From: "Stormin Mormon" 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: Fridge/ Refrigerator Knocking Noises at the End of the Cooling Cycle
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2004 10:22:26 -0500

and very often it's within the compressor, and there's not much you can do
about it.

Replacing compresssor.... expensive.

-- 

Christopher A. Young
Jesus: The Reason for the Season
    www.lds.org
    www.mormons.com


"David W."  wrote in message
news:Xns948B577EBB8Cusenetwalccom@216.196.97.136...
ERIC ANDERSSON  wrote in
news:4drg20966iqsdcncg01lv47po18g3l5s2c@4ax.com:

> Hi,
>
> I have an 16 year old fridge.  It is a standard refrigerator with
> freezer on top and the main compartment at the bottom.
>
> About a month ago, the fridge began to make series of knocking noises
> at the end of the cooling cycle.
>
> At first, the noise happened occasionally, but it was repeating more
> frequently.  The noise becomes regular, occurring at the end of EACH
> cooling cycle.
>
> The noise is also getting louder.
>
> The noise appears to come from the bottom of the back of the fridge.
>
> The fridge works fine; it is as cool as it was before.
>
> I have googled this group and the at.home.repairs group, but some of
> the answers were unrelated to my situation.
>
> Can you please suggest ways to look into this situation?
>
> Thank you very much for your help!
>

The problem is probably that the compressor mounts, which usually have
rubber bushings to dampen vibration, have weakened/softened with age. That
allows the compressor to waggle back and forth when it shuts down, and it's
banging into some nearby metal.

Sometimes you can replace the compressor mount and cure the problem. Many
times, with an appliance as old as yours, the options are to live with the
noise or replace the appliance.