The situation when the refrigerator Pole suddenly stops freezing and always takes you by surprise, threatening food spoilage. This is a classic problem faced by owners of equipment, both older models and more modern modifications. The lack of cold can be caused by many factors: from a banal blockage in the capillary tube to a serious failure of the compressor.
Before calling a technician or running for new equipment, it is necessary to carry out an initial diagnosis. Often the reason lies in little things that you can fix yourself in a matter of minutes. However, if it is a refrigerant leak or broken electronics, professional intervention will be required. In this article we will analyze in detail the main causes of malfunctions and algorithms for their elimination.
It is important to understand that Polyus refrigerators, especially those produced in the 90s and early 2000s, have their own design features. They can be single-compressor or double-compressor, with No Frost or drip defrosting system. The type of structure directly determines where to look for a breakdown. Let's look at all possible scenarios.
Primary diagnostics and external factors
Before opening the back wall or checking electrical circuits, it is worth eliminating basic operating errors. Often users look for complex technical reasons, forgetting to check simple things. If the refrigerator Pole is turned on, the light is on, but there is no cold, first check the tightness of the doors.
Incorrect installation can also cause a lack of cooling. If the equipment is too close to the wall or heating devices, heat exchange is disrupted. The compressor is working hard, but cannot reach the required temperature. Make sure that the gap between the rear grille and the wall is at least 5-7 cm.
You should also pay attention to the temperature regulator. In older models, the thermostat may have gone astray or failed. Try moving the handle to the maximum position and listen to the operation of the motor. If it hums but does not start, there may be a problem with the start relay.
⚠️ Attention: If you hear clicking sounds when you try to start the engine, but the compressor itself is silent, immediately unplug the device. Continuing to operate in this mode can lead to burnout of the electric motor windings.
Faults in the defrosting system and freezing of ice
One of the most common reasons why the refrigerator does not freeze Polyus (especially models with the system No Frost), there is a malfunction of the defrost system. If the evaporator is covered with a thick layer of ice, air cannot circulate through the chamber. As a result, the food in the main chamber gets warmer, although the freezer can still maintain the temperature.
In the automatic defrosting system, the key elements are Evaporator heating element, timer (or an electronic module) and thermal fuse. If at least one of these elements fails, the ice does not melt, building up layer by layer. As a result, the air channel is completely blocked.
Diagnostics often require complete defrosting of the refrigerator within 24 hours. If after this the equipment begins to freeze normally, but after a week the problem returns, it means that the defrost circuit is faulty. It is necessary to ring the heating element and check the integrity of the thermal fuse with a multimeter.
☑️ Checking the No Frost system
It is important to note that in older models Polyus mechanical defrost timers could be installed, which wear out over time. Replacing them requires disassembling the housing and accessing the rear of the unit. Electronic control modules are more reliable, but sensitive to voltage surges.
Problems with the compressor and start relay
The heart of any refrigerator is the compressor. If motor-compressor does not start or works intermittently, there will be no cold anywhere. Refrigerators Polyus often have reliable but noisy units installed that, with proper care, last for decades. However, their resource is not infinite.
A frequent problem is failure start-protection relay. This is a small box placed over the compressor contacts. Inside it there is a coil and contacts, which can oxidize or stick when heated. If the relay is faulty, the engine either does not start at all, or hums for a few seconds and turns off.
Replacing the relay is one of the simplest repair operations. It is enough to remove the old element (after photographing the connection diagram) and install a new one with similar markings. However, if after replacing the relay the situation has not changed, and the compressor is humming and hot to the touch, it is likely that there is a winding or a wedge in the mechanism. reason turn-to-turn short circuit windings or wedge mechanism.
| Symptom | Probable Cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Humming for 5-10 seconds, then clicking | Faulty starting relay or compressor wedge | Replacing the relay, checking the compressor |
| Motor hot, but silent | The winding or thermal protection has burned out | The compressor needs to be replaced |
| Works constantly without turning off | Freon leakage or compressor wear | Search for leaks, refuel or replace |
| Strong vibration and noise | Broken mounting pads or worn piston | Replacing shock absorbers or unit |
How to check the compressor without tools?
If you don’t have a multimeter, you can do a rough check. When connected to the network, a working compressor should immediately begin to work with a characteristic hum. If you hear only a quiet hum or clicks, and the unit itself remains cold (or vice versa, only one point heats up), most likely the problem is inside the motor or in the starting circuit. However, only a technician with an instrument can make an accurate diagnosis.
Refrigerant leak and capillary tube blockage
If the compressor is working properly, hums smoothly and turns off on a timer, but there is no cold in the chambers, most likely it has occurred freon leakage or formed clogging. Refrigerators Polyus often used R12 or R134a refrigerant. Over time, the metal of the condenser tubes, especially if it is built into the walls of the case (as in “crying” type models), can corrode.
Leakage often occurs in the foamed part of the case, which makes finding it difficult. Signs are: a hot condenser (grid at the back) is only partially or completely cold, the absence of the characteristic sound of flowing gas in the tubes. Also, oily stains may appear on the floor under the refrigerator if the leak is accompanied by the release of compressor oil.
Clogged capillary tube is the second most common cause. Oil circulates in the system, which over time can thicken or mix with breakdown products, forming a plug. At the same time, the compressor works with increased load, trying to push freon, but there is no circulation. Diagnostics requires connecting a pressure gauge station.
⚠️ Attention: An independent attempt to find a leak by bending the tubes or heating them can lead to a complete rupture of the line. Repairing such faults requires evacuation of the system and refilling with freon, which is only possible using special tools.
Malfunction of the thermostat and sensors
The thermostat (thermostat) is a device that commands the compressor to turn on or off depending on the temperature in the chamber. In older models Polyus mechanical thermostats were installed (for example, TAM-133, K-59). If the thermostat bellows tube has lost its tightness or the contacts have oxidized, the circuit does not close and the engine does not start.
In more modern models with electronic control, the temperature is controlled sensors (thermistors). They change their resistance as the temperature changes. If the sensor “lies” and shows the module that the chamber is -20°C, although it is +10°C, the compressor simply will not turn on. The test is carried out by measuring the resistance with a multimeter at different temperatures.
Replacing a mechanical thermostat is usually not difficult. The main thing is to correctly install the capillary tube into the evaporator and ensure good contact. Electronic sensors are often located in plastic flasks inside the chamber or in the evaporator area, and their replacement requires partial disassembly of the internal lining.
Features of repair of old Polus models
Refrigerators Polyus, produced in Soviet times and in the 90s, are characterized by high maintainability. Their design is simple: a metal box, a compressor, a capacitor and a minimum of electronics. However, age takes its toll: rubber seals become tanned, and the metal becomes thinner.
One of the specific problems of older models is the destruction of internal shut-off valves or the ankle. Failure of the seal of the evaporator welds is also common. In such cases, repairs often become economically unfeasible, since the cost of the work may exceed the cost of used equipment.
Nevertheless, if the compressor and piping system are intact, such a refrigerator can serve for many years. Many craftsmen recommend that when repairing old ones Polyusov immediately change the filter drier and perform high-quality vacuuming, even if no visible leak is found.