The short answer
Open the door and look at the lamp. No lamp means a supply problem: check the breaker, the outlet and the cord. Lamp on with nothing running means the machine has power but is not cooling, and a compressor start delay or a control fault is the likely reason.
What you observe
- No lamp, no sound at all — A supply fault.
- Lamp on, nothing running — Power present; cooling not starting.
- A click every few minutes and no start — The compressor is trying and failing.
- Silent but still cold — Probably between cycles.
- Dead after a kitchen breaker tripped — Check what else on that circuit was running.
- Not this fault: running constantly and warming — Read the cooling page.
Ranked by what is found
- Breaker tripped or the plug loose at the outlet — First, and free to fix.
- Outlet dead, sometimes on a switched socket — Second.
- Compressor start delay after a power interruption — Third, and not a fault.
- Start relay or overload protector failed — Fourth, and the click comes from here.
- Control board or thermostat not calling for cooling — Fifth.
- Compressor failed — Last, and a replacement conversation.
Check in this order
- Open the door and look at the lamp — It splits supply from appliance immediately.
- Push the plug home and reset the breaker — Both are common and cost nothing.
- Test the outlet with a lamp or a charger — It proves the socket independently.
- If the lamp works, wait several minutes before judging — Compressors delay on restart.
Owner checks
- Check the interior lamp with the door open — The fastest diagnostic on the page.
About 5 min
- Reseat the plug and switch the breaker fully off and on — Half-tripped breakers look closed.
About 10 min
- Plug something small and known-good into the same outlet — It tests the socket, not the appliance.
About 10 min
- Check the cord where it passes behind the cabinet — Cabinets crush cords against the wall.
Tools: torchAbout 15 min
- Leave the machine undisturbed for several minutes after restoring power — Start delays are normal.
About 15 min
- Stop before removing the rear cover to reach the relay or compressor — Mains terminals sit there.
Power and food
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Keep the refrigerator at or below forty degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer at or below zero degrees Fahrenheit; if the machine has been off for hours, check both with a thermometer before trusting the food. Do not run a refrigerator from an extension lead, and do not repeatedly cycle a machine that will not start.
When to call
Call when the lamp works, the outlet is proven and the machine still will not run after a wait, because the relay, overload and compressor all sit behind the rear cover. Call an electrician instead if the outlet is dead or a breaker trips repeatedly. Move perishable food elsewhere while you wait rather than opening the door to check on it.
Other faults on this refrigerator
Scope of this page
Generalized across refrigerator families under this badge in ordinary kitchen installations; where a family-specific or model-specific page exists it is the narrower answer. Not here: relay and overload part numbers, compressor data and circuit ratings.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
