[Petronski]

Your thermostat failed. It’s a cheap repair (maybe something you could do yourself).

The most expensive problem with this failure is the loss of food in the freezer. Put it in the chest freezer or outside (if it is cold).

[Soliton]

Its turning on and then shutting off IMO. You may have a short or a bad thermostat

[Petronski]

The number you listed seems to be the model number. I checked Google.

[Hegemony Cricket]

I'm just sitting here waiting for your call...

[Onelifetogive]

I think I’m going over to the MayTag Repairman Site and post my thoughts on the Thompson Campaign...

[SouthTexas]

You might try cleaning the coil, either on the back or bottom, depending on how old it is. Dirty condenser coils are a major contributor to compressor failures. No cost, just vacuum the dust out. Thermostat sounds right though.

[CindyDawg]

Don’t listen to these guys. Go buy yourself a new one. Stainless steel is in right now:’)

[ClearCase_guy]

it's been making a "clicking" noise like a thermostat on a coffee maker.

OMG! Get out of the house -- NOW!!!

[Hebrews 11:6]

If you're not handy repairing things, I strongly suggest you call an appliance repairman first thing Monday morning.

My frig has had your symptoms happen twice, and each time it was the condenser. The last time a mouse got caught running through the condenser fan! Removed dead mouse, condenser resumed. Ya never know until ya look.

[Graybeard58]

I just had a mother board and fan replaced on mine-$400. Hope yours is less.

[Arrowhead1952]

That may be a burned out defrosting element. I’ve had to replace ours twice. It is located below the freezer coils. See if there is a block of ice on the coils.

Yes, it is hard to get there. You may have to remove all food and shelves. There should be slots for airflow and you MAY be able to see part of the coils.

If the defroster burns out, the ice builds up and blocks the airflow. The coils actually turn red when they are on.

[IamHD]

I was having problems with my side-by-side, too, and found an appliance website that has a repair forum. You can pose your question and a service repairman will help you. It's free to ask! They also sell the parts. I have used them before and in fact I'm getting ready to buy another part from them today.

Repair Forum

Then, when you get your answer, you can go to the other section of the website and they have blowup views of the inside and outside of your specific refrigerator:

http://www.appliancepartspros.com/partsearch/modelsearch.aspx?model=MSD2454FR

[snowsislander]

I don't know if it will be of any help, but I looked at Maytag's website, and this pdf may be the owner's manual for your model (when I put in "MSD2454FR", it came back with a manual for the model "MSD2454FRW"; perhaps the "W" is from "Whirlpool" since this manual's URL http://shared.whirlpoolcorp.com/assets/pdfs/literature/Maytagsx.pdf leads me to think that it is for a Whirlpool product.)

[Daffynition]

Found this UK story this morning that might divert you momentarily from your dilemma ... Farmer's fridge is 77 years cold

I suspect the fridge looks something like this one, from a 1931 Electrolux Refrigerator Color Ad:

Hope you can solve your problem inexpensively ... they *sure don't make things like they used to.* ;)

[TADSLOS]

Global warming.