Maytag Refrigerator Model #RTD2300CAL not cooling

[Dan O.]

** Both lines are about the same temp. **

Someone is going to have to inspect the evaporator (cooling) coil in the freezer compartment after (or during) running of the compressor. If the compressor IS running but there is not a *uniform* frost pattern across the *whole* evaporator coil, either the compressor is damaged, refrigerant has leaked out or there is a restriction in the refrigeration system. Any of those conditions would need a professional to repair.

BTW. I didn't see an answer to this question: How long did you allow it to sit before plugging it back in?

If it was plugged in immediately, a restriction in the refrigeration system is a fairly likely result.

JFYI

Dan O.
www.Appliance411.com/?ref411=Maytag_Fridge
The Appliance Information Site
=D~~~~~~

[Elodia]

Hi Dan, LazyPup, & HayZee,

The tech came out. The condenser is not cooling. Whether a line cracked during the moving or whatever, there appears to be a loss of freon and he said the condenser costs $500.00 to replace. Time to buy a new fridge for that money (ouch). Any suggestions regarding a basic model with icemaker, around 22 cubic feet in size, with a low repair record? Thank you for all your help. I learned a lot. Elodia

[LazyPup]

I am hesitant to say "All" because someone will find one to prove me wrong, but for the most part almost all the refrigerators in the 22cu.ft range will either have an ice maker or they are factory wired for a simple DIY installation of one.

Based on my experience in servicing refrigerators I would choose GE, Sears Coldspot or Whirlpool.

I would also stear away from the high tech digital control systems. The more complex you make a machine the more future problems you may have to deal with. Fundamentally a refrigerator only requires two contol components, thermostat and defrost timer. The rule of thunb here is "Keep it simple". They have used basically the same analog thermostats and defrost timers for decades, and they have a very good service record. When you then replace that with fragile digital electronic circuits you introduce potential problems.

Some years ago I drove truck and hauled new refrigeratoss out of the Whirlpool plant at Findly, Ohio and in the process I learned a suprising fact. i knew that Sears Coldspot was built by Whirlpool, but what i didnt know was that when they run a production run for sears, sears sends their own quality control team to the plant to supervise the run. The guys at the plant told me that in many areas sears had a much higher quality standard and often machines that failed a minor point on the sears inspection re-inspected on the whirlpool spec and most of them passed and were shipped as Whirlpool products.

It was also common to get a mixed load, both sears and whirlpool that was being sent out to a distribution center somewhere. In many cases they would pack about ten extras in plain boxes with an accessory pack. The reasoning was that the machines could be field changed to either Whirlpool or Sears to meet local demands by adding the cosmetic trim and necessary decals.

While both the sears and whirlpool are fine products I would not get the extended warranties. In most cases if a product has a production defect it will show up within the first 30 to 90 days, which is covered under the normal warranty period.

Statistically if a refrigerator survives the first 6 months without a problem you can expect the first service call to be 5 to 7 years, therefore in many cases the 2 or 3 year extended warranties are not necessary.

[Elodia]

Thanks for your advice LazyPup. You are a sweetheart. Off to Sears I go. Elodia