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A refrigerator that is completely silent and dark has lost its supply; one that has power but never runs the compressor is a different fault, and the interior light tells you which within seconds. A cabinet that was moved and started too soon is the first thing to suspect on a Criterion, because a machine that has just been installed or moved is far more likely to be reporting its setup than its age, and setup faults appear immediately rather than gradually. Outlet, breaker, plug and control settings are owner checks; the start relay, compressor and control are not. The order below is written for a unit that is new, newly installed or recently moved; a machine that has run in the same spot for years ranks differently.
What you observe
- It was moved, and has not run since — Both a supply question and a settling question.
- No light, no fan, no hum at all — A supply fault: outlet, plug, breaker or cord.
- The light works but nothing ever runs — Power is present; the control or the compressor circuit is not starting.
- NEAR MISS — It runs only sometimes — Intermittent running is usually a control or a relay rather than a supply.
Causes, most likely first
- A cabinet that was moved and started too soon — Ranked first here: a machine that has just been installed or moved is far more likely to be reporting its setup than its age, and setup faults appear immediately rather than gradually. Where a refrigerator has been laid down or heavily tilted, oil can migrate into the refrigerant lines, and starting it immediately risks the compressor.
- A cord pinched or unplugged behind the cabinet — Ranked second: A refrigerator pushed back hard traps its own cord, and the plug can be pulled part-way out without ever looking loose from the front.
- No power at the outlet — Ranked third, and last: A tripped breaker, a switched socket or a residual-current device tripped by something else entirely leaves the cabinet dead with nothing wrong inside it. What feeds a machine changes when the machine changes rooms, so on a recent installation the taps, drains, vents and outlets are the first suspects.
What to check first, second, third
- Ask how the cabinet was transported and how long it stood before being switched on — A recently laid-down cabinet needs to stand upright for several hours before power is applied. On a machine that is new to its spot this is checked before anything mechanical, because setup faults arrive immediately and wear faults do not.
- Pull the cabinet forward and look at the plug and the cord run — A plug half out of the socket is a common finding after a kitchen clean or a delivery.
- Plug a lamp into the same outlet — A dead outlet ends the appliance diagnosis before it begins.
The checks you can do yourself
- If it was moved lying down, leave it upright and unpowered for several hours, then start it — The waiting is the fix; there is nothing else useful to do in the meantime.
About 15 min
- Reseat the plug firmly and route the cord so the cabinet cannot crush it — Leave enough slack that the cabinet can be pulled out without straining the cord.
About 10 min
- Stop here if the next move needs a meter on live terminals — That is where an owner check ends and a service call begins.
Before you open anything
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Refrigerant is licensed work: oil or a hiss at the compressor means stop and call, and two people move a cabinet this size.
Where an owner fix ends
Call once the outlet is proven live, the plug is seated, the control is set and the cabinet still will not run — particularly if you can hear it clicking and stopping at the back. One line to keep in mind while you wait: A refrigerator holds food safely at 40 °F (4 °C) or below.
Nearby pages
What this page does not cover
This page covers Criterion refrigerators as a class, not one family or model line. No family- or model-specific page exists beneath it yet; when one is published it will be linked here and it will outrank this page for a named model. Deliberately not here: wiring colours, resistance values, torque figures and part numbers, which differ between families.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
