Absolute Fridge Clicking but Not Starting? Start Relay or Compressor
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You hear a click at the back of the fridge, maybe a short hum, then silence, and a few minutes later the same again. Meanwhile the fridge slowly warms up. That pattern is one of the most recognisable fridge faults there is, and the cause is usually a small, affordable part rather than the whole compressor.
🔍 R350 call-out to inspect & diagnose⚡ Same-day call-outs · 90% of major spares carriedQuick answer
A fridge that clicks every few minutes but never really runs is a compressor that is trying to start and failing. The click is the overload protector cutting out. The most common cause is a failed start relay and overload, the small parts clipped onto the side of the compressor, which are an affordable repair. Other causes are a weak or seized compressor, low voltage (long extension cords, or right after a power cut), and on inverter fridges, a fault on the inverter board. Not every click is a fault: thermostats, defrost timers and ice makers click normally. Absolute Repairs tests and repairs fridges on site across Gauteng: flat R350 call-out, waived if we do the repair.
Normal clicks and fault clicks
Fridges click for normal reasons too, so it helps to know which kind you are hearing:
- Normal: one click when the thermostat switches the compressor on or off, a click from a defrost timer every few hours, ice maker noises, and creaks as plastic expands and contracts.
- A fault: a click, sometimes with a short hum, every few minutes, while the fridge gets warmer and the compressor never settles into running.
If it is the second one, read on.
Need it fixed?
Our technicians come to you anywhere in Gauteng. The call-out is a flat R350 to diagnose the fault (waived if you go ahead with the repair), you get a fixed price before any work starts, and every repair has a 6-month guarantee.
Why the fridge keeps clicking
To start, a fridge compressor needs a boost of power, which the start relay gives it. Next to the relay sits the overload protector, which cuts the power if the compressor draws too much current or gets too hot. When the compressor can't start, it draws a lot of current, the overload trips with a click, cools down for a few minutes, and tries again. That cycle repeats until something is fixed.
The common causes
1. A failed start relay and overload
This is the most common cause, and the good news is that it is an affordable part. On an LG fridge-freezer in Halfway House, the compressor wasn't starting properly because the start relay and overload had failed. We replaced them, checked the system on our gauges and regassed it to the correct charge, and the fridge was cooling again.
2. A weak or failed compressor
If the relay is fine but the compressor still won't start, or runs without pumping, the compressor itself is worn out. On a Defy side-by-side in Halfway House, the compressor was running but not pumping, and louder than usual. On a Samsung fridge in Waterfall, Midrand, the compressor had failed completely. In both cases we fitted a new compressor, brazed it in and regassed the system.
3. Low voltage
A compressor needs proper voltage to start. Long or thin extension cords, multi-plugs shared with a kettle or microwave, and the moment the power comes back after load-shedding can all leave it short. Plug the fridge directly into a wall socket and see if it starts.
4. Inverter fridges: the inverter board
Many newer LG, Samsung and Hisense fridges use inverter compressors, which are started by an electronic inverter board instead of a simple relay. On these, a starting fault is usually the board or the compressor, and the fridge may show an error code or flash its lights instead of clicking.
What you can safely check
- Plug the fridge straight into a wall socket, not an extension cord or multi-plug.
- After a power cut, wait a few minutes before switching it back on, and use a surge protector. See protecting appliances from load-shedding.
- Make sure there is space behind the fridge so the compressor isn't overheating.
- If it keeps clicking, switch it off and move your food to a cooler box. Leaving it clicking for days can damage a compressor that was otherwise fine.
Don't try to replace the relay yourself: it is right next to live terminals, and the compressor needs testing to know whether the relay is really the problem.
Fridge repairs across Gauteng
We repair fridges of all brands at your home across Gauteng. See fridge repair in Gauteng, or the guides to a Samsung fridge not cooling and a Defy fridge not cooling.
Recent job: Defy fridge with a faulty relay and overload
Defy side-by-side not cooling: compressor not running, relay and overload replaced
The customer in Sandton called because the freezer side of their Defy side-by-side had stopped getting cold, but they thought the fridge side was still fine. When we checked, neither side was actually cold: the fan was still blowing air into the fridge, which felt cool on the hand, but the compressor wasn't running at all. We traced that to a faulty start relay and overload, the small parts on the side of the compressor that help it start and protect it from overheating. We replaced them, fitted a new filter drier, and gave the fridge a service while the system was open. The display was back to −18 °C in the freezer and 4 °C in the fridge. Tip: air blowing out of the vents doesn't mean a fridge is cooling. If food is going soft, check whether the compressor at the bottom back is running. If it is silent, or clicks every few minutes without starting, the start relay is a common cause.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my fridge click every few minutes but not run?
The compressor is trying to start and failing, and the click is the overload protector cutting the power. The most common cause is a failed start relay and overload, which is an affordable repair. A weak compressor or low voltage can cause it too.
Is a fridge start relay expensive to replace?
No. The start relay and overload are small, inexpensive parts and one of the cheaper fridge repairs. The important thing is testing the compressor first, to make sure the relay really is the fault.
Can low voltage stop a fridge from starting?
Yes. Long extension cords, overloaded multi-plugs and the moment the power returns after load-shedding can leave the compressor short of voltage. Plug the fridge straight into a wall socket and wait a few minutes after a power cut before switching on.
Is it normal for a fridge to click?
Yes, a single click when the thermostat switches the compressor on or off is normal, as are defrost timer clicks and ice maker noises. Repeated clicking every few minutes while the fridge warms up is not.
How much does it cost to fix a fridge that clicks but won't start?
There is a flat R350 call-out to diagnose it, waived if we do the repair. A start relay and overload is an affordable fix, while a compressor replacement costs more. You get a fixed price before any work starts.
Need it fixed?
Send us the brand, model and what it's doing on WhatsApp. Monday to Saturday, 07:30–17:30.
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- Flat R350 diagnostic call-out anywhere in Gauteng, waived if you go ahead with the repair
- Fixed price agreed before any repair work starts
- Same-day call-outs, and we carry around 90% of major spares
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