sure... but generally, if you can hear the compressor running and it does not cool, it has probably worn out and lost Freon. With it lasting 8-10 years you have had, what I would call, a long run with one of these small units. Thanks for watching. Please Subscribe.
Can you possibly tell me what wires have to connect to what to make this compressor power on ? I received the refrigerator second handed and was told that the compressor woks its just out of freon. They were upgrading and gave me this one but its wires are hacked all to heck and back. I have the plug which appears to have a Green, White, and Black wire coming out of the plug. Then there is another plug type that I assume was connected to the Temperature control switch that you replaced. It also appears to have a Green, White, & Black wire coming out of it. There is also a short Green wire that is attached to a bracket on the compressor with a metal circle connector on each end of the wire. The one end is connected to a screw on the bracket and the other end of the wire is just hanging. Can you please tell me which wires connect to what ? On the Temperature control switch thats connected to the one plug type wire, the end of the plug that connects the wires to the back of the temp control switch, the white wire is connected to bottom terminal. The Black wire is cut but a connector is attached to the top left terminal and the green wire is just hanging. On the other end of the temp control switch plug, the Black wire is connected to the bottom terminal by a connector, the White wire is connected to the Black wire of the plug, and the Green wire has a circle connector on it but is just hanging. In the plug wire the Green wire has a circle connector on it but is just hanging, the White wire is connected to a terminal on top, the Black wire is connected to the white wire of the Temp control switch plug. If you can help me and need additional information or even some photos of the contraption I have lol, please send me a email address or phone number I can text the photos to and Ill be more then happy to get this info you need to you that you can hopefully get me fixed up and this compressor running ASAP. Once I get the compressor running, Im going to be using the compressor to convert to a vacuum pump to power a Vacuum Chamber to degas Silicone to make Silicone molds to cast resin scale model parts. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me. Its greatly appreciated. God Bless, and you have a super weekend.
I am not about to try to outguess which of your wires is which. Find a friend who knows something about electricity to help you. Small sealed compressors probably will not last all that long when run as a compressor or vacuum pump. When they run low on oil they seize up. You would be way ahead of the game to obtain a proper vacuum pump for your vacuum chamber.
I have the exact same fridge but cannot locate the part. Frigidaire also says they do not have replacement parts for it. Where did you find this control thermostat? I looked on ebay, amazon, and other sites on google. Im about to try WPF20 with the same voltage and amps.
Arturo Velazquez I don't see the WPF21 at this time. Sometimes you just need to take a chance. Just looking at it, the WPF20 looks the same except there is no plastic on the probe. One is listed on eBay for $4.63 free shipping from Hong Kong. You do not know what the temperature range is for the WPF20, but I would try it. Gently remove the plastic cover from your probe and slide it over the new one. Be very careful not to kink the probe as you unwind and bend it into shape. Or, you can try sending some of the sellers on eBay a message and ask if they have a WPF21. Communication with Hong Kong or China can be difficult. But first - Have you tested the compressor to make sure it is working? If the WPF20 works for you please post your results here so others will know.
Arturo Velazquez Have you tried the WPF20 in your mini fridge? Please advise the results. Others are asking since the WPF21 doesn't appear to be available any longer. Thanks! Ron
I was defrosting my mini fridge with a Heatgun and tapped the ice with a butter knife and all of a sudden I heard a loud hissing sound that lasted about one minute. No signs of physical damage inside the fridge but now it won't get cold. It still turns on and the fan runs but hours later everything's still room temperature. Did I break it?
The heat gun or hair dryer thing is a bad idea... let the ice melt naturally with the door open. Very easy to poke a hole in the aluminum. No scrapers of any kind. Let the ice melt naturally. The hissing was gas escaping. Consider it dead. Next destination is the scrap heap.
Garth Griswold I don’t know what that part number is... I don't find it anywhere. Check out the comments by Arturo Velazquez regarding WPF20 which apparently worked for him.
I am having a similar problem with my "Black and Decker" mini fridge. I can hear the fridge click on occasion, as if it is going to start up. However, the motor does not start up to make the fridge cold. Therefore, I believe the thermostat works fine but I do not know what the issue is. What do you think is the issue and can I fix it myself or is a professional needed?
If you hear it clicking on/off and it isn't starting, the compressor is seized. These things are not meant to last very long nor be repaired. Basically, give it the last rites and go buy another. Personally, I wouldn't buy a "Black and Decker" anything.
Hi, If the thermostat is faulty, would I still hear the start relay clicking ? or it should stop clicking as well in case of faulty Thermostat ? Thanks.
If the thermostat has failed (with contacts open) the motor cannot receive any power so it would not be making any noise. The starting relay clicking on and off usually indicates the compressor has seized and the show is over.
@@RonaldWalters2010 Thanks a lot for your reply. In my case there is no clicking whatsoever, even from the Start relay or Compressor. The Thermostat does not click either. Would that be a faulty Thermostat you think ?
You're pretty much on your own at this point. The thermostat is fairly quiet... when it clicks, the motor would simultaneously be trying to start, so I doubt you could differentiate between the clicks. :-) As stated in the video (I think) you could try bypassing the thermostat and run power directly to the compressor. If the compressor starts then the thermostat is probably bad. Good Luck... be careful. If you don't know what you are doing with electricity get someone who does to help you.
@@rafikbatroussy1250 pull the starter relay off and shake it, if it makes noise it is bad. you can also take a multimeter to the prongs on your power cord. If you have continuity then your thermostat is working, if you don't then it is malfunctioning.
What would you suggest to try for fixing my Haier mini fridge? I was watching tv one night and it blew a huge blue spark out the back where the fan is, that was the end of it.
Don't think it has a fan, just a compressor. Look to see if there is a junction box near the compressor. Possibly something vibrated loose. Otherwise, junk time.
Well thanks for the response! There's definitely a fan in the back, it has the grated opening and I can see the fan inside. I'll bust her open and poke around though i'm not savy with this stuff. Thanks again for the response.
So, I have one of these, or similar at least, with thermostat in the back (black one, close to compressor). It's working, it's cooling, but it's incredibly "loud", not in a sense that it's loud loud, but the "air sound" that can be heard on every fridge when it starts cooling gets louder than normal and never goes away. I feel like there's a scuba diver in my room every time a fridge works. Is my compressor about to go, is my thermostat faulty or is something else broken? Any advice would be helpful. If I have to get a new fridge, I have to get a new fridge. I'm using this one for now, since like I said, it still cools, though the freezing part (as in, the top shelf) melts too fast and water keeps driping on my food, which is not good at all.
If it is still turning on/off the thermostat is still working. These things just don't last like the old ones used to. My mini-fridge (the one in this video) lasted another 1-1/2 years after I replaced the thermostat and then the compressor locked up (without any warning or noise) and that was the end of that. Getting older and noisy probably means things are wearing out. The gurgling gas noise you usually hear when a unit first starts... if that never goes away and the "freezer" plate isn't getting as cold as it used to probably indicates it is slowly losing refrigerant. They are not worth having anyone work on them and they are not made to be serviced. A low profile drip pan under the freezer with a hand towel in it will help with that drip thing. You can bet it is going to die eventually (safe bet) and then decide if you want it to quit first and have all your food get hot while you go look for another one... of go look for a new one now and possibly find one on sale before you need it.
So it's dying. Oh well, a new one it is. Yes, gurgling sound (It feels like air going through a tunnel) never goes away while cooling is in progress. Light drip from under the freezer is not an issue since I keep my food in containers so it doesn't get soaked, more of an annoyance than anything else. And it's really light drip. Freezer unit gets completely frozen after cooling is done and it's only before the new "cycle of cooling" starts that it starts to melt and drip. Thanks a million for the response and the advice.
So you turned the thermostat nob more than normal and the fridge kicked on..so you know it was a thermostat problem can I leave the fridge on like that in stread of replacing thermostst? without it exploding or anything. Or overheating.
In that position the compressor/motor will run continuously and will probably eventually freeze everything inside the fridge. Since these units really are not intended to run like that, it will probably lead to compressor/motor failure. If you are experiencing the same problem with the thermostat like I did, you should replace the thermostat. With a new thermostat my mini fridge lasted another 1-1/2 years and then the compressor/motor failed. So... these things are not going to last forever... designed obsolescence.
So my fridge was so cold that the thing where it makes things cold I bust in with a flathead screwdriver by accident trying to break the ice off it, will my fridge still work or don't use it sir?????
If it still gets cold, go ahead and use it. Unplug it and leave the door open to defrost and don't use anything to pry the ice off. Let it melt naturally. Dry the inside with a towel and plug it in again.
@@RonaldWalters2010 I was trying to scrap the ice of and accidentally poke a whole through the soft steel that's on the top left corner, are you sure it's ok to use I didn't plug it in yet?
I thought you just broke off the freezer compartment. If the gas did not leak out, it may still work. But if you poked a hole in it, I would expect the gas did leak out and it would have made a hissing sound. If the gas leaked out when you poked a hole in it, then it is dead... time to throw it away.
hi i have similar fridge to yours mini lg with the same little freezer section, it just stopped working 1 day and now only works on full/maximum setting (number 10) i normally have it on 3-4 is this same problem with yours im based in uk so dont think i have expertise to fix it
For most of these mini-fridge's the only part that gets cold is the freezer. It is the freezer getting cold which cools the rest of the compartment. There are no other cooling coils in the unit. This is why these turn on and off (short-cycle) so often. If you place a large amount of warm stuff in there (like a case of beer) it will take quite a while for it all to become cold (24 hours of longer) but eventually it should get there. If the unit is running and cycling on and off, try setting the thermostat a bit colder and wait longer. Otherwise, if you can return it, you could try another one.
stored my little mini fridge in a building when I pulled it out it will not work I broke the ground prung on plug off of the plug does it need the ground plug prong to work
With reference to the video... if you can SAFELY connect the blue & black wires located at the thermostat together and tape them so they are properly insulated (my wires were blue & black, yours may be different colors) and temporarily plug the unit in... if it runs then the thermostat is bad. Having been in a barn could be key to the problem. These things are not made to last and they don't seem to like being in storage for long periods. Or a mouse could have gotten into the compressor section and chewed the insulation off of a wire or something similar. Mice and squirrels love to eat on wires. Open up the back and see if the wiring all looks good. Inspect the power cord as well. If none of that proves successful it is probably dead and time to buy another expendable mini-fridge. They are not repairable. Thanks for watching. Please Subscribe… that is what keeps this channel available.
Shown in this video is the changing of the temperature control (switch). It is for you to determine if it is the same thing, since I have no idea what fridge you have.
Turn the screw CCW while you have a multimeter on the terminals, mine would only turn on by tapping it,,, now I don't have to tap it anymore. If not you will eventually have the same problem,,,and another $7.48.
Most mini fridges are cooled by the so-called "freezer section". The freezer section itself is a joke and usually won't freeze much (if anything). Be happy you are happy with the cold contents of the remainder of the fridge.
i am but im just confused it used to freeze things no problem and then one day i restocked it with some popsicles and ice cream bars and they just melted
![Refrigerator Not Cooling - How to Fix - What to Check [2020]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ocOW2GYxdTE/mqdefault.jpg)
![Refrigerator Not Cooling - How to Fix - What to Check [2020]](/img/tr.png)
![Chlöe - Shake (Feat. Jeremih) [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/aDs_1ufpfv8/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for the "reminder" on the thermostat... As a "Baby Boomer DIY'er" (total Vietnam Vet geek), I appreciate not having to re-invent the wheel on repairs. And that is accomplished with others, like you, who take the time to share on RUclips. Thanks from SoCal
Good job! It's nice to see someone actually fix something instead of hauling it to the dump. I also will look for a cause when something quits working, it has saved me many dollars over the years.
Wow best mini fridge diagnostic vid. I did what you said and got the compressor to start. After it turned off I turned the thermostat to the right and it turned on again. The fridge is now working. Thank you
Thank you so much! my daughter's Nostalgia Electrics fridge quit cooling after only about 8 weeks of use. They replaced it but the new one did the same when we brought her home for the summer. the compressor runs when hubby turns the thermostat all the way back but it still won't cool. Now we can fix it and not have to be ticked off for spending 250.00 for a "awesome" dorm fridge that doesn't work!
Thanks Ronald. After just five minutes with my fridge I got it working again. You're a life - well, convenience - saver!
Fixing one of these in five minutes is unusual. Make sure you haven’t totally bypassed the thermostat - like plugging the compressor directly into the mains without a thermostat or locking the thermostat "full on" - or your compressor will run nonstop, freeze everything in the fridge and burn up the compressor. Just thought I would mention that. Please subscribe… it’s important to us convenience savers! :-)
I bought a "Magic Chef" Mini Fridge for $30 bucks, I've had it from almost a year and it's running pretty good. I've always wondered about the compressor and when it go out. I'd rather fix that damn thing than buy another mini fridge when it does crap out. Great Video.
I have heard "sproing, tinkle-tinkle,plop" too often...Great video Mr Walters
Thank you so much for disecting and explaining the thermostat workings.
It is one of the things I have always wanted to know how they work, but never had the time, or a thermostat to work it out. Now when my kids ask how it works I can at least sound quite smart, even though I'm not.. lol
Thanks for taking the time to teach an old Aussie something new
ATB for your holliday
Matt
Same here. I had always assumed that the thermostat was some electronic thingy.
I picked one of these up as the person was walking away from setting it out at the curb. I found the same part with free shipping for about $3.12 from China. It now runs like new! I reused the white rubber sleeve and I trimmed the end of the temp. knob since the new part was pushing it out too far, not allowing the door to close. Now I'll simply flip it for about $75 on Craigslist!
5 Years later *yourvideo* and this did the trick. After laying around for a year as storage fridge for paperwork I can have a cold again. Thanks
Awesome tutorial! I got my beer fridge in my garage working again. My part set me back a whopping $9.31. Time to enjoy a cold beer!
Good fix Ron. I've found out that defrost clocks and the heaters go bad on the full size refrigerators can be easily replaced. and save you a bundle. Good video Thanks for sharing it.
Excellent. Thanks for sharing. The thought of you searching your shop for a camo beer can is hilarious! I spread coffee cups (and pencils and tape measures and...) through the shop until I run out and then make a sweep to find them all.
I have seen a lot of DIY/Help videos, and this is the best on so many levels. Kudos! I can't wait to check out the rest.
Thank you. Your comment is much appreciated. Thank you for subscribing! Ron
Thanks for your video. I'm a truck driver and my refrigerator is weak. I can repair auto a/c so a fridge shouldn't be too hard.
I appreciate the video. Especially after I went through the same journey to fix mine. If I bought the thermostat locally at the appliance repair shop it would have been $32.50. Sears, $50. I ended up ordering from Amazon, $3.80 and free shipping from China. Now to wait a month. I should have ordered 50 to resale at a fair price with fast shipping!
Your practicality and knowledge are awesome Ron - Thanks for the insight!
You are the first person I ever heard of who keeps the Band-Aids in the fridge.
I keep band-aids, super glue, adhesives, and other shelf life sensitive materials in the fridge which lengthens their life. A band-aid sitting around in a hot shop, soon no longer wants to stick when you need it. Thanks for watching. Please Subscribe! Ron
Damn Ron, I never took you for a man who casually drinks Keystone Ice. Haha!
Hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Best repair video ever.
Thanks Ron, enjoyed this on Thanksgiving morning. I love fixes like this, a little more work but cost saving and somewhat rewarding on a small scale, and the small things are important as well.
Thank you so much! This video got my mini fridge I brought to college to work!
Glad I could help!
Please subscribe!
That is what keeps this channel going.
Ron
Haha, great ending. I love finding out why things broke and fixing them for cheap. Good video.
Fantastic! You solved my problem many thanks and cheers !
Nice breakdown. Very clear.
I'm going to try this today.
Now that I know, perhaps I can mitigate the expression of the "tinkle tinkle pop." And adjust the tension screw.
A couple of weeks ago I got a new starter and capacitor for $7 on Amazon.
It's now working but the fridge only gets down to 50°(f)
i know this is old but thanks man! saved me some money! after watching how it works i just gave the box a little hit with the screw driver and boom fridge fired right up
I would have been very curious to open p the new piece to see how the old one was defective. But for $8 and some down time on beer fridge, it was a great fix! Thanks for sharing. Now back to the organ.
Maybe there is a hole in the bellows assembly. All the small movement over the years could of put a hole in the bellows. Thanks for the video, this looks exactly like the problem that my mini-frig has. I'm going to take out the thermostat and look for a number.
You are the coolest!! I love your videos but it's quite rare to get a laugh from them. This one was quite funny! I have never heard or seen Keystone Ice before. I'm curious now how it tastes... You remind me a lot of myself.... I love taking things apart just to see how they function. Thanks Ron! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Danny Herrera Made by Coors. Comes in 30 can packs so it is easier to carry home. They make Keystone Ice and Keystone Light. I refer to them as "leaded" and "unleaded" and prefer the "leaded". :-)
Ronald Walters Oh yes... and the cans are smaller diameter and taller so you can get more of them on a shelf.
Ronald Walters Danny Herrera "Keystone" and "Kerosene" have many of the same letters......anyhoo great video Ron, keep them coming!
Not only did I learn something new, but the comment about the camo cans had my dying 😂
I have one of them thermostats , I kept it from one that the compressor got hot and died .. I keep my beer in one as well !! Good fix man !!
I had a compressor type dehumidifier that stopped working. Took it apart and found that the start capacitor had melted. $5 for a replacement and the dehumidifier has worked fine for the last two years. Many people would just have thrown it out and bought a new one. I have received vaccuum cleaners for free because they didn't work well or overheated. When I cleaned the washable(!!!) filter they were as good as new.
this was by far the coolest video I have ever seen on You Tube. Thanks old man. you rock!
Interesting and very funny, too! Thanks and happy thanksgiving, Ron!
Great Job bro!!! I appreciate you, if no one told you that in 2018!!!!
Just to update on the new replacement part, it's does work and the only modification needed was to make the connectors a little wider with a flat screwdriver to slide over the new prongs.
Great tutorial! You need some hunters orange koozies for those camo beers so you can find them more easily. Ha!
Great video, Ron! I have used it twice. Here's to you with a Genesee Cream Ale, a prince among beers!
Great! Thanks for telling me it worked for you. Please subscribe! Ron
Im glad Santa got his beer fridge working or the elfs would have had a grumpy santa to deal with
This is true. An unhappy Santa is not good. :-)
Thanks for watching! Please subscribe.
That is what keeps this channel running.
Ron
Very nice presentation, Ron. I hope my problem turns out to be the same as yours.
Nicely done as always! Happy Thanksgiving Ron!
Awesome video I was able to fix mine because of your video so thank you. Also the ending was very funny.
Glad it worked for you and appreciate the comment. FYI mine ran for another 10 months or so... then the compressor locked up. Unfortunately, these are not made to last very long. Please subscribe. That is what keeps this channel going. Ron
We live in a throwaway society. Has been that way for the better part of two decade or more. I could easily name 50 people who would have thrown that out and got a new one. Naming people who would fix it? Well, that'd be possible on one hand.
You must Ron Swanson's father
Very nicely presented Sir! Thank you for an excellent video! :)
Fantastic! Thank you for posting. Made me laugh at the end. You are so cute!
Very helpful. I really enjoyed your video. Even had a couple laughs! Thanks so much
Very informative in a pleasing style, definitely have my sub and saved me a bunch of money
Thanks for the great Video. Now I know how to go about fixing mine. I haven't had Keystone Ice in YEARS..... Think I'll get some tonight.
What can? I didn't see a can. Happy Thanksgiving!
Ha! Funny! ( can't find the camouflage cans)
Useful... Now I can fix that fridge on my back porch!
Thank you Ron
I enjoy your tutorial very much
great job
Camouflage Cans, very funny. lol. good stuff!
Thank you so much for this video, Ronald!
One thing i'd do is to remove the coil shelf all together and make it straight. Then i'd mount it against the back. Maximum exposure across the whole height of the box. Tho i don't know if you can remove the coolant safely, so that's the kicker.
aserta They're flimsy pressed alu these days, flattening it out would probably cause stress fractures, but I agree, in theory, if you didn't need a freezer compartment, that layout would be the best
***** I think that pressing the coil in a tub of hot water with something like two sticks that have the ends covered in cloth would alleviate much of the stress. Then, there's also the possibility of getting some copper tubing and making your own coil.
The hot water method, i've seen it done on an alu coil that got hit. It works if you're going really, really slow.
Good for you, grandpa.
Keystone Ice Brother! you got good taste! Thats all i drink Cheers!
smooth like keith stone...
Damn ron you sound like ron Swanson from parks and recreation lol
No... Ron Swanson sounds like me!
Enjoyed your video.
Glad you enjoyed it. Look around my channel... you may find something else interesting.
Thanks for watching. Please subscribe!
That is what keeps this channel going.
Ron
well done buddy!!
very informative vid. Ty for your time
Fixed! Thanks for the Vid!
I have a black and decker mini fridge like this one. It's a purple mini fridge and it stop cooling also and i kept it for years hoping to have someone fix it everyone one tells me to throw it away. The fans turn on and all it just doesn't cool. I search to see how much to buy another one and it's close to $200. I was so happy to see this video. I going to try to see if i may fix it my self. Any extra pointers. let me know. thank you so much for this video.
+puertoricanqueena Sounds like it has been around for a while. Mine didn't have a fan. Obviously if I haven't seen it I have no idea what it is. So that means you are on your own and up for experimentation. Good luck. Experimentation can be fun.
Your B&D mini fridge could be a model which is thermoelectric rather than using a compressor, which explains why your fridge uses a fan; airflow is needed to keep the hot end of the thermoelectric junction cool.
As for finding a replacement mini fridge, you may want to consider buying used. Sometimes, people will sell these things for real cheap.
Great tutorial man! Thanks alot
May I have a question: Does the Whirlpool 4.3 cu ft Mini Refrigerator have a fan somewhere in it? If it does, where is the fan located? Thank you for the answer.
Sorry, I am not familiar with the Whirlpool 4.3 Cu Ft mini refrigerator.
Generally these small refrigerators do not have exposed coils or fans. If there was a cooling fan you would be able to locate the coil (possibly by removing the rear panel covering the motor) and such a coil would be full of lint and hair and the coil and the fan would require occasional cleaning.
The small refrigerator compressors short-cycle (on/off many times per day) and the coils are buried inside the body of the refrigerator and do not require a fan.
Thanks for watching!
@@RonaldWalters2010 Thank you for the reply. The bottom portion of the rear panel is open for about 9" high. I see the compressor with a bunch of wire and small copper pipe, but there is no fan in that opening area.
lol informative an humorous new subscriber right here
Did removing the freezer compartment door make the fridge run cooler/more efficiently? We never use the freezer so why not make it run better by giving it more surface area.
I think it must help to leave the door off. I ended up putting my door back on because I wanted to store some epoxy in there. Then a year or so later the compressor locked up and that was the end of this particular mini-fridge.
do you have to buy an exact type of overload protector or are they mostly compatable? Ive searched everywhere for the exact one in my fridge and its not for sale.
Sorry, I have not worked on one.
my mini fridge starts cracking. is that normal? it's brand new & i recently let the ice inside the little freezer melt away so it shouldn't be cracking anymore but it still is more then before.
Great video!
I have an Igloo mini fridge that is probably 8-10 years old. Compressor comes on and runs when plugged in but doesn't cool. I tried using your "hard contact" test with the Thermostat but the compressor doesn't engage. It only engages and runs when the Thermostat is turned to come off hard contact and turned to one of the coolness settings. Is this a Freon problem?
Can't really say for sure... but generally, if you can hear the compressor running and it does not cool, it has probably worn out and lost Freon. With it lasting 8-10 years you have had, what I would call, a long run with one of these small units. Thanks for watching. Please Subscribe.
Can you possibly tell me what wires have to connect to what to make this compressor power on ? I received the refrigerator second handed and was told that the compressor woks its just out of freon. They were upgrading and gave me this one but its wires are hacked all to heck and back. I have the plug which appears to have a Green, White, and Black wire coming out of the plug. Then there is another plug type that I assume was connected to the Temperature control switch that you replaced. It also appears to have a Green, White, & Black wire coming out of it. There is also a short Green wire that is attached to a bracket on the compressor with a metal circle connector on each end of the wire. The one end is connected to a screw on the bracket and the other end of the wire is just hanging. Can you please tell me which wires connect to what ? On the Temperature control switch thats connected to the one plug type wire, the end of the plug that connects the wires to the back of the temp control switch, the white wire is connected to bottom terminal. The Black wire is cut but a connector is attached to the top left terminal and the green wire is just hanging. On the other end of the temp control switch plug, the Black wire is connected to the bottom terminal by a connector, the White wire is connected to the Black wire of the plug, and the Green wire has a circle connector on it but is just hanging. In the plug wire the Green wire has a circle connector on it but is just hanging, the White wire is connected to a terminal on top, the Black wire is connected to the white wire of the Temp control switch plug. If you can help me and need additional information or even some photos of the contraption I have lol, please send me a email address or phone number I can text the photos to and Ill be more then happy to get this info you need to you that you can hopefully get me fixed up and this compressor running ASAP. Once I get the compressor running, Im going to be using the compressor to convert to a vacuum pump to power a Vacuum Chamber to degas Silicone to make Silicone molds to cast resin scale model parts. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me. Its greatly appreciated. God Bless, and you have a super weekend.
I am not about to try to outguess which of your wires is which. Find a friend who knows something about electricity to help you. Small sealed compressors probably will not last all that long when run as a compressor or vacuum pump. When they run low on oil they seize up. You would be way ahead of the game to obtain a proper vacuum pump for your vacuum chamber.
I have the exact same fridge but cannot locate the part. Frigidaire also says they do not have replacement parts for it. Where did you find this control thermostat? I looked on ebay, amazon, and other sites on google. Im about to try WPF20 with the same voltage and amps.
Arturo Velazquez I don't see the WPF21 at this time. Sometimes you just need to take a chance. Just looking at it, the WPF20 looks the same except there is no plastic on the probe. One is listed on eBay for $4.63 free shipping from Hong Kong. You do not know what the temperature range is for the WPF20, but I would try it. Gently remove the plastic cover from your probe and slide it over the new one. Be very careful not to kink the probe as you unwind and bend it into shape. Or, you can try sending some of the sellers on eBay a message and ask if they have a WPF21. Communication with Hong Kong or China can be difficult. But first - Have you tested the compressor to make sure it is working? If the WPF20 works for you please post your results here so others will know.
Already have the part in my hand thinking the wpf21 was easy to find. I'll order the wpf20 and keep yall posted.
Arturo Velazquez Have you tried the WPF20 in your mini fridge? Please advise the results. Others are asking since the WPF21 doesn't appear to be available any longer. Thanks! Ron
I was defrosting my mini fridge with a Heatgun and tapped the ice with a butter knife and all of a sudden I heard a loud hissing sound that lasted about one minute. No signs of physical damage inside the fridge but now it won't get cold. It still turns on and the fan runs but hours later everything's still room temperature. Did I break it?
The heat gun or hair dryer thing is a bad idea... let the ice melt naturally with the door open. Very easy to poke a hole in the aluminum. No scrapers of any kind. Let the ice melt naturally. The hissing was gas escaping. Consider it dead. Next destination is the scrap heap.
Can't find the thermostat part number on mine on amazon wasn't any. WKF7U is the closets to your numbers. any thoughts?
Garth Griswold I don’t know what that part number is... I don't find it anywhere. Check out the comments by Arturo Velazquez regarding WPF20 which apparently worked for him.
Great Thanks
I am having a similar problem with my "Black and Decker" mini fridge. I can hear the fridge click on occasion, as if it is going to start up. However, the motor does not start up to make the fridge cold. Therefore, I believe the thermostat works fine but I do not know what the issue is. What do you think is the issue and can I fix it myself or is a professional needed?
If you hear it clicking on/off and it isn't starting, the compressor is seized. These things are not meant to last very long nor be repaired. Basically, give it the last rites and go buy another. Personally, I wouldn't buy a "Black and Decker" anything.
OK. Thank you. I definitely will not be buying Black and Decker again.
Hi, If the thermostat is faulty, would I still hear the start relay clicking ? or it should stop clicking as well in case of faulty Thermostat ? Thanks.
If the thermostat has failed (with contacts open) the motor cannot receive any power so it would not be making any noise. The starting relay clicking on and off usually indicates the compressor has seized and the show is over.
@@RonaldWalters2010 Thanks a lot for your reply. In my case there is no clicking whatsoever, even from the Start relay or Compressor. The Thermostat does not click either. Would that be a faulty Thermostat you think ?
You're pretty much on your own at this point. The thermostat is fairly quiet... when it clicks, the motor would simultaneously be trying to start, so I doubt you could differentiate between the clicks. :-) As stated in the video (I think) you could try bypassing the thermostat and run power directly to the compressor. If the compressor starts then the thermostat is probably bad. Good Luck... be careful. If you don't know what you are doing with electricity get someone who does to help you.
@@RonaldWalters2010 Thanks a lot .. Much appreciated
@@rafikbatroussy1250 pull the starter relay off and shake it, if it makes noise it is bad. you can also take a multimeter to the prongs on your power cord. If you have continuity then your thermostat is working, if you don't then it is malfunctioning.
What would you suggest to try for fixing my Haier mini fridge? I was watching tv one night and it blew a huge blue spark out the back where the fan is, that was the end of it.
Don't think it has a fan, just a compressor. Look to see if there is a junction box near the compressor. Possibly something vibrated loose. Otherwise, junk time.
Well thanks for the response! There's definitely a fan in the back, it has the grated opening and I can see the fan inside. I'll bust her open and poke around though i'm not savy with this stuff. Thanks again for the response.
So, I have one of these, or similar at least, with thermostat in the back (black one, close to compressor).
It's working, it's cooling, but it's incredibly "loud", not in a sense that it's loud loud, but the "air sound" that can be heard on every fridge when it starts cooling gets louder than normal and never goes away. I feel like there's a scuba diver in my room every time a fridge works.
Is my compressor about to go, is my thermostat faulty or is something else broken? Any advice would be helpful. If I have to get a new fridge, I have to get a new fridge. I'm using this one for now, since like I said, it still cools, though the freezing part (as in, the top shelf) melts too fast and water keeps driping on my food, which is not good at all.
If it is still turning on/off the thermostat is still working. These things just don't last like the old ones used to. My mini-fridge (the one in this video) lasted another 1-1/2 years after I replaced the thermostat and then the compressor locked up (without any warning or noise) and that was the end of that. Getting older and noisy probably means things are wearing out. The gurgling gas noise you usually hear when a unit first starts... if that never goes away and the "freezer" plate isn't getting as cold as it used to probably indicates it is slowly losing refrigerant. They are not worth having anyone work on them and they are not made to be serviced. A low profile drip pan under the freezer with a hand towel in it will help with that drip thing. You can bet it is going to die eventually (safe bet) and then decide if you want it to quit first and have all your food get hot while you go look for another one... of go look for a new one now and possibly find one on sale before you need it.
So it's dying. Oh well, a new one it is. Yes, gurgling sound (It feels like air going through a tunnel) never goes away while cooling is in progress.
Light drip from under the freezer is not an issue since I keep my food in containers so it doesn't get soaked, more of an annoyance than anything else. And it's really light drip. Freezer unit gets completely frozen after cooling is done and it's only before the new "cycle of cooling" starts that it starts to melt and drip.
Thanks a million for the response and the advice.
"Names Keith.. Keith Stone ! 0.o ! "
Thank you!
Your a savior
There is no such thing as "cold" there is only the absence of heat.
😂😂😂 the camafloudge cans...
Well... At least I know it's NOT my thermostat. 🍻
can i leave it on the way you tested it. or do I have to replace it
I don't understand your question. Please ask it again.
So you turned the thermostat nob more than normal and the fridge kicked on..so you know it was a thermostat problem can I leave the fridge on like that in stread of replacing thermostst? without it exploding or anything. Or overheating.
In that position the compressor/motor will run continuously and will probably eventually freeze everything inside the fridge. Since these units really are not intended to run like that, it will probably lead to compressor/motor failure. If you are experiencing the same problem with the thermostat like I did, you should replace the thermostat. With a new thermostat my mini fridge lasted another 1-1/2 years and then the compressor/motor failed. So... these things are not going to last forever... designed obsolescence.
thank you
So my fridge was so cold that the thing where it makes things cold I bust in with a flathead screwdriver by accident trying to break the ice off it, will my fridge still work or don't use it sir?????
If it still gets cold, go ahead and use it. Unplug it and leave the door open to defrost and don't use anything to pry the ice off. Let it melt naturally. Dry the inside with a towel and plug it in again.
@@RonaldWalters2010 I was trying to scrap the ice of and accidentally poke a whole through the soft steel that's on the top left corner, are you sure it's ok to use I didn't plug it in yet?
I thought you just broke off the freezer compartment. If the gas did not leak out, it may still work. But if you poked a hole in it, I would expect the gas did leak out and it would have made a hissing sound. If the gas leaked out when you poked a hole in it, then it is dead... time to throw it away.
@@RonaldWalters2010 no it made a hissing sound and I was wondering what I hit but thanks you answer my question sir
hi i have similar fridge to yours mini lg with the same little freezer section, it just stopped working 1 day and now only works on full/maximum setting (number 10) i normally have it on 3-4 is this same problem with yours im based in uk so dont think i have expertise to fix it
+Ronniedasmoker Yes, with mine, when turning to Max Position it would force the contacts to close and the motor would run.
I have a mini fridge. The white hose that runs into the “freezer” popped out. Idk what to do?
Mine does not have anything like that. Possibly a drain hose for when you defrost the freezer. Pop it back in (on).
I bought a mini fridge ,the freezer worked but the bottom refrigerator part was not cooling after so hopefully I can do the same to fix mine
For most of these mini-fridge's the only part that gets cold is the freezer. It is the freezer getting cold which cools the rest of the compartment. There are no other cooling coils in the unit. This is why these turn on and off (short-cycle) so often. If you place a large amount of warm stuff in there (like a case of beer) it will take quite a while for it all to become cold (24 hours of longer) but eventually it should get there. If the unit is running and cycling on and off, try setting the thermostat a bit colder and wait longer. Otherwise, if you can return it, you could try another one.
Correct me if I'm wrong but we're those band aids in his fridge? Lol
Yep!
If you throw away the empties the full cans will have no place to "hide", camouflage or not.
Is anyone else wondering why he has band aids in his fridge?
+james lawrence That takes planning ahead to a whole new level.
The bandaid for cuts, beer is the anesthetic
Where else are you supposed to keep your 'cold-cuts'?
Nice test at the end! :")
Im trying to buy one but all i see are videos showing how to fix one...guess it breaks quick
stored my little mini fridge in a building when I pulled it out it will not work I broke the ground prung on plug off of the plug does it need the ground plug prong to work
The ground on the plug is not needed to run. It is there to help keep you from being electrocuted.
@@RonaldWalters2010 not working any ideas could it have gotten to hot in barn and destroyed something
With reference to the video... if you can SAFELY connect the blue & black wires located at the thermostat together and tape them so they are properly insulated (my wires were blue & black, yours may be different colors) and temporarily plug the unit in... if it runs then the thermostat is bad. Having been in a barn could be key to the problem. These things are not made to last and they don't seem to like being in storage for long periods. Or a mouse could have gotten into the compressor section and chewed the insulation off of a wire or something similar. Mice and squirrels love to eat on wires. Open up the back and see if the wiring all looks good. Inspect the power cord as well. If none of that proves successful it is probably dead and time to buy another expendable mini-fridge. They are not repairable. Thanks for watching. Please Subscribe… that is what keeps this channel available.
Anyway to fix the temp control switch? I accidentally twisted all the way and now it doesn't stop and keeps going which doesn't change anything
Replace the control.
@@RonaldWalters2010 do you have a video? Or would any video of switching a fridge control work?
Shown in this video is the changing of the temperature control (switch). It is for you to determine if it is the same thing, since I have no idea what fridge you have.
Turn the screw CCW while you have a multimeter on the terminals, mine would only turn on by tapping it,,, now I don't have to tap it anymore. If not you will eventually have the same problem,,,and another $7.48.
my haier minifridge cools fine but the freezer will not freeze anything it seems cold in there. there is a dial and its all the way up!
Most mini fridges are cooled by the so-called "freezer section". The freezer section itself is a joke and usually won't freeze much (if anything). Be happy you are happy with the cold contents of the remainder of the fridge.
i am but im just confused it used to freeze things no problem and then one day i restocked it with some popsicles and ice cream bars and they just melted
It is annoying but these things are made CHEAP and they have a limited life associated with diminishing performance.