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Thread: bought a fridge on CL, had it delivered, worked, now it won't work

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    Featured Member FiendishGyrator's Avatar
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    Default bought a fridge on CL, had it delivered, worked, now it won't work

    Okay, so after some net surfing, I have come to discover that due to the coolant and how it flows, you're supposed to turn it off for an hour BEFORE moving it (say, like in the back of a pickup) and you're not supposed to turn it on for an hour AFTER moving it, some people say even wait 24 hours, to allow the coolant to get out of the compressor and such.

    So here's my problem and I'm wondering if someone has some first-hand experience or technical knowledge. I didn't realize any of this before buying a fridge off of craigslist. It's a beautiful fridge and I get a good impression from the guy I bought it off of (heck, he even gave me a nice ceiling fan in his garage because I asked if I could buy it-- come to find out he and his wife have a bunch of rental properties thus the fridge getting sold and the fans during renovations.)

    So anyway, the fridge was running right up until it was moved in the back of his pickup, and then we waited fifteen minutes after getting it inside to turn it on. It worked for 26ish hours, maybe less, and then it doesn't make a sound though we've tripped the breakers (there was a storm last night) and tried different plugs.

    My boyfriend's tripping out because he's saying I should demand my money back and I'm like, "dude-- it's craigslist. I highly doubt I would get my money back" and now after doing some research into why it is LIKELY not working, I'm not going to put that onto the guy who sold it to me since likely he didn't know either.

    So the stuff I read online says to let it be, unplugged, for twenty-four hours so that the coolant can hopefully drain out of all the little bits it's not supposed to be.

    Has this happened to someone else?

    And, I guess, it's useful to put this info out there so you might know if and when you buy a fridge

    I'm really hoping it works. I like my fridge a lot even though it's too big for my fridge alcove

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    Veteran Member So Fine Divyne's Avatar
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    Default Re: bought a fridge on CL, had it delivered, worked, now it won't work

    It may have simply run out of coolant but most likely it's the compressor. They go out often and are cheap to replace/fix. It could be dust/dirt/lack of ventilation, etc. Open up the back and take a look at the part where the fan blows when it is on. If it's dirty/dusty then that's probably it. If it runs, but barely, and doesn't get cold it needs more freon. If you take it to a major retailer it'll cost you a bit. Try to find a local place that does HVAC work and you'll get a better deal on whatever it is.
    Thank Goodness I smartened up! The old me is dead and gone.

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    Featured Member FiendishGyrator's Avatar
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    Default Re: bought a fridge on CL, had it delivered, worked, now it won't work

    ^I'm going to let it hang unplugged for a day or two like what the responses to a lot of similar yahoo queries say, and then if that doesn't work, I'll try all that.

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    Veteran Member DottieMay's Avatar
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    Default Re: bought a fridge on CL, had it delivered, worked, now it won't work

    I had the same problem with some asshole on cl. I have bought some things on cl but I wouldn't trust the majority of those people as far as I Could throw them. I bought a mini fridge because I broke the one at my job, got it to work, damn thing didn't work. I'm angry now thinking about it lmao. The guy seemed totally nice and honest but I guess not. I did get another one from some kid who was moving off of cl, but for the most part most of those people are either creepers, low ballers and bullshit artists.

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    Featured Member OJenni!'s Avatar
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    Default Re: bought a fridge on CL, had it delivered, worked, now it won't work

    Call a dude or lady over from the phone book. My mom said it will usually cost around $40 to have someone come out to you and take a look. Don't haul it out to a store if you don't have to. You can get the work done in your own home. My mother used to do fridge/stove repairs so here are a few pieces of advice.

    Try moving the fridge out from the wall. Sometimes the compressor will just kick in to gear!

    Make sure there is at least 4 inches between the wall and the back of the fridge, this is for ventilation. Sometimes if they overheat they just stop to prevent things from getting too hot back there.

    remove items from top of fridge.



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    Featured Member FiendishGyrator's Avatar
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    Default Re: bought a fridge on CL, had it delivered, worked, now it won't work

    Luckily I did what the internet told me to do from previous people asking about the same problem. I don't think the guy knew that it was going to be a problem and my boyfriend was also uber-suspicious, but I just didn't get the feeling that the guy was trying to scam me. We just didn't know that it's not supposed to be lain on its back, but I think what saved us was that it was only in that position for twenty or so minutes, so even though the coolant went to places it wasn't supposed to go, after twenty four hours of being unplugged (and I'll be honest, going on my knees on my badly-needs-a-good-mopping-kitchen floor before God and asking for help) I plugged it in and waited several minutes and it started up.

    This after trying the same sans prayer two hours earlier and my boyfriend declaring it was dead. I just don't give up that easily.

    Thanks again God! I love my big beast of a fridge!

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    Veteran Member DottieMay's Avatar
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    Default Re: bought a fridge on CL, had it delivered, worked, now it won't work

    ^^ Yay! I'm glad it works! Knowing you got scammed is one thing, but then to have your boyfriend bitch you out about it makes it soooo much worse lol. Still to this day I hear about the broken fridge.

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    Featured Member FiendishGyrator's Avatar
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    Default Re: bought a fridge on CL, had it delivered, worked, now it won't work

    ^yeah, I hate looking back on a situation I felt my trusting nature was taken advantage of.

    On an additional plus side, boyfriend installed the nice looking ceiling fan with lights today. Looks
    good!

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    Veteran Member DottieMay's Avatar
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    Default Re: bought a fridge on CL, had it delivered, worked, now it won't work

    You're lucky. My bf works in construction for a living, yet refuses to fix or upgrade anything in our home.

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    Featured Member FiendishGyrator's Avatar
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    Default Re: bought a fridge on CL, had it delivered, worked, now it won't work

    ^ha! He knows if he didn't, I would do it and that would make him
    look bad. I used to date a mechanic and he was soooo fucking useless
    when it came to fixing my car even though I would pay him despite him saying
    that he wanted to do it for free. Gaaaawd!!! Even paying him it took weeks
    or months or he never did stuff that he swear he'd do or help me with.

    Finally after dumping that loser I started doing work on my car myself--granted,
    it takes me a little while but now I do my oil changes and even replaced a torque strut.

    This current boyfriend actually fixes my car without me asking but once again, if he didn't
    I would, so he knows better than to drag his ass and than act like he's some great boyfriend
    for finally doing an oil change (like the last one would do.)

    bleh! Men.

    But yeah--I got me a good one. Though the bathrooms I'll probably have tofinish up since he's
    dragging on finishing the trim, and I'll have to finish another light--at least I didn't have to do most of the painting and hanging the fan light.

  11. #11
    Veteran Member DottieMay's Avatar
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    Default Re: bought a fridge on CL, had it delivered, worked, now it won't work

    ^ I just changed my thermostat in my car the other day! Very liberating. My bf sat behind me the whole time saying how I'm going to ruin my car. I said, Relax. I learned it on youtube. lmao

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    Featured Member FiendishGyrator's Avatar
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    Default Re: bought a fridge on CL, had it delivered, worked, now it won't work

    ^word. I bought a thermostat for mine and my boyfriend tried to put it in but he needed an extended for the wratchet (sp?)

    I, on the other hand, have no shame about parking in the autozone's parking lot and going in and borrowing tools that would only get a rare use if I bought them.

    But yeah, have you bought your booklet for your make/model of car? Not as easy to understand as YouTube but still useful. It's like $28, but your library might have it.

    I did my torque strut but tightened my engine mount wrong so have to go in and loosen them (another job for the borrowed extender!) and re-tighten them.

    My car's making a squeeling sound though that I have to have diagnosed. Gosh that's annoying and probably an easy fix (it's not the serpentine belt--that got replaced this summer.)


    So yes--women fixin their own cars for the win!

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