Smeg fridge - compressor only working intermittently

[MummytoMog]

I think my Fab28 might be on its way out. Which is very very sad.

Basically the compressor seems to be randomly turning itself off - back of fridge unfreezes (we often have a bit of ice at the back) - little while later it comes back on again. Nothing is spoiling and it's staying at roughly the right temperature, but I'm sure the compressor isn't supposed to turn off right?

I've replaced the light switch on it a couple of times (general fault with these ones) and I wouldn't mind trying to replace the thermostat if anyone thought it might help. But the part costs £40 and I'd rather not send good money after bad. We'll probably replace it anyway in the new kitchen, but I was hoping to recoup a bit of money on it!

is it a frost-free freezer, or just a plain fridge?

the compressor is not meant to run all the time.

It's a larder fridge but with a little ice box at the top. It's been quite noisy since we moved it, so I'm used to hearing the compressor going a lot. Maybe I will give it a thorough clean out and defrost the ice box and clean off the compressor coils (which probably got filthy when our ceiling fell down) and see if it perks up a bit.

It definitely isn't staying as cold though, not getting warm, but I put a cake in there the other day (cooled) with melted chocolate on the top and it was still warmish an hour later. Which isn't normal for our fridge.

It is normal for a compressor to run intermittently , and it is normal for the back wall to be sometimes icy, sometimes wet, and sometimes dry

A manual defrost and hoover off the back may help. Akso clean out the mould from the evaporation dish, tube and gutter.

P.s.

If it is noisy the feet may need levelling.

Thank you! I shoved a wedge under the wonky foot and it is much quieter! Will do power clean once kids are in bed.

the feet almost certainly screw up and down to level. Instructions will be in the booklet that you've lost but can download from the maker's website

Yes, I have lost the book! One of the feet is stuck, and has been since we moved it. WD40 has done nothing. Next time I move the thing I'll get a pair of pliers on it, but the wedge is working for now :)

www.smeguk.com/user-manuals/