How to Get a Capacitor Relay Off a Refrigerator

The capacitor, which is on the back of a refrigerator’s main electrical module, is a two-terminal electrical that sends current through the compressor relay to provide full electrical power to your refrigerator. If the lights flicker when you open your refrigerator door or if you temporarily lose power, you may have a shorted capacitor. Test the capacitor to see whether it needs to be replaced. If so, you can manually remove the part from your refrigerator.

Phillips screwdriver
Ohmmeter

Instructions

- 1
  Move your refrigerator away from the wall and disconnect the power cord from the wall outlet.
- 2
  Remove the screws from the lower rear panel of the refrigerator using a Phillips screwdriver. Lift and remove the lower rear panel. On some refrigerator models you may need to remove the entire back panel.
- 3
  Find the relay cover within the lower end of the back of the refrigerator, which has three wires coming out. Lift the cover off the retaining clips with your hands.
- 4
  Disconnect the two wires from the capacitor, which is a small cylinder-shaped part above the relay.
- 5
  Connect the wires of an ohmmeter to the capacitor to test it before you remove it. If the meter goes all the way to right, you have a shorted capacitor, and the part needs to be replaced.
- 6
  Remove the screws from the mounting holding the capacitor in place and lift the capacitor out of the back of the refrigerator.

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Refrigerators