LG refrigerator not cooling in Burbank: replacing a failed linear compressor
The compressor still ran, but the pump inside it had failed. A new compressor was only part of the fix.
In this guide
The compressor ran, but the low side was wrong
An LG refrigerator here in Burbank had stopped cooling. With gauges on, the low side read 15 PSI. This fridge runs on R600a, and on R600a the low side should be negative, in a vacuum.
The compressor was running, but it wasn’t pumping refrigerant, and it made a terrible rattle. You can hear it in the video. The mechanical pump inside the compressor had failed.
Why the whole system got flushed
When that pump failed, metal particles from it went through the entire sealed system. So once the old compressor was out, the job was to flush it all clean before a new one went in.
We used acetone because it breaks down oil sludge and debris, and it evaporates easily under nitrogen and vacuum. The capillary tube got nitrogen through a custom adapter, the one we showed how to make in earlier videos. After that, high-pressure nitrogen went through all the refrigerant circuits, including the condenser coil and the door heater loop.
Firmware first, then the new compressor
On this fridge, the control board needed a firmware update to match the new compressor. We did it with LG’s official programmer before the compressor went in. Then the new LG compressor and a new filter-drier were brazed in.
The vacuum wouldn’t hold
When we tried to pull a vacuum, it wouldn’t hold. So we pressurized the system with nitrogen and sprayed bubble leak detector on the joints. On the compressor access valve, a bubble kept growing. It was a tiny pinhole in the braze, on a joint that had looked fine.
We re-brazed it, and the system held a solid 300 microns. The lesson we took from it: check with nitrogen before you pull a vacuum.
Running again
Thirty minutes after startup, the low side read -7.1 PSI, and the fridge was cooling again.
If your LG refrigerator stops cooling
On this fridge, a positive low-side reading on R600a with the compressor running was the sign it had stopped pumping. If a compressor has to be replaced, ask whether the job includes a flush of the sealed system, a new filter-drier, a firmware check and a nitrogen leak test. We wrote up another LG compressor replacement in Santa Monica too.
LG refrigerator repair in Burbank
Our base is in Toluca Lake, right next to Burbank. See our refrigerator repair service, our LG appliance repair page and the Burbank service area. CA BEAR registered (#A 50636), EPA Section 608 Universal certified.
FAQ
Why would an LG refrigerator stop cooling while the compressor is still running?
On this fridge, the compressor ran but wasn't pumping refrigerant. The mechanical pump inside it had failed, and it made a loud rattle. The low side read 15 PSI, while on R600a it should be in a vacuum.
Does the system need a flush after an LG compressor fails?
On this job it did. The failed pump had spread metal particles through the sealed system, so we flushed all the circuits with acetone and high-pressure nitrogen before the new compressor went in.
Does a new LG compressor need a firmware update?
This one did. Before installing it, we updated the control board firmware with LG's official programmer so the board matches the new compressor.
What if the vacuum won't hold after a compressor replacement?
That happened here. We pressurized the system with nitrogen and sprayed bubble leak detector, and a bubble grew on the compressor access valve, a tiny pinhole in the braze. After a re-braze, the system held 300 microns.
Do you repair LG refrigerators in Burbank?
Yes. This job was in Burbank, and our base is next door in Toluca Lake. Repairs come with a 30-day labor warranty and a 90-day warranty on parts we supply. Call or text (213) 205-2055.
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