One of the symptoms that the relay is damaged is when the refrigerator heats up and certain clicks can be heard.
Fridge starter relay clicking.
If your refrigerator is making clicking noise check the following start relay the clicking could be the start relay if the start relay is bad the compressor will not start and you will hear a clicking noise in 2 5 minute intervals.
Should i try yet another start relay.
The refrigerator cools ok.
The clicking noise is the overload cutting the compressor off when it overheats from trying to start with a bad.
The start relay usually looks like a small box plugged into the side of the compressor and its job is to turn the compressor on and begin the compression of the refrigerant gas that cools your refrigerator.
Before replacing it by a new start relay do the test to discover if it really is the part which has a problem.
If the fans are running and your compressor won t start or if you hear a clicking sound from the unit check the overload relay for signs of overheating or arcing.
Find the start relay on the compressor and remove it from its socket.
If the compressor does not come on when the start relay tries to start then the start relay will try again in a short time which typically occurs in intervals of two to five minutes.
If your refrigerator has stopped cooling entirely and you hear a clicking sound every two to five minutes then your compressor is not turning on.
About 1 minute later there s another loud click and the compressor comes on.
But the compressor which constricts refrigerant to cool it is doing nothing even though that clicking sound is supposed to be the start relay turning the compressor on and off depending on the thermostat reading.
The compressor still clicks about 50 of the time.
If the refrigerator is warming up and making some strange clicking noise this may be an indication of a damaged refrigerator start relay.
Step 1 remove the relay for testing as mentioned above the relay can be damaged when a loud click is heard occasionally whenever the compressor is warming up.
How to test the start relay.
The fans are running so it sounds like your refrigerator is okay.
Give it a gentle.
After about 10 seconds there s a loud click.
How to test a refrigerator s overload or relay start capacitor with a multi meter.
I removed the start relay and i can hear it rattle.
Begin by ensuring you have unplugged your refrigerator and then remove the rear panel.
The start relay is a device that starts up the compressor so that it can begin the cooling cycle by compressing the refrigerant gas in the appliance.
This repeated clicking is a likely signal that the start relay has failed and needs to be.
