GE side by side freezing food in bottom of fresh food compartment

Refrigerator & Freezer Repair
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1

I have a GE side by side that is freezing food in the bottom drawer of the fresh food compartment. I opened the door and held the the door switch closed and then opened several times and could hear the damper motor cycling. I disassembled the damper and it was in the closed position. So I am assuming its not stuck in the open position. I changed the two thermistors in the fresh food side and the temp is still 29 degrees in the bottom drawer. Any suggestions?

3

Hello. It would be my assumption that the temperature is set too warm in the fresh food compartment. I know this sounds backwards, but you have to think in terms of operation, not in terms of logic. When the thermostat is satisfied the circulation fan inside the unit is turned off. Cold air, being heavier than warmer air, migrates backwards through the air return duct and making the air in the bottom of the fresh food compartment cold enough to freeze the items in the drawers. Most of the time when the customer notices the items freezing, they will set the fresh food compartment even warmer. This causes the next drawer up to freeze also. So, to correct your problem, try setting the temperature in the fresh food compartment to a colder temperature and you can set the freezer warmer if you need to. Hope this was helpful!

4

Your reply makes perfect sense. Thanks a lot Jerry.

5

Jerry

Having same issue. Currently temp set freezer 5 and ref at 37. Should I change to 7 and 35 or is that such little difference I should suspect and look elsewhere for issue?

EDIT: Don’t hear damper cycling when open door and using door switch? GE GSS25KGTB BB

Jim

6

Hello Jim. I would try the settings you suggested and also touch the back wall of the freezer and make sure there is no frost build-up there. Of course when you change the settings you have to wait 24 hours to realize the results (refrigeration is a slow process). Also verify that the freezer fan is running. If this produces no positive results, even though you stated that you heard the damper motor actuate in your first post, I would still open it up and check for frost and/or broken linkages. Let me know the results and I’ll help all I can!

7

Jerry

Thanks…will give 24 hrs. No frost on back of freezer. Freezer fan running. Doesn’t seem damper motor actuates off door switch so will open up and check for frost, etc.

Jim