OT Freezer

I have a 1999 Kenmore Coffin style freezer that suddenly quit running. The red light that indicates the freezer is on has been flickering on and off but mostly on in no particular sequence for a couple of months. The outlet is fine. Any thoughts? The chest has been sitting in the same spot in the basement since it was new. A lot of the Tractor/garden efforts go into this freezer! Anything I can try or just face the music ie: 12 years and it's done?

Our fridge was acting up.too warm, freezing, stopping, then doing fine.
Emptied it, unplugged it for 3 days or so, cleaned it up/vacuumed all around the motor, fan, and vents. Been like a new one since.

Sounds good I'll try it! THANKS!!!

Have you had anyother activities in your basement that could have caused a lose connection? From what you are saying, all I can tell is that the power is inconsistantly going off. Do you have the schemetics and a multimeter? Is the unit trying to start when the lite goes on? The good news is that both statistically and based on what you say, it sounds electrical, and unless the problem is in the hermetic compressor, it is usually worth fixing.

Can't determine much by those old orange-glow neon lamps.....when they get old they go on and off at random. That is a fact.

I am electrically challenged, my biggest electrical asset is fear of electrocution. I attributed the flickering light to age of the light (like JMOR replied)and the freezer itself was staying on and freezing well. Nothing else going on in the entire house to indicate an electrical problem. Even when it quit freezing the flickering of the light continued.
I am curious regarding the statement about statistically it's electrical. I thought when one goes out it is mostly due to the compressor going bad.

I used to manage the line the produced them. Is it the little round light about 3/8", a light that is about 1/4"x1", or a little LED in the handle.

1/4 by 1

"70% of all problems with AC&R unit's is electrical.", says my Navy A school instructor all them years ago. Inside the hermetic unit is an electric motor. does your freezer make any sounds like it is trying to start?

(quoted from post at 21:39:20 11/06/11) I am electrically challenged, my biggest electrical asset is fear of electrocution. I attributed the flickering light to age of the light (like JMOR replied)and the freezer itself was staying on and freezing well. Nothing else going on in the entire house to indicate an electrical problem. Even when it quit freezing the flickering of the light continued.
I am curious regarding the statement about statistically it's electrical. I thought when one goes out it is mostly due to the compressor going bad.

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f it tried to start (hear any noise) then may be that start circuit/devices are the problem or compressor locked up. If it runs but does not cool, likely lost its tiny refrigerant charge. If it does none of the above, you might look into the thermostat/sw.

on most of these old freezers the light just told you it was plugged in.first if this is a frost free check the defrost timer.they have a habit of quitting when they try to move the contacts.if yours stopped when it went tried to go from defrost back to cool that very well could be your problem.next check the wiring ,look for any wires burnt in two. Just fyi though,ive seen several times here lately where they show a new energy star rated freezer can actually pay for itself in energy savings.i un-plugged a old freezer we were not using much three months ago,and electric bill dropped,$50 first month and nearly $100 the second. quite honestly i didnt believe it so i plugged it back in,and bill went right back up.i would have never dreamed it costs this much to run one.this old thing has been running for probably 20 years about 1/3 empty all the time so theres no telling how much money its cost me over the years.( i still have another one that i am thinking very seriously of replacing,its even older.)pantry out back has two freezers and a extra fridg,(of course theres NEVER any thing to cook so the kitchen boss says)im pretty sure theres some brontasuarus steaks down in the bottom of that thing somewhere..I have to REALLY get bored to clean out the freezer.