How to Replace the Start Relay on a Whirlpool WRT311FZDW Refrigerator — Step-by-Step Instructions
Step-by-step instructions for the Whirlpool WRT311FZDW (top-freezer refrigerator). Parts and access points can differ slightly by production year — the steps below cover the common layout for this platform, and the model notes flag its quirks.
Unplug the fridge and wait 10 minutes. If your setup includes a separate run capacitor, treat it as charged — discharge it with an insulated-handle screwdriver across the terminals before touching. If that sentence gave you pause, this repair is pro territory.
Tools
- Screwdriver
- Needle-nose pliers
- Phone camera
Parts
- Start relay/overload (and run capacitor if your model pairs them) for your exact model
Step by step
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1 Confirm the click
A warm fridge that clicks every 2–5 minutes from the lower back is the signature. Pull the fridge out and unplug it.
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2 Open the rear lower panel
The compressor is the black dome; the relay is the small plastic box plugged onto its side pins, often under a wire bail or cover.
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3 Pull and shake the old relay
Photo the wiring, unclip the cover, and pull the relay straight off the pins. Shake it: a rattle means burned internals — near-certain confirmation.
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4 Plug on the new one
Push the new relay/overload onto the same pins, transfer wires per your photo, and refit any cover or bail.
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5 Test with your ears
Plug in and listen: a soft hum that settles into a steady run — no clicking — means the compressor started. Give it 4–6 hours before judging temperatures.
Whirlpool WRT311FZDW notes & error codes
Arizona garage duty is this fridge’s hardest job — twice-yearly coil cleaning matters more here than anywhere, and a relay that clicks in July heat may just be an overheated compressor protecting itself.
| Code | What it means |
|---|---|
| (No display) | Symptom-based |
Full details for this machine — common problems, causes, and costs — are in the Whirlpool WRT311FZDW repair guide. The general version of these instructions is here.
If a new relay still clicks, the compressor itself is struggling — that’s sealed-system territory, EPA-certified work, and exactly the moment to stop DIYing and get a professional opinion on repair vs replace. If you'd rather skip it entirely, find a refrigerator repair pro near you →
What this repair costs professionally
Sources
Where the safety, regulatory and warranty claims on this page come from. Repair costs are our own figures based on Arizona market rates and OEM parts pricing.
- Stationary Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (Section 608) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Refrigerant handling rules and the certification required to open a sealed system.
- Section 608 Technician Certification U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Which certification type covers household refrigerators and freezers.
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