Freezer overheating compressor hot smell

oxters

Hi

I have an ancient chest freezer and it has started to have a hot smell. The black cylinder at the motor (compressor?) is very hot and there is a repeated click on click off type noise.
The red light on the front has come on.

Unfortunately the freezer is pretty full. I have switched off and will leave for a couple of hours and try it on again but I fear it is terminally ill and at 40 years old I have certainly had my money's worth. Is there anything I can do to keep it going till Monday when I may get an engineer?

Perhaps I should try to farm out some boxes of the most expensive stuff to friends and hunt for a replacement?

skivenov

Is anything obstructing the airflow down the back? Too close to the wall, being in a small room, etc.

oxters

No it's in a huge garage and been there for 29 years.

Something had to go sometime - probably very inefficient so long overdue a replacement. I just want it to survive till next week. Will try switching on occasionally over the weekend to try to keep it going till replacement can be bought.