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Intermediate Domestic refrigerator (top-freezer or side-by-side) ~11 min4 decision steps

Refrigerator Not Cooling

The fresh-food section is warm, the freezer still feels coldish, and something clicks every 30–40 seconds at the back. Observe first, identify whether the compressor uses a start relay or an inverter driver, then prove the start circuit.

Scenario briefing

The call

A customer reports the refrigerator section is warm while the freezer still feels reasonably cold. Milk is spoiling on the top shelf, but ice cream in the freezer is still firm.

They also hear a clicking sound every 30 to 40 seconds coming from the back or bottom of the unit. No error code is displayed and the lights and controls work normally.

That click can be a traditional start relay and overload cycling — or a modern inverter driver board retrying and faulting out. Do not pattern-match a part. Observe, identify which start system this compressor actually uses, then prove it with a reading.

Scenario photo
Rear lower access panel of the refrigerator with the compressor, start relay, and condenser coils visible — the source of the repeating click

Step 0 · Required

Safety Gate

Confirm every item below before the diagnostic area unlocks. This mirrors the pre-work checklist you owe every customer.

0 of 5 confirmed.

Step 1 · First checks

Locked

Diagnostic decision

You are at the unit. What do you do first?

Complete the safety gate to continue.

Component view

Refrigeration and start circuit — component view

Locked

Interactive schematic coming in the next release

Select a component above to read what it does and how it fails on this call.

Progress

Step 1 of 4

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