Why is the outside of the fridge hot - Curry Tree Essentials CUL55W12 White 133 l Mini Fridge A Energy Rating

How can "fridge quit cooling" but later you say "but fridge does cool" of course this absorption cycle system gets hot on the outside, heat is the "driver" of the system rather than an electrically driven compressor in the normal fridge. Is this a homework problem?

The return section of the gas cooling circuit is hot. Goes out cold comes back hot, so if that area has return lines behind it nothing wrong with the outside of a fridge being hot. Some fridges even have heaters built in around the doors and openings to prevent freezing up.

Hi,
Here is a tip that I wrote about the reasons why the sides and/or seals couldbe getting hot on your refrigerator.

RefrigeratorTrouble The Outside of Refrigerator Hot
heatman101

I would guess that the condenser fan isn't running. It's underneath the fridge behind the cardboard cover on the back. It should be running when the compressor runs. You can place your own fan on the floor blowing under the fridge till you get it fixed.

clean the coil behind the fridge or under the fridge (where ever they are) and make sure both fans are running, the one in the freezer and the one underneath

check to make sure that the fan in the back is working and then clean the condenser coil underneith the frig

The reason you feel heat by the middle of the door is because of the "mullion heater' or anti-sweat.
Check the temperature of the freezer, must be below 12*F for the ice maker to work.

possibly could ned a new comprossor for the fridge.

Fridge has either mullion heaters around door or most likely steel pipes just inside the skin of the perimeter of the door, this is to stop ice or condensation forming around the door seals, mainly the freezer, they are part of the condenser circuit ( hot part of the refrigeration system).
It is normal for these to get hot, but in your case may be hotter than usual because of the constant running, the running may be caused by hot ambient temperatures, system being slightly short of refrigerant, faulty thermostat or in-efficient compressor.
I suggest if temp is ok inside fridge dont worry too much, if you notice fridge starts loosing its capacity to refrigerate, have a refrigeration tech look at it.

Check the condensor fan behind the fridge which is designed to cool the compressor/gas line by blowing air over the condensor. When this fan motor seizes or stops running, the gas gets very hot and because it is skin cooled too, the outside of the fridge also gets very hot. You can overcome the problem temporarily by putting a standing fan behind the fridge, blowing onto the compressor and under the fridge untill you can have the problem rectified.