The model # should be in the fridge side on the roof (open fridge door and look on the roof) if it is not there then you will have to remove the crisper pans and then look on the side wall. With the model # I will know what kind of controls it has and that will help me trouble shoot.
Will do
"Basically in the past week I've noticed that ever single time I go to the fridge it is always running. Even when it's 75 degrees in the house one would think a good fridge should be off at least 50% of the time, no?"
Most fridges run for 8 hr and defrost for 30 mins (now the compressor does not run the whole 8 hrs. it cycles on and off. depending on how much the doors are opened.) Also a fridge works better with a load in it (FYI).
Interesting. Well now that all the meat has been removed from the freezer the freezer seems to be colder again, my ice is solid and my frozen veggies are rock hard again. strange.
Which fan is working? there is the fan in the freezer and then there is the condenser fan which is next to the compressor (a lot of people mistake the running of the condenser fan as the compressor running).
It is the fan near the compressor that is running. If I take the back plate off the rear, bottom of the unit it is right there next to the compressor.
There are a few things that can cause this kind of problem, a bad control(temp control)these fail 1 of 2 ways either open where no power goes to the compressor or closed, temp goes to coldest setting), a defrost cycle problem (defrost timer,defrost thermostat or defrost heaters usually only 1 of these goes bad)(example: if the timer dies then it will never go into defrost causing the coils to freezer over which will eventually stop the cold air from circulating (the ice build up blocks the vent going to the fridge side)
My issue sounds like it failed to defrost blocking the coils as you say because it was working fine for 3 months straight then in 2 days it was running warmer inside...After I moved the unit around a bit the compressor and fan finally stopped running for about 30 minutes and now (2 days after the problem) it seems to be running normal again (from what I can tell). I really need to get a thermometer in there to better judge whether it's really working right or not.
and then there's the possibility that the ptc starter went bad ( this is a relay and overload) when these go bad it is usually the relay (if you shake it it will sound like a baby rattle) these items are on the side of the compressor.
"After removing all the meat from the freezer the compressor didn't kick back on for at least 20 minutes! One would think that with the freezer door open for 5 minutes the thing should kick on, no?"
Only if the fridge was not in defrost at the time. If the fridge was in defrost at the time it could take up to 30mins before the compressor would kick back on.
This may be what happened then. Perhaps it would not go into defrost mode and moving the unit around caused it to cycle?
and you are right about #4 on your list.
I will be at the shop on Friday the 1st untill 3pm after that we wont be back until Tue. the 5th.
I will check this post again tonite before I leave and then again on Friday.
Jason. p.s. sorry I don't know how to use the "quote" on the forum.
No cold beer or milk for a while I guess. 
