I have a kenmore s/s fridge. The problem started with fridge being warm. The fridge is completely empty. I replaced the following: New defrost thermostat and heater assy, new thermostat (fridge side), new defrost timer, new evaporator fan (bottom-rear exterior). Freezer fan blowing well. There are NO restrictions in the duct. Compressor is NOT noisy. Coils are clean. I have completely defrosted unit and restarted. Nominal frost on coils (see pic). Freezer only reaches 20 degrees and fridge around 50. Control settings are set to initial. NEED HELP!!! Losing sleep and my hair!!!
Sorry - I meant the condensor fan motor not the evaporator motor.
I replaced the following: New defrost thermostat and heater assy, new thermostat (fridge side), new defrost timer, new evaporator fan (bottom-rear exterior).
Did you do any troubleshooting to determine if any of the above parts were bad? If yes what did you do and what were the results.
Or did you just feel that the part you replaced was the most likely cause.
Freezer only reaches 20 degrees and fridge around 50.
How long has the unit been on. An empty freezer will take a long time to get down to set temperature (24 hours or so).
The coils look OK as far as cooling, the frost on them looks fairly even.
Is the compressor cycling on/off or is it on all the time?
Yes I did troubleshoot for the most part. The heater assy was replaced because the lower element was not working. The defrost thermostat was tested using ice water and an ohm meter to determine if it would open and close. It came as an assy so I did it all at once.
The condenser fan was was found to be intermittent. I saw it not spinning and used my finger to make it start. I decided it was best to replace it.
The fridge thermostat was also intermittent as it would make the compressor kick in an out with th slightest touch.
The defrost timer was originally mechanical type. It tested ok but I changed it as a precaution with an electronic one.
Since the unit is in the garage I cannot say for certain that the compressor cycles. It has been on now for about 3 days.
I think that the compressor remains on now that I think about it. Every time that I have been out in the garage it seems to be running. Would that indicate that the unit is low on freon? I can manually put the unit in defrost mode and the compressor does cut off for the duration (30 mins or so).
It has been on now for about 3 days.
It should be down to set point temperatures by now.
Sounds like you did a good job troubleshooting.
Is the evaporator/freezer fan running?
How hot is it in the garage.
If very hot the unit may not be able to get rid of the heat in the condenser coils so it cannot reach set point. In this case the compressor would run all the time.
You have to find out how the compressor is running to be able to go any further. You can usually hear it but should also be able to feel it vibrating.
If it is on all the time except when it goes through a defrost cycle, then you know that the thermostat and the compressor start device is OK.
If it is cycling then probably the thermostat is either bad or perhaps you installed it wrong and it’s tip is measuring at the wrong location re: too cold at that spot.
Your problem is a mystery as the frost on the coils looks OK (nice and even across the coils) so the darn thing should cool down to set point.
Have you checked the door seals?
The fan as well as the compressor are functioning. The seals on the door are intact and sealing well (suction when opening).
The temp in the garage is about 80. I also have another fridge and a deep freezer out there that are functioning well.
The replacement thermostat came with the probe straightened. The original one was coiled. So I thought it should be coiled. I used the handle of a screwdriver to coil it like the old one. Since you have now mentioned it. I have uncoiled it (for the most part) and placed the tip away from the air duct.
I have also placed a thermostat and will grab a reading for you in about an hour. By the way, temp in the freezer is still about 20.
Thanks so much for your help.
If the compressor is running all the time then it will not be the thermostat.
Has this unit ever worked OK in your garage with the current ambient temperature?
Yes - at one point it did work and the fridge was somewhere around 22 while the freezer was -10. But that’s when the condenser motor went intermittent. That’s why I replaced it. Have not been able to achieve those temperatures since then. The lowest freezer temp has been around 20 while the fridge is around 40-50.
Any more ideas? I figure that the compressor keeps running because the unit has not achieved the desired temperature. Could the unit be low on freon? I wouldn’t think so with the evenness of the frost.
Any more help or suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Could the unit be low on freon? I wouldn’t think so with the evenness of the frost.
I agree with you that since the frost pattern is even the freon is OK.
Sorry but I am lost here.
I cannot think of anything.
The compressor is running all the time so it is trying to get to a lower temperature but cannot for some reason.
Everything else also seems to be running as it should and you have leaned underneath so the coils etc. are running at their optimum.
The only thing I can think of is that this unit cannot run at higher ambient temperatures.
DENMAN can you help?
I am outr of ideas.
If it cools down in the garage overnight then check your freezer temperature in the mourning to see if it is lower.
It seems that this unit cannot keep up with higher ambient temperatures.
I would also recheck the evaporator coils just to be sure that they still have a nice even coating of frost over the entire coil.
Also check that the evaporator fan is spinning nice and fast.
It appears that I have replaced the thermostat with the wrong part number. I put the old one back in to see what it would do. Could this cause a problem?
It could be but I doubt it.
For it to be the problem the compressor would have to be cycling on/off re: the thermostat is registering the wrong temperature so shuts the compressor off before the freezer gets to 0 to 5 degrees F.
Ok - so I have taken the temp control out of the circuit by jumping it out. I completely defrosted the unit and restarted it this morning. I will check it again this afternoon and see what the temp is. If that doesn’t do it, i will add an external fan to blow across the coils.
This problem is kicking my @$$!!!:mad:
This problem is kicking my @$$!!!
Me too!!!
Ok I just walked out to check on the fridge and the compressor stopped running. Heaters ore not on. Compressor is cool/warm. I still left it plugged in and will wait a while to see if it will start again. However, In my thinking, it should have kept running. It may have blown the relay. I had replaced that some months back once before.
Ok - it is officially dead. I unplugged it and when I went to try and plug it again, the evap. fan tries to start but doesn’t and the compressor doesn’t turn on either. My thinking is the relay has gone bad again. Any ideas?
Ok - i checked the relay and the PTC. Both show continuity leading me to believe that they are both good. Lights in the fridge and on the diagnostic board (water/ice dispenser) are illuminated. No fault indications are illuminated other than Warm Temp. Now when I plug it in, I hear a slight "thump" and the evap. fan tries to spin but nothing happens. Compressor doesn’t come on and the fan does not turn. Am I missing an internal fuse or something? Or is this an indication of a bad compressor?