LG linear compressor failures (LG and Kenmore refrigerators)

[RyanAZ]

Have you guys had any experience with the new LG Compressor TCA38091801?  Are they curing the chronic failures of the fridges?  or is it a temporary repair to a permanent problem?  I have a Kenmore 795.74022 (2017 model) with the typical linear compressor failure.  I am currently evaluating my repair options.  Any thoughts/opinions would be appreciated.

[houptee]

From what I have read the new compressors are working better but might be too soon yet to tell since the older compressors would last 3 yrs or so before failing.
LG extended the warranty period for parts and labor on compressors but since you are asking about a Kenmore/LG not sure about the warranty situation since it is not handled by LG you have to deal with Sears.
The board must be updated if you do the new compressor and there has been a firmware update for the jig so you have to make sure you have the newest version.
I heard you can download and update the jig with the newer firmware.
Older LG mainboards from 2013-2014 might not update with the jig and you have to call LG or order a new mainboard if it wont update.

[tcarmen]

Nobody knows, because the new compressors haven't been out long enough to fail.

[6010fd12]

I just made a thread about this. I'll update this post when a mod approves it. Essentially I bought an LG fridge from someone that had LG replace the compressor 2-3 times and the last time (being the new compressor model) only lasted overnight. LG gave up and just gave the owner half of the refund and voided the unit. I can hear the compressor working and the condenser fan is on but when I touch the high side it does not get warm or hot. I'm not sure what's wrong. If anyone thinks they know, please let me know.

[tcarmen]

> someone that had LG replace the compressor 2-3 times

Whoever worked on it did a bad job.

The compressors aren't great, but there's no way a properly done repair should fail 3 times in a short period of time. It almost certainly has a leak/restriction/contamination/software or board update that isn't being handled properly.

>  I can hear the compressor working and the condenser fan is on but when I touch the high side it does not get warm or hot.

That's probably some sort of sealed system problem, but not necessarily the compressor.

If this is your refrigerator and you can get a good sealed system repair from a competent technician that does a lot of LGs, and you can get it done for free under warranty, I'd go for it. If it's going to cost you money, I'd replace it with something different.

[houptee]

I just made a thread about this. I'll update this post when a mod approves it. Essentially I bought an LG fridge from someone that had LG replace the compressor 2-3 times and the last time (being the new compressor model) only lasted overnight. LG gave up and just gave the owner half of the refund and voided the unit. I can hear the compressor working and the condenser fan is on but when I touch the high side it does not get warm or hot. I'm not sure what's wrong. If anyone thinks they know, please let me know.

You cannot get help from LG on that unit anymore if it was voided in their system by the serial number.
If you know how to do sealed system work you can try to cut the filter drier out and cut discharge tube from compressor and blow nitrogen through condenser see if it comes out by inlet to filter drier. I saw a post by a tech showing photos of complete blockage in the filter drier that was a solid tan gunk and it was even backed up inside the tubing coming from the yoder loop. You can bypass the yoder loop and replace condenser if it has signs of blockage but it might have passed debris into the 3 way valve and then into the capillary tubes (if it is a dual evaporator unit). If compressor overheated many times the oil gets gummed up and clogs the system. Or if it had a low side leak moisture is drawn into the system which causes POE oil to turn into acids and solid salt compounds that travel around the system clogging everything up.

[Dash]

I've been an appliance technician for 41 years and I don't recall ever seeing so many bad compressors (big box store dehumidifiers excluded) as LG refrigerators have.  Two weeks ago, the we scrapped out 8 LG refrigerators, all with bad compressors and not one of them was 4 years old.  One month ago we had a customer who spent several days endlessly calling LG again and again and LG finally agreed to replaced their compressor on their 2 year old refrig. 

This past October I was doing a washer repair and the customer mentioned that their very young LG refrigerator was going to have the compressor replaced in warranty but that the service appointment was nearly one month out.  They inquired if my shop could do the repair faster.  I knew we could do it in just a few days but fibbed (because it was an LG) and said no, we're backlogged also.  In March, just before the COVID-19 quarantine began, I was back at the same customer's house to repair their drawer microwave oven.  They told me their LG refrig just went out again and wondered if the warranty serviceman had done a bad job.  I looked over the paperwork and discovered that I knew the tech (and he's excellent) who replaced the compressor.  So through no fault of their own, the warranty service company got a bad yelp review from that customer.  Sure am glad I fibbed and didn't do the job or that would've been me.

I don't know if new replacement LG compressors are any better but currently we suggest when refrig shopping, pick anything but LG.

[Pnwdad1981]

I’ve put in around 50+ now since they debuted. Haven’t been back yet but also hasn’t been 4 years yet like dash said lol. You just have to make sure you have the info replacing. You need the flash jig and also the compatibility list. Just about all fridges will except the 801’s except the oem comps that are in the 300’s. Those have to have the OG comps. Just had a 795 with the 300 comp. and those are rare though only second I’ve seen out of 100’s but I’d still check.

[Bootzie]

8 weeks ago refrigerator and freezer both stopped cooling, LG sent a tech out who replaced the compressor, next day only the freezer was working and the water and ice maker.  LG sent another tech a week later who spent 2 and half hour doing IDK what other then him rechecking the first guys work, second guy said it should all be cold in 24 hours, next day it was same, refrigerator still not getting cold. No codes appear on the front display and no blinking lights on the rear PCB board. When put in test mode everything functions as it should when it is put through the 3 modes. As LG has now left us hanging we have replaced ourselves the Refrigerator Defrost Sensor Assembly. (it didn't help) then the "Full Duct Assembly, Multi, ( that didn't help) then we just replaced the (Refrigerator Temperature Sensor, (which also has not helped. We are at a loss, don't know what to replace from here. Anyone have any clues???

[houptee]

8 weeks ago refrigerator and freezer both stopped cooling, LG sent a tech out who replaced the compressor, next day only the freezer was working and the water and ice maker.  LG sent another tech a week later who spent 2 and half hour doing IDK what other then him rechecking the first guys work, second guy said it should all be cold in 24 hours, next day it was same, refrigerator still not getting cold. No codes appear on the front display and no blinking lights on the rear PCB board. When put in test mode everything functions as it should when it is put through the 3 modes. As LG has now left us hanging we have replaced ourselves the Refrigerator Defrost Sensor Assembly. (it didn't help) then the "Full Duct Assembly, Multi, ( that didn't help) then we just replaced the (Refrigerator Temperature Sensor, (which also has not helped. We are at a loss, don't know what to replace from here. Anyone have any clues???

Have to check frost pattern of both evaporators. You said freezer is cold but refrig is not so pull off cover see if any frost on frige evaporator. You can also listen or feel cap tube inlet for flow of gas. And look for tiny crimp in the cap tube at inlet of evaporator. If you see it cut that crimp off and rebraze cap tube there might be junk clogging at the crimp from the failed compressor. Also have heard about oil gets stuck in the evaporator clogging flow.

[Bootzie]

Hi Houptee
Just changed out the main control board yesterday and observed no change, the evaporator in the refrigerator doses not get a frost pattern on it at all,
The freezer compartment and ice maker and water dispenser work fine.  I’m at a loss as LG has left me hanging going on 9 weeks now living out of a cooler and trying to replace piece by piece as I research possibles, I’m pretty good at repairing appliances for a girl, repaired my oven, dishwasher, dryer and pretty much took apart my LG front load washer apart to replace the bearing when repair man wanted 700 dollars for a 25 dollar part on a 3 year old washer it took me 2 days and a few sweat words but it’s working just fine now, these things seem to fall apart just after their extended warranty ends, I had a five year on my refrigerator and it was just 6 months past....

[houptee]

Hi Houptee
Just changed out the main control board yesterday and observed no change, the evaporator in the refrigerator doses not get a frost pattern on it at all,
The freezer compartment and ice maker and water dispenser work fine.  I’m at a loss as LG has left me hanging going on 9 weeks now living out of a cooler and trying to replace piece by piece as I research possibles, I’m pretty good at repairing appliances for a girl, repaired my oven, dishwasher, dryer and pretty much took apart my LG front load washer apart to replace the bearing when repair man wanted 700 dollars for a 25 dollar part on a 3 year old washer it took me 2 days and a few sweat words but it’s working just fine now, these things seem to fall apart just after their extended warranty ends, I had a five year on my refrigerator and it was just 6 months past....

There must be no refrigerant flow to the FF (fresh food) evaporator. This could be a clog in the capillary tube which is the thin tubing that runs from the 3 way valve to each evaporator. Did they replace either evaporator when they worked on the fridge? Where the cap tube connects to the evaporators LG puts a small pinch crimp in the tube and this can cause debris to get stuck and clog the tiny tube at inlet to the evaporators. Another problem is when they replace evaporator the tech might accidentally braze the cap tube too much and braze it shut because there is not much cap tube to work with after cutting off the crimp section. A rare one is the 3 way valve is bad and does not send refrigerant to the other evaporator (some techs that work for LG have told me they hardly ever have to replace a 3 way valve).
So the only thing you can do to figure out the issue would be to place the 3 way valve in home position by unplugging fridge, wait a minute or so, plug it back in and you can feel and hear the 3 way valve vibrate and chatter, as soon as it stops vibrating you unplug the fridge. Now you can go over by the right side where water connection is and there is a harness connector that you can unplug so the 3 way valve will not change position and stay in home position. Now plug it back in and let it run for a while and see if both evaporators are getting frosty. If not then you pretty much have a clog restriction to the FF evaporator.
You would need to remove refrigerant and try to cut out the crimp and then put nitrogen in the system and see if it blows out the cap tube before you rebraze it to the evaporator.
This should have been all done by whoever did the compressor job. It is a pain in the ass working inside the box trying to braze in there without burning the plastic on back of fridge.