I need help fixing my refrigerator. The freezer section is nice and cold, but the refrigerator refuses to get cold. The temp in the refrigerator is typically around 54 F, but it has dropped to 49 F if I leave it shut for 48 hours.
After reading lots of posts on this topic, I checked the coils and they were covered in frost and ice. So, I thought it was a problem with the defrost system. I checked the defrost heater, and it is working fine. So I replaced the defrost thermostat and the defrost timer thinking it had to be one of these items.
After replacing them, the problem persists.
Other information: When the compressor runs, the fan in the back of the freezer turns and blows air into the refrigerator compartment.
One last piece of info: It seems like the problem started after my son left the refrigerator door open. It was open for a few hours and there was a lot of condensation in the fridge when I finally shut it. Not sure if this is related or not.
What should I check next? Could the temperature sensor in the refrigerator section be bad?
Remove the damper control (#2 on the diagram) and check if the gate inside is not broken or dislodged. Check the air channels for any ice inside.
- The damper control AP4247995
Gene.
— Begin quote from Gene;245697
Remove the damper control (#2 on the diagram) and check if the gate inside is not broken or dislodged. Check the air channels for any ice inside.
- The damper control [part]AP4247995[/part]
Gene.
— End quote
Gene,
I got the damper out, and it seems to be working fine. When the refrigerator was running, the damper was all the way open, as I assume it should be when the refrigerator is too warm. Is the thermostat in the metal box on top of the plastic damper?
-Dave
I noticed that the fan that drives cold air into the refrigerator only works when the freezer needs to be cooled. That is, when I leave the freezer door open, the compressor starts and the fan for the refrigerator starts as well. When the freezer is at the right temperature, it seems like the fan doesn’t deliver any cold air to the refrigerator. Should this fan run independent of the freezer, or does it have to run in conjunction with the freezer?
Gene,
I also checked the air channel and it seemed to be clear. I ran a wire through the channel and it came out the other end without any obstacles. I also unplugged the refrigerator for about 6 hours and there wasn’t any water dripping out of the bottom of the air channel. So, I think the air channel is clear.
How much air should be coming out of the air channel into the refrigerator?
-Dave
Dave,
What is the exact temperature in the freezer?
Gene.
Hi Gene,
The freezer control is set to the middle of the range (4 on a scale up to 7) and the freezer temperature is 4 F. The refrigerator is at about 54 F.
-Dave
— Begin quote from dgandt;246488
Hi Gene,
The freezer control is set to the middle of the range (4 on a scale up to 7) and the freezer temperature is 4 F. The refrigerator is at about 54 F.
-Dave
— End quote
Actually, the temp is about -2 F. I was more careful about getting the reading quickly after opening the door.
Dave,
Which control you call "freezer control"? The one which operates the thermostat or the one which operates the damper control?
Gene.
The "freezer control" that I was talking about is located in the top right of the freezer compartment. It is a horizontal wheel that can be turned to the left or the right. In the manuals I have it is called the freezer temperature control. I have it set to 4 because that is what is the "factory recommended setting" (higher is colder, lower is warmer).
The refrigerator is set to 6 on a scale of 7.
I know how the cold air gets from the freezer to the refrigerator. Is there a return path for air to get from the refrigerator to the freezer? If so, could this be clogged?
If that return was clogged, pressure would build in the refrigerator to the point that the fan would not be able to blow cold air into the refrigerator. But, when I opened the door, the pressure would be be released and the fan would be able to blow the air. This is all theoretical since I don’t even know if there is an air return path. If it has one, can you tell me where to look? It is not obvious to me.
Gene,
I figured out the problem and the refrigerator is working fine. You can put this one in the boneheaded move category.
I use this refrigerator to keep kegs cold, so I have a piece of plywood in the bottom to make a level surface. I have had the plywood in there for several years without incident. After thinking about the return air path, I realized it must be under the plywood. So, I removed the plywood last night, and this morning the refrigerator is down to a frosty 35F.
I’m not sure what happened. I must have shifted the plywood just right so it blocked the return vents.
Anyway, thanks for the help. On the plus side, I now know how the temperature control system works in my refrigerator, so I should be able to figure it out with less effort in the future.
thanks again,
Dave
You are welcome Dave. I’m glad you were able to solve the problem. Thank you for the feed back.
Gene.