Frequently Asked Questions About Domestic Refrigerator Repair:
GE rotary designs 89 to 91 vintage
I have been told my Hotpoint fridge needs a new compressor. (Model CTF16EKC) The tech said this was a "rotary" design compressor and proved to be unreliable, and therefore was produced only a few years. Mine was manufactured in 1989. Basically I am told the unit is scrap if it needs a compressor. Comments?
Sorry but this is true. The GE rotary made about that time used aluminum internal components that wore prematurely. The flakes of aluminum circulate with the refrigerant and eventually cause restrictions to flow, causing poor and unacceptable performance. This design was a bad experiment. Most other refrigerators that use rotary compressors can be converted over to a standard compressor, but your particular design has a plastic compressor mounting that won't physically let a standard compressor fit! The fan forced condenser is also crowded into this same area. You can order the new base complete, but the cost is prohibitive. ( Here in Canada the assembly sells for close to $400). Then there are all the other materials and labor involved, making the job cost nearly as much as, or more than an entire new fridge.
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