Monthly Archives: June 2003

Mailbag: Installing a Water Supply Line for a Refrigerator

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Carla Rapps wrote:

Do you have any information on installing a water line kit for a refrigerator? The shut off valve is already there, but the delivery people don’t install the line. The line attached to the frig doesn’t work with the valve we have and stated we would have to buy a kit. We did, but my husband tore the instructions and can’t figure out how to connect the line in the kit to both the frig and the valve. Any help?

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ice maker water line installation kit--click to orderYou bet I do! The place to start for information on this is right here. If you need the tubing kit, which comes complete with the saddle tap valve for connecting to your water supply, you can buy one here.

Easy job, take you about 30 minutes and then it’s Margaritaville!

New Appliance Repair Links: Air Conditioners and Dehumidifiers

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Just in time for summer, I’ve added two new appliance repair links to the main menus here at Fixitnow.com, the Appliantology group, and at Moostafa’s Mecca of Appliance Repair. The links are for air conditioners and dehumidifiers. Both these links have very helpful interactive diagrams as well as a full selection of parts for all major brands. Check ’em out!

Live Help Update

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I was online earlier this morning doing live help and then had to go do some real work. When I returned, I realized that I had left the status to “online” even though I wasn’t here. So if you clicked for live help, you’d wait and wait and no one would ever come online. Hey, I’ve committed far worse infractions and you’ll be just fine, so chill out.

But I really will be online for live help this evening. Later, dude.

Mailbag: Fridge Still Warm After Replacing a Bunch of Parts

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Judy Haughney wrote:

We own a Hotpoint side-by side refrigerator. We have been having problems with the refrigerator and freezer not stying cold. Currently both are only cold on the bottom???? We have already replaced the heater coils, thermostat, defrost timer. What else could be wrong? We cannot turn on the water to the icemaker/water as the inside of the freezer freezes up. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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In the Shotgun School of Appliance Repair, students are taught to change parts because they might be bad, not because they are proven to be bad.

Now compare this to the enlightened teachings of the Samurai School of Appliantology where students are taught the cardinal rule of appliance repair: never change a part unless you can prove that the part is bad.

Let’s take a look at Judy’s refrigerator repair challenge. I’ll bet you a six pack of Bud Light that she didn’t use her ohm meter and do a continuity test on the defrost heater (what she’s calling the “heater coils”). Same bet with the cold control (what Judy is calling the “thermostat”) and the defrost timer. All these parts were probably never bad to begin with!

So what’s the problem with Judy’s fridge? The clue lies in her statement that both the freezer and fresh food compartments “are only cold at the bottom.” This tells me the air is not getting blown around. First thing I’d look for in this fridge is a bad evaporator fan motor (that’s the one in the freezer). Could even be a bad door switch preventing the fan motor from running. Judy should check this and verify the bad component with her meter before buying new parts here.

Mailbag: Twin Toaster Tribulations

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Damon wrote:

Toaster pull down lever will not stay in the the hold position too begain toasting. What could be the reason this happens? Thank you for your time.

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JIM ZAGORITES wrote:

looking for someone to repair a fourslice toaster..my problem is that it is a built-in toaster and i can not even find a new one to stick into the hole in my kitchen wall…so i’d like to ship it to someone that could re-do the heating elements–one is broken–i can see that–and the other one still works but you have to redo the the toast to get it dark—-so if there is anyway you can help or put me on the right trail–i can get my wife off my back!!!!!—————–please reply————————-Z-man——–

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Lots of good information on toaster repair for both of you guys in this thread from Moostafa’s Mecca of Appliance Repair. Check it out, yo.

Mailbag: Accessing the Lid Switch on a Whirlpool/Kenmore Direct Drive Washer

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Charles A. Cola wrote:

How do I gain access to the lid switch on my Kenmore Washer Model number 110.82992110 in order to replace it?

Regards,
Charles

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Good question, thanks for asking! To gain access to the lid switch on this washer, you’ll need to remove the washer cabinet shroud.

With the washer cabinet removed, you have easy access to the lid switch (note: that’a typical lid switch used in these washers but there are several variations on that theme– use your model number to make sure you order the right one). You may find that the actuator lever is broken. If the actuating lever looks ok, then you should use your ohm meter to check the continuity of the lid switch. Many times, if the switch is bad, it will no longer make a clicking sound when you actuate it. Your lid switch can be replaced using one of the kits below, most likely the older style. But you can easily confirm this by feasting your Vulcan squinties on your washer’s lid switch.

Older-style Lid Switch
Older style lid switch and plunger assembly for a Whirlpool or Kenmore direct drive washer--click for larger view. 		Newer-style Lid Switch
Newer style lid switch for a Whirlpool or Kenmore direct drive washer--click for larger view.

To learn more about your washing machine, or to order parts, click here.

Mailbag: Discharging and Testing a Capacitor

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Len wrote:

1. how can I discharge a large capacitor (as in in microwave or A/C)?
2. How can I test if it is OK?

thanks

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The ancient and mystical technique for discharging a large-size or high voltage capacitor, such as a microwave oven capacitor or the motor start capacitor in a central air conditioning condensing unit, is illustrated here.

To test the capacitor, first make sure it’s discharged, as described above. If it ain’t, then you’re gonna ruin a perfectly good meter and you may shock your buns off, too. Using your meter, a good capacitor will test like this and a bad capacitor will test like this.

Now, grasshopper, go ye forth and conquer!