RTG140GCH2A Frigidaire Refrigerator - Instructions

I removed the cover, used a multimeter to test the compressor circuit, and found the compressor start relay to be defective.
Ordered a new one and installed it when it arrived.

Removed the cowling with a square drive screw driver, removed the spring clip from the cover of the compressor controls with a screw driver, pulled off the old compressor start relay and replaced it with the new part. Since other problems could have caused the compressor to short cycle this was a "replace the part and hope it would work" since that would be the most common reason and it was not a very expensive part.

The BIG problem was getting the old drip pan off. The bolt on top of the compressor was too long to allow the removal of the old drip pan. I removed the old drip pan by cutting most of it away with tin shears then cutting the remaining part of the pan around the bolt with a hack saw (taking care not to damage freon lines and raising the pan above the threads of the bolt so as not to damage the threads). I still had to cut half the bolt away with a hack saw by replacing the nut and cutting a third of the bolt away (above the nut), so the new pan would fit. Putting the new pan on was a breeze after that. It may be easier to just cut the bolt off altogether on top of the compressor and use the wire clips per the instructions supplied with the kit to install the new one.

Simple switch repair: Unplug fridge, pull down to remove switch assembly, slip contacts off. Reverse with replacement switch. HOWEVER, check first to see if the bulb filament might be broken, as this could cause the same symptom. OR in my case, the light socket connection was the culprit. Check that too before ordering a replacement switch.

After unpacking the new gasket, I laid it in the sun to warm up and become flexible. Then I removed the freezer and refrigerator doors (removing the freezer door was necessary in order to remove the refrigerator door). Then I laid the refrigerator door flat on the door, and loosened the nuts securing the gasket. I removed the old gasket. Starting at the door's bottom corner, my wife and I worked the new gasket into place, tightening the nuts as we progressed. Fitting the corners in place was the trickiest step. Then we fitted the sides, and finally the top. (I reasoned that if there were any slack, it would be best at the top.)

Twisted replacement bulb into place easily. Let there be light!

I replaced the bulb using my hands to twist the bulb in the socket located at the top of the refrigerator.

After the refrigerator stopped cooling, we determined that the problem was in the compressor area. we used a screwdriver to get the cover off and then vice grips to get the actual pieces out (start relay & overload)--they broke, but they were already broken). We went to the Home Depot site to purchase the parts, but found PartSelect to be much less expensive. Put the parts in when they came a few days later and it worked! thank you PartSelect!

Pulled out the freezer. Unplugged. No freezer back cover was there. The compressor start relay was in a plastic encasement attached to the compressor - wires led me to it. Removed the solid metal spring with a screwdriver and removed the plastic cover. Tried to pull out the defective relay but the freezer was so old I needed a pliers to remove it. When I put pressure on the old relay with the pliers the relay broke and came off in pieces. I then removed the wires from the broken parts and put them on the new relay. I pushed the new relay onto the 2 pins then replaced the cover and spring. After plugging the freezer in the problem was fixed.

The bulb has a plastic clear cover. That cover can just be carefully removed using a screwdriver. It's held in by a metal bracket. After you remove the cover. You'll just need to replace the bulb and then re-install the cover and bracket.

I removed the compressor start relay and replaced it with the new part. Initially it did not work. When I checked my work, I had to tighten the connector on the new part. Once I made the correction, the freezer is freezing normally again.

Took old defrost pan off, put new one on. Had to bend new defrost pan a little for it to fit..

replaced it

The old drain pan had a 1 ½” tall bushing attached to the center of the pan. The new pan did not have this bushing which was great. I had to cut about 1 inch off the bushing to remove the old pan. Also after cutting the bushing I had to screw the bushing off after cutting the old pan from the bushing. I installed new pan onto the ½” of threads that was left on the top of the compressor. Checked repair two days later all was great.