We have a Frigidaire refridg/freezer side by side that's 5 or so years old... model # FRS26LF8CWO... It stopped cooling and freezing a few days ago... fans are running... Condenser is almost hot to the touch... I vacuumed coils and fans best I could... Condenser sounds like it wants to run but stays on for maybe 15 seconds and then you hear a click and it shuts right back off... Someone said it may be the relay switch and if it is what would we be looking for to replace it??

Any help?? Please...

Sounds like a bad relay. Go to HomePage (http://www.repairclinic.com) to find the price of it. It's not expensive and easy to fix

Well, we got another switch and changed it out and now the compresser doesn't come on at all... What's next on the list?. I just checked it and the compresser got really, really hot...

Do you have an ohm meter and know how to use it? If so, I will help you to test the compressor to verify if it is good or bad.

We have 1 but really have no idea how to use it...

Let me help you. Make sure your meter is turned to R100. Touch the 2 leads together and the needle should move from left to right all the way. Now to test the compressor. Make sure the unit is unpluged. Now remove the relay from the compressor and you will see 3 pins on the compressor. One is "C" one is "S" and the 3rd is "R". Take the 2 leads from meter and put one to R and one to S THis should be the highest reading. Now put one lead to R and the other to C. This will be the lowest reading. And now place one lead to C and one to S. This will be greater than R & C but less than R & S. If you would add the values of R&C and C&S this should equal the value of R&S.

Also test each pin to ground. All pins to ground should have no reading. If it passes all these test, the compressor is confirmed good

Okay thank you... I will give this info to Scott and have him give it a try... I'll let you know what's what in a little bit... Thanks again...

So here's the thing... don't know which is which... The C, S, & R...

I was just told that we have a digital multi meter... does that make a difference??

It should be stamped by the pin. Wipe that area off and look closely

If you have a digital, just record the values and do the math.

He says he can't see anything stamped on the compresser...

Normally the colors on the relay in correspondence with the pins are blk=C,white= start and red =R. You can also tell by using your meter with the leads to the pins as described earlier and record the values. This would tell you which pin is which

If he has the multi meter what should he put it on??

It should say Cont.

Okay... Lets keep our fingers crossed that this does the trick... He connected this back up and plugged the fridge in and so far so good... Compresser is running and has'nt shut off... Thanks again and I'll let you know in a little bit as to whether it's cooling...

We just checked and it seems to be cooling fairly quickly... I want to thank you very much... driving 16 to 32 miles a day just to go get food is a pain the butt.

Good Deal. Perhaps the relay just wasn't making good contact the first time. Hopefully you're back in business. Homework, go to radio shack and pick up a book for 3.95 on how to use the multimeter. It can save you $$ in the future but testing and doing your own repairs. LOL

Radio Shack is going to be put on my to do list for tomorrow and once again we do thank you very much...