My LG refrigerator loses all power and stops running. But when I smack the top of it (where the control panel is located) it powers up and starts running again. What could the problem be?

Have you tried checking to see if anything else works in that outlet? It sounds as if you have lost power to the outlet.

Melissa I think you hit the nail on the head! If it was running great before power outage, and problems started after! Power Surge sounds correct to me! below is a link for the service manual! As for board, sounds likely! Check the board for burnt fuses, I think there is 2. Sorry i can't help You more! Good luck!
LG LFX28978 series Service Manual Table Of Contents

check for power at the display if power is present then you need a new interface (display) if no power is there then you need a new mother board located on the back of the unit square panel..mother board part#- WR55X10942--interface (display)-part#WR55X10390

I had the problem with a totally different refrigerator but it was the fuse on the printed circuit panel mounted in the back of the refrig.

If when they go out you can get them to come back on again by smacking the top of the dash with your hand, likely the plugs on the back of the gauge panel is corroded or loose. Take it apart and clean the contacts with contact cleaner and it should work. I have heard that some people slightly twist the pins to make better contact. I'd only try that if the problem continues after cleaning.

Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} Hi,

Many times a freezer and/or refrigerator do not work right because of a dirty condenser coil...there are also many other things that can go wrong.

If you are hearing a clicking or buzzing then check out the last two tips.

If your refrigerator is running but warm, then…

Check out this tip that I wrote about that... it is a great place to start trouble shooting your unit...and something that you can do rather then calling a repair person to do a simple thing for you...

Refrigerator Condenser Coil Cleaning Refrigerator Repair

Refrigerator Troubleshooting Refrigerator Compressor

Refrigerator Compressor Start Capacitor and Start Relay


heatman101

When the refrigerator is sufficiently cool, it will shift to stand by mode, so that it won't take up much power. When the refrigerator loses it's temperature, it will again go on and start taking power and this cycle goes on. I assume that's what happening to your refrigerator.

I have been looking over the wiring diagram for about 10 minutes. I see nothing other than the thermostat being the problem. I need someone to unplug the refrigerator and go into the control panel and disconnect the two wires going to thermostat and plug refrigerator back in and then give me the results. You feel comfortable doing that? Sea Breeze

The timer is located in the control panel in the fresh food section. Get down on your knees and look up at the control panel. You will see a small hole with a slotted screw in it. Turn the screw clockwise slowly until the refrigerator stops running. This forces the defrost timer to send power to the defrost thermostat and heater. If they are good defrost will commence. You can remove the back panel from the freezer to view the evaporator coils and the thermostat and heater.
If the heater gets hot and begins melting ice,replace the defrost timer in the control panel. If not replace the defrost thermostat and heater in the freezer.

Possible control board failure ...you may notice the freezer lights do work but nothing else.There is a diagnostic push button on the board located on the top of unit under a panel where the power cord enters. andrews electronics .com is the oem provider for this very expensive control board.