Search solenoid valve in brand refrigerators Stinol is a task faced by anyone who has decided to independently diagnose problems with the No Frost system. This small but critical part is responsible for switching the flow of refrigerant, allowing the freezer and refrigerator to operate at different temperatures. If your refrigerator has stopped freezing in one of the chambers or is working without interruption, the reason often lies precisely in the failure of this component or a violation of its electrical circuit.
Unlike simple single-compressor models, where the refrigerant circulates through a single circuit, in two-chamber systems Stinol a more complex circuit is used. Valve here it acts as a kind of gateway that opens or blocks the path of freon to the evaporator of the refrigeration chamber. Understanding where it is physically located is necessary for proper diagnostics with a multimeter or visual inspection for leaks. Without precise knowledge of the design, you can waste hours disassembling the housing.
In this article we will analyze in detail the architecture of refrigeration units Stinolso that you can easily find the required unit. We will consider not only standard installation locations, but also nuances characteristic of different years of production and modifications.
The principle of operation and the role of the valve in the system
To successfully find a part, you need to understand what function it performs in the hydraulic circuit. Solenoid valve (often called solenoid) is installed at the outlet of the condenser, before entering the evaporator of the refrigeration chamber. When the thermostat or electronic module commands the upper chamber to cool, voltage is applied to the valve coil, the core is retracted, and freon rushes into the evaporator of the refrigerator compartment. In the absence of voltage, the spring returns the core, closing the channel, and the refrigerant circulates only along the freezer circuit.
In refrigerators Stinol with a system No Frost this element works in conjunction with a defrost timer and thermostat. If the valve sticks in the closed position, the temperature in the refrigerator compartment will begin to rise, the food will spoil, although everything in the freezer will be frozen. Conversely, if it does not shut off flow when needed, you may experience cooling or inefficient compressor operation. Diagnostics begins with checking the presence of voltage at the coil contacts.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting any work to find and dismantle the valve, be sure to disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply. Working with electrical components in a damp environment or under voltage is life-threatening.
Structurally, the device is a brass housing with inlet and outlet holes and an electric coil (solenoid) mounted on top. Models Stinol often use universal type valves that can be normally closed. This means that by default, without electricity supply, the passage for freon is blocked. That is why, if the coil breaks or there is no signal from the board, the refrigerator most often stops cooling in the upper compartment.
Typical locations in Stinol models
The answer to the question "where is the solenoid valve" depends on the specific series of your refrigerator Stinol. The company's engineers used several layout schemes in different years of production. In most two-chamber models with one compressor and system No Frost the valve is located in the upper part of the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment, behind the plastic decorative box. You can get to it by removing the top cover of the internal lamp or dismantling the top panel of the housing.
In some modifications, especially in older series or models with a bottom freezer, the valve can be placed in the engine compartment, to the rear wall of the compressor. There it is embedded into the copper line immediately after the capacitor grid. However, for Stinol the first scheme is more typical: location in the upper part of the refrigerator compartment, next to the cold air supply channel. This simplifies access to the part without having to move the refrigerator and remove the back metal cover.
If you are the owner of the model Stinol 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110, 116, 117, 118, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 145, 155, 161, 162, 163, 164, 166, 167, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 400, then look for the valve in the upper right or left corner inside the refrigerator. It is often hidden behind insulating foam or plastic duct trim.
It is important to note that the location may vary depending on whether a drip defrost system or No Frost is installed in your unit. In complete systems, the valve is always present, as it controls the supply of cold. On models with a weeping back wall (drip system), the solenoid valve may be missing if a single common evaporator or a different circulation pattern is used. Therefore, the first step should always be to study the technical documentation or diagram of your specific device. No Frost the valve is always present as it controls the supply of cold. On models with a weeping back wall (drip system), the solenoid valve may be missing if a single common evaporator or a different circulation pattern is used. Therefore, the first step should always be to study the technical documentation or diagram of your specific device.
Instructions for access and dismantling
The process of gaining access to solenoid valve requires accuracy and a minimum set of tools. You will need a screwdriver (Phillips and flathead), perhaps a knife to carefully remove the caulk or foam, and a multimeter to test. Before you start disassembling, make sure that you have accurately determined the location of the unit in your model Stinolso as not to damage unnecessary interior elements.
Proceed according to the following algorithm, which is suitable for most cases when the valve is located inside the chamber:
- 🛠️ Preparation: Disconnect the refrigerator from the mains, defrost it (if there is ice) and empty the top shelf of the refrigerator compartment.
- 🔩 Removing the lampshade: Remove the top light or the plastic cover of the ceiling of the chamber. Usually they are held on by latches or one or two screws.
- ❄️ Removing the air duct: Carefully disconnect the plastic box through which cold air is supplied to the chamber. It can be attached with self-tapping screws or plastic clips.
- 🔍 Search valve: Behind the air duct, in the insulation or on a metal wall, you will see a copper tube with a black or brown coil put on it - this is the unit you are looking for.
If the valve is located in the engine compartment (rear of the refrigerator), the process is simplified by removing the metal cover of the compressor unit. However, in Stinol this is less common. When dismantling the valve itself inside the chamber, you often have to work in limited space. Be careful with copper pipes: they are soft and easily pinched or burst if not handled carefully. If the tube is soldered, replacement will require a torch and soldering skills, or calling a specialist.
☑️ Checklist before dismantling
⚠️ Attention: When removing the plastic panels inside the refrigerator, do not use excessive force. Plastic on older models Stinol becomes brittle from the cold and can crack, which will require replacing the entire assembly.
Diagnostics of the serviceability of the solenoid valve
Before changing the part, you need to make sure that it is the faulty one valve, not a control system or thermostat. The easiest way of initial verification is tactile. Turn on the refrigerator and wait until the compressor starts working. Place your hand on the valve body or coil. If the system requires cooling of the refrigerator compartment, you should feel a slight vibration or hear a quiet click, and the coil may warm up slightly (become warm, but not hot).
A more accurate method is to test the coil with a multimeter in resistance measurement mode. Normal refrigerator valve coil resistance Stinol usually ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 kiloohms (kiloohms), although values may vary depending on the manufacturer of the coil itself. If the multimeter shows an open (infinity) or a short circuit (close to zero), the coil is faulty and needs to be replaced. It is important to check not only the coil itself, but also the integrity of the wires going to it.
It is also worth checking the presence of control voltage. To do this, you need to carefully connect the multimeter probes in the alternating voltage measurement mode (AC 220V or AC 100V depending on the region) to the contacts of the valve connector at a time when the compressor is running and cooling of the upper chamber is required. If there is voltage, but the valve does not click and does not heat up, the problem is in the coil. If there is no voltage, the problem is in the thermostat, defrost timer or electronic module.
What to do if the coil rings, but the valve does not work?
If the coil resistance is normal, but the valve does not open the way for freon, the mechanical core inside the brass body may be jammed. This often happens due to contamination in the system or aging lubricant. In such cases, replacing the coil will not help - you need to change the entire valve assembly with the body, which requires refilling the system.
Table of common faults
To simplify diagnosis, we recommend checking the table of symptoms. It will help you quickly localize the problem associated with solenoid valve your Stinol.
| Symptom | Possible cause | Check method |
|---|---|---|
| The refrigerator does not freeze in the upper compartment | The valve does not open (no voltage or the coil is burnt out) | Checking the voltage on the contacts and the continuity of the coil |
| It is too cold in the refrigerator compartment, the food freezes | The valve does not close (sticking or lack of a closing signal) | Visa |