Fridge and freezer help.

[Pandrone]

Hi everyone,
I have a fridge and a freezer at home that i brought from the local scrapyard. That was i time ago so they have been in the garage for sometime now(not very cold). Well i tested them today, heres what happened:
I fired the fridge up and the compressor startet but after awhile it stopped so i thought it was the thermostat. I opened the fridge and looked for the controller so i could screw it up to full(1-9 steps). Then it struck me, this very bad burned stench. It really smelled like burned components. Then i went out for a minute thinking what it could be. Well then i had the freezer to test too. I did the same procedure and this one did the same thing too. I don't know what i did wrong, probably nothing? Was it somekinda leak or?(myself says not) Or what could it have been?
Ps. I am pretty sure they was in working condition before i started them, i took them because they did a 10 year change in my neighbourhood.

Thanks for taking your time to read the text, sorry for my bad english.

[Redwolf]

Did the burning smell come from inside the box or around the compressor area?
Could be just as simple as a shorted thermostat or fan motor. If the boxes were never left open thats very possible. Only way to find out is to dig into it.

[Pandrone]

Originally posted by Redwolf
Did the burning smell come from inside the box or around the compressor area?
Could be just as simple as a shorted thermostat or fan motor. If the boxes were never left open thats very possible. Only way to find out is to dig into it.

The burned smell came when i opened them, before that it didnt smell at all. So you think its the thermostat? I don't need that anyway :p:. Fan motor? i dont think there are any fans in it, but im not sure.

Edit: They were never left open btw.

[Redwolf]

If.. when you plugged it in the smell started from inside the box then yes I'd say either the Thermostat or Fan motor. Now I do not know if the machine does or does not have a fan motor. Some do some do not. Now my reasoning behind this is thus... When the box is left closed and not used. The air inside gets warm and carries the moisture to the top. We all know that over time moisture inside a cooler usually has a small amount of acid in it from the produce stored with-in the box. Which can errode electric controls, bearings, evaporators, and etc. Very common problem in commercial refrigeration.

Like I said, "Only way to find out is to dig into it"

Its hard to help diagnosis a problem when your not there.