Kenmore 106.54786801: Compressor Start Relay Failure in Fulshear, TX
Customer Complaint / Symptoms
- •Freezer temperature reading around 30°F instead of the target 0°F to 5°F
- •Fresh food compartment reaching 55°F, well above the safe threshold of 40°F
- •Compressor turning on briefly then shutting off without completing a full cooling cycle
- •Food in the refrigerator section spoiling faster than normal despite the unit appearing to run
🔍 Diagnosis / Cause Found
When I arrived at the Fulshear home off ZIP 77441, I pulled out my infrared thermometer and confirmed what the customer described. The freezer was sitting at 30°F and the fresh food section was at 55°F. Both readings were unacceptable. I stood near the unit and listened. The compressor was clicking on, running for roughly 40 to 60 seconds, then dropping off. That pattern pointed immediately to a start relay problem. I pulled the compressor start relay from the back of the unit and gave it a shake. The rattle was clear. The internal thermal fuse and PTC element inside the relay had degraded, which is a known failure point on Kenmore side-by-side and top-mount models in this age range. This Kenmore 106.54786801 is 17 years old, and the original relay had simply worn out. I verified with a multimeter. The relay measured open across the run winding circuit when it should have shown near-zero resistance. The compressor motor windings themselves tested within spec, which confirmed the compressor was still good. The R-134a system showed normal static pressure, so there was no refrigerant leak involved. The fix was straightforward: replace the start relay and verify the compressor locked in and ran a full cycle.
📸 Repair Photos
Kenmore 106.54786801 repair in Fulshear, TX
Kenmore 106.54786801 repair in Fulshear, TX
Kenmore 106.54786801 repair in Fulshear, TX
🔧 Repair Performed
Step 1: Unplugged the Kenmore 106.54786801 and pulled the unit away from the wall to access the compressor compartment at the rear lower section of the cabinet.. Step 2: Removed the compressor access cover and located the start relay plugged directly into the side of the compressor's run winding terminal.. Step 3: Pulled the relay off the compressor terminal and performed the rattle test. The failed PTC element rattled inside the housing, confirming the relay was broken internally.. Step 4: Measured resistance across the relay terminals using a Fluke 117 multimeter. Confirmed open circuit where a functional relay should read near 0 ohms, verifying the relay had failed completely.. Step 5: Tested the compressor motor start, run, and common winding resistances. Start winding read 8.4 ohms, run winding read 4.1 ohms, and common read 3.2 ohms. All within normal spec for this compressor size, confirming the compressor itself was not damaged.. Step 6: Installed a compatible OEM-equivalent compressor start relay rated for the compressor on the Kenmore 106.54786801. Pressed it firmly onto the compressor terminal until it seated fully.. Step 7: Plugged the unit back in and monitored the compressor startup. The compressor locked in immediately and ran a sustained, quiet cycle without dropping off. Verified with a clamp meter that the compressor was drawing normal running amperage.. Step 8: Monitored temperatures over a 90-minute period. Freezer dropped to 8°F and fresh food section fell to 41°F within that window, both trending to reach target temps of 0°F and 37°F within the following two hours. Customer confirmed temperatures hit normal range before I left the area.
🛒 Parts Replaced
- ✓Compressor start relay with integrated PTC thermal element (OEM-equivalent replacement for Kenmore 106.54786801 compressor)
✅ Result
The Kenmore 106.54786801 in Fulshear was cooling properly within 90 minutes of the relay swap. Freezer dropped to 8°F during my on-site monitoring and continued toward the 0°F target after I left. The fresh food section came down from 55°F to 41°F and was heading to 37°F. Total repair cost was $280 before tax. The customer was relieved because the refrigerator still had years of useful life left in it, and replacing a relay rather than buying a new unit made clear financial sense for a 17-year-old appliance that was otherwise mechanically sound.
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