A sudden stop of the refrigerator Indesit often becomes an unpleasant surprise, especially when the process of food spoilage has already begun in the chamber. The first sign of a serious malfunction is usually silence: you do not hear the usual hum of the motor, although the light inside is on and the thermostat is set to cool. In such a situation, it is critical to understand whether the compressor itself has failed, or whether the problem lies in the control system. The compressor The engine in refrigerators of this brand, be it a classic piston unit or a more modern inverter, is the heart of the entire system. Its failure can be caused by both electrical reasons, such as power surges, and mechanical jamming. Before calling a technician or buying new equipment, it makes sense to carry out initial diagnostics, which often allows you to save significant money. compressor, or the problem lies in the control system.
The engine in refrigerators of this brand, be it a classic piston unit or a more modern inverter unit, is the heart of the entire system. Its failure can be caused by both electrical reasons, such as power surges, and mechanical jamming. Before calling a technician or buying new equipment, it makes sense to conduct an initial diagnosis, which can often save significant money.
In this guide, we will examine in detail methods for checking the integrity of the windings, the operability of the starting relay, and the presence of an interturn short circuit. You'll learn what tools you need to test safely and how to interpret multimeter readings. Correct diagnosis at an early stage will help to avoid unnecessary costs and accurately determine whether unit is subject to restoration.
Main signs of a compressor malfunction
Understanding the symptoms allows you to narrow down the search even before disassembling the unit. If the refrigerator Indesit stops freezing, this does not always mean the death of the motor. However, there are a number of characteristic signs that indicate problems with the engine. Diagnostics begins with careful observation of the behavior of the equipment at the moment of switching on.
One of the most alarming signals is the situation when the engine tries to start, makes a short buzzing sound or click, but stalls after a few seconds. This often indicates that the thermal protection is tripping or the starting relay is unable to start the rotor. In some cases, the engine may run continuously without shutting down, but at the same time not create the necessary pressure to cool the chambers.
- 🔊 The motor hums for a few seconds, then there is a click and there is silence - a sign of problems with the starting mechanism or jamming.
- 🔥 The compressor housing is excessively hot (above 90 degrees), which may indicate interturn short circuit.
- ❄️ The refrigerator works non-stop, but the temperature in the chambers does not drop below +10 degrees.
- ⚡ When turned on, the circuit breakers instantly trip or the fuse blows.
It is important to note that some symptoms may be caused by a leak freon, and not engine failure. If the engine runs, but there is no cold, and at the same time it is cold to the touch (or only gets warm on one side), the problem may be in the refrigerant circulation system. However, if you hear a characteristic metallic knock or ringing inside the motor housing, this is almost guaranteed to indicate mechanical destruction of the components.
⚠️ Attention: If you smell burnt insulation or see sparking in the area where the wires are connected, immediately unplug the refrigerator. Further attempts to start may result in a fire.
Necessary tools and safety measures
Checking the electrical part of the refrigerator Indesit requires compliance with strict safety rules, since the work is carried out with a mains voltage of 220 volts. The main tool for the home master will be multimeter (tester). Without it, it is almost impossible to determine the integrity of the windings or the presence of a breakdown in the housing.
Before starting any work, it is necessary to completely de-energize the unit. Simply turning the temperature control to zero is not enough - you need to unplug the cord from the outlet. You should also prepare a set of screwdrivers for removing the rear protective panel, pliers and, possibly, side cutters to carefully disconnect the contacts if they are heavily oxidized.
☑️ Preparation for diagnostics
To check the insulation and absence of breakdown on the housing, sometimes a megohmmeter is required, but at home, a high-quality multimeter in resistance measurement mode is often sufficient. Make sure that the tester probes are in good working order and the battery inside is not discharged, otherwise the readings will be incorrect. All manipulations with wires and contacts are carried out only on a completely de-energized device.
Visual inspection and access to the engine
Access to the compressor in refrigerators Indesit usually does not cause difficulties. The engine compartment is located at the lower rear of the body. You will need to remove the metal cover that is secured with bolts or latches. In some models, access may also require removing the plastic casing covering the electrical part.
After removing the cover, you will see a black cylindrical or pear-shaped compressor tank. A starting relay and a thermal protection mechanism, covered with a plastic box, are attached to the side of it. First of all, carefully inspect the wires: there are no traces of melting, black soot or insulation damage on them. Often the problem lies precisely in oxidized contacts.
Pay attention to the condition of the tubes leaving the compressor. If you see traces of oil around the fittings or on the floor under the refrigerator, this may indicate a leak in the system, which indirectly affects the operation of the engine, causing it to work under overload. Also check if the motor itself is hanging on the shock absorbers - excessive vibration can destroy the internal valves.
Checking the starting relay and protective mechanism
Before “ringing” the engine itself, it is necessary to rule out a malfunction of the starting relay. It is this small unit that often fails first, creating the illusion of a compressor failure. Refrigerators Indesit use different types of relays (RT, RZ, POSIVENT), but the principle of checking them is similar.
Carefully remove the plastic casing and disconnect the relay from the compressor contacts. Visually inspect it for cracks, signs of burning or melting. If inside the relay you hear the sound of broken glass or a dangling core when shaken, the element definitely needs to be replaced. However, even visually the entire relay may not work.
To check the relay with a multimeter, switch it to the dialing mode. Check the contacts: in some types of relays they should ring, in others they should be open. The thermal relay (pocket button), which is often built into the structure or mounted nearby, is checked for resistance. If the multimeter shows one (infinity) in both directions, the circuit is broken.
- 🛠️ Remove the relay and shake it: extraneous noise inside indicates destruction of the internal components.
- 🔍 Inspect the contacts for carbon deposits - clean them with fine sandpaper if necessary.
- 📉 Check the thermal protection: it should have low resistance (almost zero) in a cold state.
⚠️ Attention: Do not try to check the operation of the relay by applying 220V voltage directly if you do not have the skills of an electrician. This is life-threatening and can lead to a short circuit.
Diagnostics of the motor windings with a multimeter
If the relay is working properly, proceed to the main procedure - checking the windings of the compressor itself. On the motor body there are three terminals (contact block) to which the relay is connected. Usually they are marked or have a standard arrangement: starting winding, working winding and general contact.
You need to determine the resistance between these contacts. Remove the relay to access the pins. Switch the multimeter to resistance measurement mode (Ohms) to the 2 kOhm limit. Measure the resistance between each pair of contacts. Normal values for motors Indesit vari, but usually the working winding has a resistance of 15-40 Ohms, and the starting winding has a resistance slightly higher, 30-100 Ohms.
The sum of the resistances of the starting and operating windings should be approximately equal to the resistance between the remaining two contacts (if measured through the common one). If the multimeter shows one (open) or zero (short circuit) on any of the windings, the motor is faulty. It is also important to check the resistance between any contact and the copper tube or housing (metal part) - there should be infinity.
Table of typical resistances
Values may vary depending on the power of the motor. For low-power refrigerators, the resistance of the working winding can reach 50-60 Ohms, and the starting winding - up to 120 Ohms. The main rule: the starting winding always has greater resistance than the working winding.
Pay special attention to the cleanliness of the contacts on the motor block. If they are oxidized, clean them as this may introduce measurement errors. If, after cleaning, the readings do not change and indicate a break or short circuit, the compressor requires replacement or professional rewinding, which is practically impractical at home.
Analysis of results and table of faults
Interpretation of the data obtained is a key stage of diagnosis. Multimeter readings are not always unambiguous, and it is important to be able to distinguish normal from pathology. Below is a summary table that will help classify the condition of the engine based on measurements.
| Multimeter reading | Diagnosis | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Resistance is normal (15-100 Ohm) | The windings are intact | Check the mechanics and cooling system |
| Unit (1) on the display | Break winding | Replacing the compressor |
| Zero (0) or close to zero | Interturn short circuit | Replacement of the compressor |
| Resistance between the case and contacts | Fault to the case | Urgent replacement (danger to life) |
If the electrical part is in order, but the motor does not start or hums, there may be a mechanical problem. wedge. This happens when, due to oil burnout, the pistons lift up the cylinder walls. In this case, it is sometimes possible to start the motor by briefly applying voltage through a capacitor (the “wedging” method), but this is a temporary measure.
It is also worth considering that in modern models Indesit inverter compressors can be installed. Their diagnosis using the method described above (testing the windings) is possible, but it does not give a complete picture, since it is controlled by complex electronics. For inverters, failure to start with intact windings more often indicates a faulty control board.
Frequently asked questions during diagnostics (FAQ)
Is it possible to replace a compressor from Indesit with an analogue of another brand?
Yes, this is often possible if the power, type of refrigerant and dimensions match sizes. However, for inverter models, replacing with an analogue requires reprogramming the control board, which is done only in service centers.
Why is the compressor hot, but the refrigerator does not freeze?
This may indicate a loss of refrigerant (freon) due to a leak, or that the compressor is running “idle” due to an internal valve failure groups without creating the required pressure.
How much does a new motor for an Indesit refrigerator cost?
The price depends on the model and type of compressor. Conventional piston ones are cheaper, inverter ones are much more expensive. Also, to the cost you need to add the price for the work of the master and refilling with freon.
Is it possible to repair a burnt-out compressor?
In domestic conditions - no. Rewinding a motor requires special equipment and sealing, which is not economically feasible. It’s easier and more reliable to buy a new unit.