How to Troubleshoot & Replace Frigidaire AP5986809 / 297259515 Start Device

My barely three year old Frigidaire upright freezer quit running and we discovered it when most of the contents were just starting to thaw. Luckily we have nearby neighbors that my wife walks with most days and two or three of them came to our rescue with available freezer space to save the more valuable things like meat and seafood. The compressor would not come on, no fan, no noises of any kind but the light came on when the door was opened so obviously it had power. I unplugged it for a few minutes and tried it again to no avail. I got online and ordered what were said to be the most likely parts to fail and cause the symptoms my unit had. It took four days to get the parts. The starter controller on the compressor, the capacitor that plugs into that part, the defrost timer, and the thermostat. As others have said you always suspect the part that is the hardest to change and that in fact was the problem. Changing the thermostat last got it back up and running. It's obvious they don't make major appliances the way they used to. The last freezer we replaced looked like it was from the WWII era and had belonged to my wife's grandparents. I'm betting it was from the fifties. We unplugged it to defrost it one day when the ice got built up in it really thick and it would not start back up or it might still be running. Now I'm ordering another thermostat just to have on hand if and when it happens again. 

Received parts, real quick, from you, thanks. 

Freezer stopped running. Not sure what was wrong I ordered thermostat, capacitor, defrost timer and start device. Discovered by jumping the thermostat compressor would start. When the parts came, I replaced the thermostat first and the run ccapacitor. Replaced the other parts as well since I had them. 

Actually, I had ordered the parts to have on hand as spare as the freezer had been making loud snaps when the compressor was stopping. Two days after I received the start device and starting capacitor parts the freezer stopped working. The replacement took less than 15 minutes. Freezer is up and running. Note, some type of auxiliary light is helpful to get the support clip back on. 

After reading comments the common failure was a capacitor to start compressor or defrost timer so I bought both and this did not do the fix. I took apart the panel inside to get access to the temp sender switch or thermistor. I put a meter on and there was no continuity when activated. I jumped the wires and the compressor started to run. Ordered a temp switch the next day and the freezer runs great. I should have started diagnosing the hardest switch to get to. 

I actually watched the video that came along with my email several times. It was very easy. 

Replaced the damaged controller and run capacitor. I have ordered parts from Appliance Parts Pros before and your parts have always been spot on for what I have needed. Circuit boards, ice bins, motors and various controls. They have always been exactly what was needed to repair the various freezers and refrigerators I have worked on. Thank you for your expertise and swiftness with getting the parts to me. I have never needed your customer service. The parts are exact so there has not been a need. Thank you! 

Temperature control fixed the problem. No continuity in the old one when tested. Fixed in 30 mins. AppliancepartsPartsPros technician helped answer my questions and walked through what could be the issue (defroster timer, starter controller, or temperature controller. 

Tried the run Capacitor and Controller, extremely easy fix, but that was not the problem. AppliancePartsPros. is a great site to find any appliance diagram and possible fixes and parts! But sometimes it isn't the most common problem. After further digging, it's the thermostat, which is now ordered. 

Ordered the parts and replaced them.