One morning my fridge was thawing/warming when my wife made breakfast. Up until then I hadn't noticed any symptoms, although she said the ice was slick the night before. We emptied it out.

The lights in the fridge work, and there's no noticeable damage. Nothing in the environment changed (it's in a cabinet). The compressor doesn't kick on and the fans don't move.

The coils were filthy so I vacuumed them out. Previously I had a fridge where the problem was the relay on the compressor, so I replaced that. That didn't solve the problem. I tested the ohms across the compressor and they did look "good" but I didn't write the readings down so I'll do that again. Trying to follow the logic chain, I replaced the thermostat in the refrigeration compartment but I expected it would kick on the compressor and that didn't happen. I'm thinking it must be a control board or a bad compressor, but if it was a bad compressor then I'd expect that fans would still blow when the thermostat called for cooling, right?

Should I replace the Defrost Control Board or the Electronic Control Board? They are both spendy and I don't see any damage to the board or caps. I'd like to fix this without calling a tech but maybe I should just bite the bullet. Tips would be appreciated, especially if accompanied by suggested tests with my multimeter.

Thanks!

Jason

2303824 - Defrost Control Board

W10259855 - Electric Control Board

Parts list: http://www.whirlpool.com/digita...List%20-%20W10330313.pdf

I will try both the part and, if it doesn't work, the return policy. Thanks!

I only ordered the Defrost board because I was sure that was the problem. Nothing has happened for the first few minutes after power on, which is disappointing since I was expecting it to kick on the compressor immediately. I guess it could still be in defrost so I'll give it time. I really don't think it is the electrical control board but maybe that's just because I really don't want it to be that. If the compressor were bad, it would make noise or just be dead but the fans would still run, right? The refrigerator is as silent as a grave.

I did test the pin to pin resistance on the compressor, and R1 plus R2 = R3 so I've read that this would indicate no electrical fault inside the compressor. I guess it could still be a mechanical fault but again, no weird noises.

Any detail on what the electrical control board does that would keep the compressor from kicking on? There's no visible damage to it.

Thanks for you help.

I tried the thermostat short and it didn't start the compressor or fans (although I think I heard a click in the defrost board). I did carefully reproduce the wiring on the thermostat (red, orange and ground) so I'm confident that it was correctly wired.

The only thing I can think that is left is the electric control board, and since that's an expensive part I'm just going to have a professional come take a look at it. I'm baffled that it would be that control board, though; there's no damage or bad solder on it at all. It may be something simple that I'm just missing.

Thanks for your help!