kenmore top freezer/fridge not cooling at all!

[romanowski72]

OK so I got a kenmore fridge with cap tube, running 134a. Picked up this fridge on craigslist, and the gentlemen said he went on vacation when he came back it would not cool anymore. The controls are set to normal, but I dont know if he had been turning them down over the months or years, fridge is 5 years old. This thing is not cooling at all no subcooling no superheat nothing.  the compressor runs constantly pulls .8 amps it is running at only 17psi and when you plug it in pulls down to 2 psi quickly. so I ruled out valves, compressor is not extremely hot you could say warm. I have never had a compressor with bad valves.  So with that being said low pressures show low refrigerant but to lose that much refrigerant over such a short period of time. The system is running at about 48F throughout the hole system which is about ambient. Any Ideas about places to look or things to check for would be most helpfull. I am ready to get my hands dirty, I am hoping this is more than just a leak with low charge. I did check temps across all coils, filter dryer.

[bigbuck]

do you have the model number?

[romanowski72]

the model number on the kenmore fridge is 253.69242703

[jumptrout51]

Sounds like a restriction in the filter drier.
Replace the f/d vacuum and recharge.
Amp draw should be about 1.2 to 1.5.

[romanowski72]

Thanks for the reply jumptrout, I actually had thought of that and did do a temp measure across the filter drier and it was same on both sides, wouldnt there be a change in temp, restriction would cause its own metering of refrigerant which in turn would create heat exchange or frost buildup.  I am going to have to put a service port and evacuate system either way but am hoping to do it only once. lol

[jumptrout51]

Install your service valve and pump it down to see if it holds a vacuum before doing all the rest.

[romanowski72]

thanks trout that sounds like a good place to start. I got it loaded in my truck and taking it into school in the morning they have all the machines I need, tuition is finally gonna justify itself. lol