How to Troubleshoot & Replace Samsung AP4138858 / DA34-10003S Refrigerator Compressor Overload Relay

The compressor was very hot and did not appear to be running. You could here a relay click on and off 15sec cycle. repeating every 2 minutes! Bought a new overload relay too repair, plus a new thermal protection switch because it was cheap. Both parts are actually located on the compressor behind a plastic cover. Found part numbers for parts by searching the compressor number on google! $25 Repair............ 

Some basic research and reading others troubleshooting lead me to try to force start the compressor. It wouldn't run under force start and most other comments pointed to the starter relay or compressor being bad. I ordered the starter relay and overload relay from Appliance Pros. Got them in 3 days. Took 10 minutes to install and then it fired right up. My wife was very impressed with my skills, but in all honesty it was an educated guess based on others who had done this fix. Thanks! 

I replaced the start relay and compressor overload protector. 

I replaced the start relay and the overload relay on the compressor and all worked fine. 

Checked the Compressor for continuity with the fridge unplugged. So no problem with the Compressor. Next I vacuumed the Condenser Coils after a while they were dusty. Evaporator Fan motor was working, Control Board was good. So the problem was the Compressor Overload & Start Relay. After I replaced these I set the Freezer & Fridge temperature and it took a few hours for both compartments to get back to normal temperature. Select Power Freeze & Power Cool if your fridge has this option. This would have cost hundreds of dollars if a Service Tech was called & they probably would have suggested buying a new Compressor & Control Board which you probably don't need. Only tools i used was a Multimeter & Phillips Screw Driver. Hope this helps and saves you money. 

Fridge would not turn on(clicking noise)....on youtube and APP they said its most likely start relay...I replaced start relay and compressor overload for $25...but it didn't fix the problem...I hired a technician to trouble shoot the problem...and he said it was the capacitor located next to motherboard...they wanted $240 to replace it...i said thanks and ordered the capacitor from this website for $18 dollars...$50 dollars for diagnostic work...still came up $200...i had to unplug two wires to change the capacitor, too easy! 

After the OEM MK Type of compressor replacement I used aftermarket "Three In One" starter relay. Noticed that the Compressor current ran higher than the OEM Compressor datasheet. Removed the aftermarket start relay and Replaced it with the the OEM Relay PTC, OLP and capacitor. The Compressor current dropped from 2.14A to 1.45A which was right where supposed to be by the datasheet. 

REPLACED BOTH COMPRESSOR RELAYS 

Chatted with Jordan. He suggested the parts needed to correct the problem. Parts arrived as he stated and repair went well. Everything is working fine now. Thanks. Jordan. 

Replace them