I removed the cover, used a multimeter to test the compressor circuit, and found the compressor start relay to be defective. Ordered a new one and installed it when it arrived.
Removed the cowling with a square drive screw driver, removed the spring clip from the cover of the compressor controls with a screw driver, pulled off the old compressor start relay and replaced it with the new part. Since other problems could have caused the compressor to short cycle this was a "replace the part and hope it would work" since that would be the most common reason and it was not a very expensive part.
After the refrigerator stopped cooling, we determined that the problem was in the compressor area. we used a screwdriver to get the cover off and then vice grips to get the actual pieces out (start relay & overload)--they broke, but they were already broken). We went to the Home Depot site to purchase the parts, but found PartSelect to be much less expensive. Put the parts in when they came a few days later and it worked! thank you PartSelect!
