VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Lee Gordon · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 11:21 am Post subject: Gotta Love the Interwebs

Last night my refrigerator started squealing like the world's loudest pig. It's so loud, I can hear it when I'm trying to record. So I went on line to check prices for new ones. Thanks to the internet I discovered where I can find the best prices -- not to mention the rather wide range of prices, depending upon capacity, style, finish, features, etc.
But then, I put the internet to work doing what it's best at. I Googled "squealing refrigerator" and learned that my problem is most likely a worn out circulator fan that's part of the freezer's self-defrosting mechanism and it's not that difficult to replace. So I think I'll give it a go and see if I can save myself 800 bucks.
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Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
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Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

Deirdre · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 12:19 pm Post subject:

Yay webz!
I found a way to fix my WiFi receiver recently. Didn't even need to take it to the shop. I thought the antenna went south, but it was just a bad preference file. Imagine that!
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todd ellis · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 2:16 pm Post subject:

lee - i've done the freezer fan thing a couple of times - most of the time it's super-easy ... and a LOT less than $800!

sunday night boy #2's car wouldn't start - not even a click. battery was good. pulled the starter and it tested good. scratched head and went to the internet.

all indications point to bad ignition switch.

found this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ykT9uCJXSY

and fixed it in about 30 minutes with a piece of electrical tape!!!

i also now know how to hotwire a 4th gen. maxima.
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mcm · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 2:35 pm Post subject:

It is indeed wonderful. We've fixed many a washing machine (actually the same washing machine many times), the dryer, my computer monitor, a big TV with the help of the webz. The oven has been tentatively diagnosed, but since it's too hot to cook, it's low priority.

I have the easy part - the tentative diagnosis. Hubby confirms, then I order the parts, then he fixes. Fairly traditional.

Lee Gordon · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 3:17 pm Post subject:

Just got back from the parts store with a new evaporator fan for just under $50. Don't have to install it immediately because the fridge isn't making noise at the moment. That's not because Murphy's Law has intervened and auto-fixed the problem now that the replacement part in in hand; it's because the motor is that much closer to being seized and really does need to be replaced. And I suppose there are worse places to spend a half hour on a hot, humid day than with one's head in the freezer.

My Jenn-Aire range is as old as the refrigerator (bought both in 1985) and I have already revitalized it with a replacement burner cartridge bought on eBay for not much more than a C-note. Way better than shelling out for a whole new stove. It cost me a grand in '85; I shudder to think about what a new one would set me back.

And last winter I managed to bring my snow blower back from the dead by watching a YouTube video and dedicating about an hour to the repair work, most of which was spent waiting in line at the parts counter. Best of all, as soon as the blower was back to tip top condition, it didn't snow again for the rest of the season.

And Mary, the diagnosis isn't the "easy part." It's what enables a professional to charge $75 an hour for replacing a $2 doohickey.
_________________
Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

mcm · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 4:28 pm Post subject:

Lee, that sounds grand! Good luck with it.

And, I know it isn't really easy to diagnose stuff properly. But I definitely prefer that role to lying on the cement basement floor wrestling with parts. Or even the kitchen floor.

But he does have a lot of help:

todd ellis · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 4:41 pm Post subject:

that's good help!
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

Deirdre · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 5:39 pm Post subject:

That's not just helpful, that's adorable.
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Scott Pollak · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 8:03 pm Post subject:

Lee, just an aside on this....

Depending on how old the fridge is, you might actually SAVE money by replacing it with a newer, much more energy efficient one.

I replaced my 16 year old HVAC system last year with a heat pump and dual-zone high-efficiency AC units and my house is MUCH MUCH cooler now in the summer and my electric bills are literally about 40% LESS than they used to be.

We just endured one of the hottest June/Julys ever and my bill, which was around $320 this time last year, was about $184 this year.
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Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com

Lizden · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 9:30 pm Post subject:

We've replaced the plastic air-flow-basket doo-hicky on our dryer twice after I found the problem's fix on the web.
It's a PLASTIC piece that spins around a METAL piece...don't ya think the designers would figure that the plastic hole would eventually wear & make that piece wobble as it spins. Yep....the interwebz ROCK!
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Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com

Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 8:40 am Post subject:

major (that's your doggiedoodle's name, mary?) is making sure that flashlight goes nowhere fast!
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voicy1stef · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:58 am Post subject:

Fixed my Black Berry thanks to the web. Just typed in the weird code that came up on my phone, and bingo - gobs and gobs of info. Yayyy internet!
Smile

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