Fridge - Fitting a new thermostat

[moggie 939]

Some of you kindly assisted me with my taps a few weeks ago and I am now asking for help with my fridge. As a pensioner I can't afford to get someone out unless I really can't do this myself. I have two yr old Figidaire larder fridge and almost certainly the thermostat has gone. I have phoned local electrical parts dealer and they have new ones for about �16 and have said they are standard and easily fitted. If I switch off the fridge and remove the liitle panel which houses the light bulb and the t,stat I am told there are only a couple of wires going to the t.stat and I can replace it easily - I won't need to solder any wires will I? Any advice will be most helpful. I am quite good at electrical DIY and can't afford the �70 quoted for Frigidaire to come out!! Thank again everyone Moggie

[buildersmate]

Just to double check before you buy, why not remove the light covering housing and have a look? I am 99% sure that you will find that it uses 'spade' type push on terminals - a few might use screws to secure (like a domestic plug but smaller screws) - and none will require soldering. These thermostats are the most common reason for failure of a domestic fridge and are easily changed by someone who is evidently switched on such as yourself.

[moggie 939]

Thanks Builders Mate - it was yourself who helped with taps last month and that worked ok!

Will look tomorrow and if as you say will get the replacement and let you know outcome.

Thanks for replying

Moggie

[moggie 939]

Hello again Buildersmate

I removed the cover and could see the small oblong thermostat behind. Although you were right about the spade connectors I could not find how to remove the actual thermostat as there was a wire (looked like a thick copper type) which came from inside the fidge casing and was fixed into the back of the stat. It would not bend and there was no obvious connection point to the stat.

Did not want to mess with it, so might have to bite the bullet and get in a repai man.

Thanks anyway for your help

Moggie

[moggie 939]

Hello again Buildersmate.
I had a new thermostat fitted - quite simple with the connectors as you said and the long sensor which went thru a hole in the side of the fridge which I understand reads the temp of the gases? and switches on and off accordingly.
It does at least click on and off now correctly but only at a low setting and I cannot get the fridge to operate below about 10 degrees C. I have been told that the reason for this is that it has gradually, since we moved here, leaked some of the gases (or something) and therefore it will never reach the cold temp I used to have when it was new.
Certainly this is borne out by the fact that over the last year it has never been as cold as it was when new. Turning up the stat makes no difference to the temp in fridge and doing this only means it never switches off.
Does this sound feasible?
Thanks
Moggie