I think that's what it is! Under the fridge-freezer there's a plug that connects the mains to the compressor etc - it's attached to the side of the compressor. When the fridge-freezer is plugged in it sparks a lot and blows the wall fuse.
Can I just change it, or is the whole fridge finished?
If it is replaceable, does it matter which relay I get, or are they all broadly the same, apart from wiring?

J Thompson, January 2007

this is kinda my problem also i took a meter reading from one pin at a time and the other lead to ground and no movement on the meter so does that mean my compressor is still good? what about the cut out device how do u test that, to see if its good? also i must add that there is a melted hole in my start relay is that bad ?

Paul, June 2010

If what you think is a relay is a round device with wire attached, that will be the start capacitor, it will be marked in voltage and uF... these are the identifiers for the capacitor.
The start relay is under the cover of the box at the compressor connections and plugs on to 2 of the compressor pins, the start windings and the run windings. There is another device called a klixon stat this is an overload cut out device, and connects to the other of the 3 pins on the compressor.
When you have pulled the relay and the klixon from the compressor pins, check with a multimeter from each of the compressor pins to earth. Any continuity between any pin and earth means compressor definitely kaput !

If you are replacing relay or klixon, you need to replace with same part number, they are not all the same.

Pete, January 2007