Free Fridge that doesnt cool. What kind of repair costs am I looking at?

Question

I am looking at picking up a GE Profile series fridge with bottom freezer. It is free, however the current owner states it runs but does not cool. So I am guessing it needs either a compressor or has a freon leak. What is a ballpark figure for having the compressor replaced and is it worth messing with?

http://products.geappliances.com/ApplProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=SPECPAGE&SKU=PDCF1NBXBB&SITEID=GEA

Answer 1

Hard to say. You might salvage the icemaker.How old is it? If you have to get the compressor replaced it would probably run around $500 or more(depends on where you are at and if compressor is available) You would have to check with local fridge man.(they don't usualy replace compressors;too much work)

Answer 2

Funny, I am in the same situation.  But my fridge was $25!

If you plug in the fridge, do you hear it running?  If so, the compressor is working.

If your compressor is working, go into the freezer and take all the shelving out, and the panel where the fan is behind it.  You are looking for the freezer coils.  Do they get slightly cool after an hour or so of running?  These coils should start frosting over in a couple of hours.

If they don't, you will need freon.  Its not really freon anymore, its something else - but only a certified tech can put that in.