Whirlpool refrigerator, Model ED2FHEXMQ00, purchased new Dec 2003.
The frig isn't staying cold, and the freezer is nearly room temperature. The dispenser water is barely cool, but all the lights inside are on.
Coils under front of refrigerator were covered with dust. I cleaned them off.
I removed the back panel from the freezer. The coils were clean (no ice) and the fan was working.
I removed the lower back panel behind the fridge. It wasn't too dirty. The fan was running. However, the compressor was hot, and every so often, it would run about 15 seconds, then shut off for another 5 min.
We've already thrown out all the food in the freezer, and I've brushed and vacuumed out the dust on the coils underneath.

Should I next:
1. Unplug the frig and let everything cool off before turning it back on?
2. Call the repairman immediately?
Thanks, ILS^2

Next morning addendum: Because the compressor was hot, I unplugged it overnite. I plugged it in 8 hours later. The compressor duty cycle has been constant ever since: 15 sec on, then about 2 minutes off.

Call your repairperson so they can test the proper components. Don't keep running it until it is fixed.

Sounds to me like your compressor is locking up. Lucky for you that four years ago they had a five year sealed system warranty . Call a whirlpool authorized company to replace it.

Whirlpool refrigerator, Model ED2FHEXMQ00, purchased new Dec 2003.
The frig isn't staying cold, and the freezer is nearly room temperature. The dispenser water is barely cool, but all the lights inside are on.
Coils under front of refrigerator were covered with dust. I cleaned them off.
I removed the back panel from the freezer. The coils were clean (no ice) and the fan was working.
I removed the lower back panel behind the fridge. It wasn't too dirty. The fan was running. However, the compressor was hot, and every so often, it would run about 15 seconds, then shut off for another 5 min.
We've already thrown out all the food in the freezer, and I've brushed and vacuumed out the dust on the coils underneath.

Should I next:
1. Unplug the frig and let everything cool off before turning it back on?
2. Call the repairman immediately?
Thanks, ILS^2

Next morning addendum: Because the compressor was hot, I unplugged it overnite. I plugged it in 8 hours later. The compressor duty cycle has been constant ever since: 15 sec on, then about 2 minutes off.
I've got a repairman coming Monday. Re twinkiedooter's comment: "Don't keep running it until it is fixed." The repair company told me to make sure the frig was running when the repairman arrives! [Two days later, and the 15 sec / 2 min on off cycle still continues.]

The repairman found a burned out, Refrigerator Relay & Overload Assembly . He replaced it with Part # 12002782 and charged us $219 (visit plus part). We really appreciate a refrigerator more than ever (should last about 1 month)!