Wine cooler not cooling at all, interior light works, display appears normal but temperature stays at room temperature

Safety: Unplug the wine cooler before accessing the rear compartment. Refrigerant systems must only be opened by certified technicians.

• Determine cooling type: Montpellier wine coolers may be compressor-based or thermoelectric. Compressor units have a compressor and condenser coil; thermoelectric units have a Peltier module with large heatsinks and fans.
• Check basic operation: After plugging in briefly, listen for compressor hum or fan noise. If completely silent (but lights on), suspect control or start components.
• Inspect rear components: Remove the rear lower panel. On compressor models, check the start relay and overload on the compressor for burn marks. On thermoelectric models, check that both internal and external fans spin.
• Feel condenser or heatsink: After a few minutes of operation, the condenser (compressor models) or external heatsink (Peltier models) should feel warm. If they remain at room temperature, the cooling system is not operating.
• DIY limits: You may replace a faulty start relay/overload or Peltier module if you are competent and have the correct Montpellier parts. However, compressor replacement or refrigerant leak repair must be done by a refrigeration technician.