The quick verdict
An Attitude refrigerator that will not start after being moved or bought second-hand needs standing time before any conclusion is drawn: several hours upright, longer if it travelled on its side. Then prove the socket. Only after both is it reasonable to suspect the relay, the control or a compressor that was already marginal when the unit changed hands.
How this shows up
- Nothing at all after relocation — Prove the socket first; the appliance may never have been tested there.
- Runs for seconds then stops, repeatedly — Protection tripping, and the classic post-move symptom.
- A repeating click with no run — The start relay, and it is often what makes a second-hand unit cheap.
- Interior light on, nothing running — Power present. The fault is at the relay, thermostat or control.
- NEAR MISS: switched on immediately after transport — Give it standing time before judging anything.
What is behind it, in order
- Started too soon after transport — First, and it is the fault owners create rather than inherit.
- No supply at the socket — Second, and a second-hand unit is often plugged in somewhere untested.
- Start relay or overload protector — Third, and a marginal relay is a common reason a unit was sold on.
- Damaged flex or plug from the move — Fourth, and it is worth a look before power is applied.
- Compressor already failing before the move — Last, and the unknown in any second-hand purchase.
Work down this list
- Let it stand upright before applying power — The one step that cannot be skipped.
- Look at the flex and plug for transport damage — Free, and it matters before energising anything.
- Test the socket with a lamp — Especially in a new location.
- Listen for a click cycle once it is powered — It names the relay in seconds.
What an owner can safely do
- Stand the appliance upright and leave it unpowered — Several hours; a day if it travelled on its side. This is the single most important step after a move.
About 60 min
- Inspect the flex, the plug and the rear panel for transport damage — Do this before power is applied rather than after.
Tools: flashlightAbout 15 min
- Test the socket with a lamp and check the breaker — A new location means a supply nobody has verified for this appliance.
Tools: table lamp, torchAbout 10 min
- Power up and listen at the back for a click cycle — Regular clicks with no run point at the relay. Stop here rather than opening the compartment.
About 15 min
Safety first, and it is not boilerplate
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel — a capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off, and the start relay sits beside one. A standard household branch circuit is 15 A or 20 A. A refrigerator is heavy and top-biased when loaded: empty it before moving it, keep it as upright as the doorways allow, and get help. If the flex or plug was damaged in transit, do not energise the appliance until it has been repaired properly.
When to call a technician
Call when the unit has had proper standing time, the socket is proven live and it still will not run. Call quickly if you hear a click cycle, because a failing relay left in service damages the compressor. On a second-hand appliance, ask for an estimate before work begins: the economics differ from a unit you bought new, and a compressor diagnosis usually ends the conversation. Call an electrician if the breaker trips again on reset.
Nearest pages of this class
Scope of this page
This page is the class-level answer for an Attitude refrigerator that will not start. It publishes no standing times for specific models, relay identifiers or part numbers, because those differ between builds under this badge. Where a family- or model-specific page exists it carries them. Sockets, flexes and protective devices belong to a licensed electrician, and refrigerant handling is regulated work that stays outside this page entirely.
Other faults on this machine
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
