Kenmore Refrigerator Cycle Not Completing: Causes

Why won't my Kenmore refrigerator complete its cycle?#

Runs non-stop, never gets cold enough#

Coils (start here): the condenser coils under or behind the fridge dump the refrigerant's heat, and once matted with dust and pet hair they can't — so the compressor runs longer and longer and finally can't reach set point. Pull the fridge out, vacuum the coils, and brush between the fins; in a pet household they can mat within a year. Evaporator fan: if the freezer is cold but the fridge is warm, the fan that pushes cold air forward has likely quit — open the freezer, press the door switch to override, and listen; silence means a failed motor (Whirlpool WPW10189703 on 106-series, LG 4681JB1029B on 795-series).

Short-cycles on and off every few minutes#

The classic click-buzz-click every couple of minutes is the compressor start relay — it can't give the compressor the surge it needs to start, so the overload trips within seconds, cools, and retries. It causes the large majority of short-cycling, and you may catch a burning smell from the failed relay (Whirlpool W10189190 on 106/596, LG EBG60663230 on 795). The other short-cycling cause is a compressor overheating from those same dirty coils or too little clearance, tripping its thermal overload until it cools; clean the coils and give it 2 inches of clearance at the rear.

Platform and defrost notes#

On the 795-series LG Linear Compressor, internal valve failures are a known no-start issue — LG extended many of these compressors to a 10-year warranty, so check coverage before paying — and its inverter board can fail and cause erratic cycling. And on any platform, a failed defrost system quietly mimics a cycle problem: ice slowly encases the evaporator until airflow chokes and the compressor runs endlessly. Pull the freezer back panel, and if the coils are iced over, the defrost heater or thermostat has failed (Whirlpool WR51X10055 heater and WR50X10068 thermostat on 106/596; LG 5300JR1092A and 6615JB2005H on 795).

Check it yourself#

1. Decide the symptom: constant running versus short-cycling every few minutes.
2. Pull the fridge out and vacuum and brush the condenser coils.
3. Constant running with a cold freezer but warm fridge: check the evaporator fan (press the door switch).
4. Short-cycling with a click-buzz pattern: suspect the start relay, and check for a burning smell.
5. Pull the freezer back panel; evaporator coils iced over mean a defrost fault.

Repair or replace?#

Coil cleaning is free, and a start relay, evaporator fan, or defrost part is an inexpensive fix, so a Kenmore that won't complete its cycle is usually worth repairing — and skip the Sears-branded part markup by ordering the Whirlpool or LG equivalent. Only a sealed-system leak or an out-of-warranty Linear Compressor tips toward replacement; a diagnostic visit confirms it.

Frequently asked questions#

My Kenmore refrigerator runs constantly but doesn't get cold — where do I start?#

Start with the condenser coils, since dust-caked coils are the most common reason a fridge runs non-stop without reaching temperature — vacuum and brush them behind the kick plate or on the rear. If the freezer is cold but the fridge is warm, the evaporator fan has likely failed instead, trapping cold air in the freezer.

My Kenmore fridge clicks and buzzes every few minutes — what is that?#

That click-buzz-click pattern is the compressor start relay failing: it can't deliver the surge the compressor needs, so the overload trips within seconds and it retries every few minutes. Replace the relay (using the Whirlpool or LG equivalent for your platform), and if you smell burning from it, address it promptly.

Is my Kenmore refrigerator worth repairing if it won't cool properly?#

In most cases yes, especially under 8 to 10 years old, because the leading causes — dirty coils, a start relay, an evaporator fan, or a defrost part — are inexpensive fixes. Only a sealed-system refrigerant leak or an out-of-warranty Linear Compressor is a major expense, and a diagnostic visit confirms which before you decide.