Fridge Won't Cool at All (After moving)?

Question

This fridge was working a month ago. I transported it 250 miles on its belly.
I plugged it in and the compressor runs continuously.
In the first hour, the compressor got very hot but the condenser coil was at room temperature.
After 5 hours, the start of the condenser coil was hot, maybe the first 5%, 5% further along it was at room temperature.
The start of capillary tube seems to be at room temperature.
The entire evaporator is at room temperature.
The return from the evaporator is at room temperature where it enters the compressor.
I have heard that a fridge should be transported vertically because oil can get in "the wrong places". Too bad I didn't hear that before I moved it.
I believe that moving it on its belly caused the problem. I examined the configuration of the coils and, with the unit shut off, I spent 10 days repositioning it in various ways while trying to imagine the oil flowing back to the compressor.
I tried running it again and, same problem.
What's next

So, it is either burned out seals in the compressor which means junk the thing or oil in the cap tube. What about the dryer? Oil there also?
I guess the last gasp is to try to heat the cap tube.
Any other ideas. The fridge is over 20 years old but has sentimental value and I have nothing but time on my hands.
Can I replace the cap tube. I have a vacuum pump and maybe I can get someone to regharge it.

Answer 1

Replacing the entire cap tube is going to be very difficult because it most likely goes into an aluminum evaporator. Brazing aluminum is tricky and most often impossible.The walls are just too thin. If you have a vacuum pump look for an access valve, drain the refrigerant
and run the pump for a few hours.If it pulls a perfect vacuum and holds this vacuum you will know you don't have a leak.The fact that the condenser is only getting warm part way sounds alot like a leak.
The possibility of oil in the system is likely but most often not fatal.You can and will have to change the filter dryer if you open the system. With a new filter dryer on the machine it should work ok as long as it will pull a vacuum. A perfect vacuum is 29.9 on a set of gauges. Again it must hold this vacuum after the pump has been disconnected.

Answer 2

I always lay them down when moving them. Then I stand them up right and DON'T plug it in for 24 hours. This allows time for the oil to return to it's rightful place. Since you ran it before the oil could go back into it's reservoir, instead, you pumped it throughout the system, you might want to leave it unplugged and undisturbed for a couple weeks. Better yet, wait a month before trying it again. It MIGHT work after that. Otherwise, your other options are to get a repair man or replace the fridge.

Answer 3

One piece of information you left out. How old is the fridge. The expected life of one is approximately 13 years. When they get older than this they become very temper-mental and dislike being moved unless it is the real old style that you must defrost yourself by unplugging until the frost is gone. These type seem to run forever. Also you should never transport one other than standing it usually mentions this in the owners manual.Good luck

Answer 4

A buddy of mine used to deliver appliances to new construction sites. He told me that for every hour turned on its side it needed to spend an hour upright to let the oil get back to the pump. I once had a chest freezer sitting on its side for a week, and it spent a week upright. It worked just fine after that and it was old too.

Answer 5

if it is the oil and not a leak then try a heat gun on the cap tube warm it up until it is almost too hot to hold with your hand then turn it on keep it warm for about 10 minutes with the compressor running .......this works about 25% of the time. oil restrictions are common and killers of most units with model numbers starting with 253...and frs.....good luck.

Answer 6

After tipping over, it is best to let them stand upright at least overnight, before plugging them in.
Otherwise you can get a slug of oil in the wrong spot and blow the seals out of the compressor.
It sounds like you need a new compressor.
If it's new enough, maybe, just maybe, you can get it warrantied, but don't tell them you tipped it & pligged it immediately after righting it.

Answer 7

you are out of gas all you have to do is put a tap valve on the line vacuum the system and recharge you can use freeze 12 instead of the old 12 that has been discontinued

Answer 8

toast......yep toast forget it! It could take years of sitting up right to ever clear that cap tube...maybe ...not worth repair...well one way around it is if its less than 5 years old you may still be under a 5 year sealed system warranty ..just don't tell them what you did.....toast

Answer 9

What you did was fine.But remember any time you transport it on its belly it has to be set in the upright position for 24hr before you plug it in

Answer 10

Unplug it. You have to have it in the upright position to allow the freon and oil to get back in to place.

You may have to add freon. or R12. The valve should look like a tire valve and you can get kits