Our 10-year old fridge freezer Hotpoint Mistral Plus had a a strange smell around it (at first I thought rather like some wires had through), and at the same time the temperature started to go up. Only the freezer is cold now (but only -6 degrees).
I suspect the smell which is still there intermittently, is the gas from the freezing element.
Am I correct in thinking this, and does that mean it has surpassed its life expectancy?

Jark, January 2007

What kind of smell is it? Have a look on the back of the fridge at the black dome shaped noisy thing- (its called a compressor to us engineers!). If it says R600a or R610a and the smell is of lighter fuel then unplug it immediately and do not use! The gas is VERY flammable and explosive. If it says R134a then its safe. Thing is R134a is odorless but it does sound like its lost gas. Check the black grille on the back- (Its called a condensor) and brush it if its dirty. Make sure its got alot of airroom too. I dont suppose youve defrosted the freezer with a knife by any chance? if so then you may have punctured the evaporator- the shiny cold thing inside the freezer and that is why its losing gas. It can be fixed, but best to get a new one.

ollylewin@hotmail.co.uk, January 2007