There are a few easy troubleshooting steps and fixes if an LG refrigerator does not turn on. This article discusses these steps.
Table of Contents
LG Refrigerator Does Not Turn On – What to Do
If you find that your LG refrigerator does not turn on, do the following:
1. Check the Power Cord
Go to the back of the refrigerator and unplug the cord from the wall outlet. Then, inspect it for any visible damage. If you find any, replace the cord. Be sure to buy from a trusted OEM parts store or contact LG.
But if there are no visible damages, plug the cord back into the wall outlet. This time, make sure to push it in fully. If the refrigerator still does not turn on, replace the cord to see if there is any change.
Internal damage won’t be visible to the naked eye. So before checking any other part of the unit or system, replace the cord.
The refrigerator won’t turn on at all if the power cord is not working. A few things can cause the cord to stop working: a recent power outage or surge, fraying, or broken connections from heavy objects resting on it.
2. Check the Circuit Breaker
Take a look at the circuit breaker if the power cord is in good working condition. It may be turned off or may have a bad fuse.
If you notice it is turned off, turn it back on and see if it powers the refrigerator. It is also important to find out why it is turned off in the first place.
However, if it is on, check the fuses. One or more of them may be bad, cutting the flow of electric power to the refrigerator.
You may not be able to check the fuses yourself if you are not trained. Therefore, hire a qualified electrician to check the fuses and circuit breaker. If there is any major damage, the electrician is in the best position to fix it.
3. Check the Wall Outlet
Plug another electrical appliance into the wall outlet into which the refrigerator cord goes. Ideally, use a small appliance such as a table lamp.
If the problem stems from the wall outlet, the appliance won’t turn on. Only an electrician can efficiently check the outlet and replace it if necessary.
Sometimes, the appliance may turn on if it does not require a high amount of voltage to work. In this case, let an electrician determine whether or not the outlet is delivering low voltage and replace it if needed.
4. Check the Circuit
An LG refrigerator needs about 15amps 120V (AC) circuit dedicated solely to it. If it has to share the circuit with other outlets, there may not be enough to power it. Hence, the outlet may seem faulty.
Contact a qualified electrician to check the circuit and determine whether or not there is enough to power the refrigerator. If there is not enough voltage, the electrician can rewire the refrigerator’s outlet accordingly.
5. Check the Main Control Board
There may be a blown fuse on the main control board, keeping the refrigerator from turning on. Go to the back of the refrigerator, remove the cover panel there, and gain access to the board.
Test the fuses there and if you find a blown fuse or two, replace the control board. There is no other fix for this as you cannot replace the fuses alone.
6. Check the Temperature Control Thermostat
Find the thermostat on the inside of the refrigerator, on the temperature control housing. Turn its knob from the lowest temperature point to the highest. It should click but if it does not, check the thermostat for continuity.
Disconnect the refrigerator from power and remove the cover from the control housing. Remove the thermostat and test it on the terminal leads as you set it to a colder point. You should find the switch closing but if this does not happen, replace the thermostat.
The refrigerator is likely to not turn on at all if the thermostat is faulty. This is because it sends power to the compressor and fan motors once it notices a change in the temperature within the unit.
7. Check the Start Relay
Go to the back of the refrigerator and remove the access panel over the compressor. Find the start relay on the side of the compressor and detach it.
Shake it a little to see if it rattles. If it does, which it should not do, consider replacing the relay. And if you get a whiff of a burnt smell, replace the relay because it is bad.
However, if you are not sure, check it for continuity. Between its terminals, place the probes of a multimeter and check the resistance registering on the multimeter. If the reading is off or is at 0, replace the relay.
The compressor won’t turn on if the relay stops working. And the refrigerator, in turn, won’t turn on if the compressor is not running. It may help to check the compressor for any activity before removing the relay for testing.
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LG Refrigerator Light Won’t Turn Off – Quick Fix
Remove the bulb in the refrigerator and check its filament. It may not be in good working condition, causing the light to stay on.
Testing the bulb with a multimeter also helps you determine whether or not the bulb is working. If you find that the bulb is bad, replace it.
But if the bulb is working fine, then check the light socket. Make sure it is not sticking but you can pull it out if it is sticking. While doing this, check for any discoloration or damage in the socket terminals. Replace the socket if you find any.
Other Parts to Check…
Next, check the door switch. The switch controls the light; once you open the door of the refrigerator, the light turns on. If it is stuck, the light will stay on.
Take a multimeter and check the switch for continuity. If the switch is depressed, there should be no continuity. But if it is not depressed, there should be continuity. So if the switch is up yet there is no continuity, replace the switch.
The light control board may also be malfunctioning, causing the light not to go off. Therefore, consider checking and replacing the board.
LG Refrigerator Water Dispenser Does Not Shut Off – Solutions
The dispenser lever may be stuck. Lock the dispenser by pressing the lock button on the control panel. Hold it until the lock icon becomes illuminated.
If the water dispenser shuts off, wiggle the lever gently to release it from its stuck position. Do this until the lever comes out.
To prevent this from happening again, don’t dispense into an already full glass. The splash from the glass, especially if the drink is sugary, builds and causes the lever to stick.
However, if activating the lock does not shut off the water dispenser, it needs to be serviced. Contact LG, report the issue, and request service.
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