Fridge Repair

Fridge Repair Problems and Solutions

FRIDGE PROBLEMS service requests we receive most are:

1. Refrigerator not cooling.
2. Fresh food section not cooling.
3. Fresh food section too cold.
4. Fridge clicking.
5. Fridge running all the time.

SOLUTIONS to when the refrigerator not cooling most common causes are:

1. A defrost problem is the most common problem when you can usually see a layer of frost building up somewhere in the freezer section. This problem is mostly caused by one of four things. A faulty defrost thermostat, or defrost heater, or defrost timer. On some newer models made by Whirlpool, Amana, or Maytag the electronic control commonly referred to as the Jazz Board is the most usual suspect. To diagnose the cause of a defrost problem locate the defrost timer and advance the timer button to the defrost position. Take an ohms reading at the cord end if there is a reading between 20 to 40 ohms replace the defrost timer. No reading means you should proceed to dismantle the freezer section. Test for an ohms reading at the element. If you get an ohms reading replace the defrost thermostat. No ohms reading at the element, replace the element. With the bottom mount fridges that frost up in the freezer section that have digital displays in the fresh food section you can usually just replace the Jazz Board. Usually this should be done by a trained service technician.
2. An evaporator fan motor is not running. The evaporator fan motor is the one located in the freezer section. Test if 120 volts is getting to the fan motor. If there is a fan motor door switch press switch closed while testing for power. If there is power to fan motor and no ice or snow is preventing the fan blade from turning, replace the fan motor.
3. A less common refrigerator repair problem can be caused by the fresh food section light. To check this while you are closing the door while there is still a tiny space between the door gasket and the fridge body viewing from the side you should be able to see the light bulb turn off just as the door is about to seal shut. If the light is staying on either the door itself is no longer lining up properly to engage the light switch to off position or the door switch itself needs to be replaced.
4. Sometimes an evaporator fan motor is running but not fast enough. In this case replace the fan motor. If a fan blade is broken or falling off it should be replaced.
5. Sometimes a refrigerator service problem is caused by a sealed system problem. This problem is covered in detail in the final section fridge running all the time solution point 2.

SOLUTIONS to common fridge repair problems of fresh food section not cooling are:

1. A frost build up or defrost problem preventing cold air from circulating from the freezer section to the fresh food section. Solutions and diagnosis is covered thoroughly in number 1 above.
2. Evaporator fan motor not circulating the air from the freezer section. Test if power is getting to the motor but still not running replace the motor.

SOLUTIONS to common fridge repair problems of fresh food section too cold are:

1. Cold control or thermostat is set too cold. Experiment by turning back setting usually to lower number is warmer setting.
2. Cold control is faulty. If the main cold control (which is not the air baffle control) which is the control which would shut the entire fridge down when turned to off. If this control is set close to off but the fridge is still getting to cold, replace the control.
3. Some older fridges have a main control located in the freezer section with an air baffle control also in the freezer section which only adjusts how much cold air is allowed to move into the fresh food section. If the air control is set too cold too much cold air will naturally blow into the fresh food section. Turn it back.

SOLUTIONS to when fridge makes a clicking sound:

1. If the clicking sound is coming from the compressor at the back of the fridge replacing the relay and overload with a 3n1 hard start kit will most often solve the problem. The kit comes with basic instructions on how to install. If installing the kit fails to get the compressor running the compressor would need to be replaced.

SOLUTIONS to when fridge is running all the time:

1. If both the condenser fan motor is running, the evaporator fan motor is running and the light is not staying on check the condenser coils at the back near the compressor where the fan motor is running. Are they clean of dust and pet hair and such. If not brush and vacuum and clean.
2. Usually if your fridge is running all the time your freezer section should be rock solid cold. (ice cream almost bends your spoon) If you have followed step one and its still running all the time but your freezer section is not rock hard you likely have a more serious sealed system problem. This means that your compressor is likely weak but still running or the fridge is low on Freon. If you remove the panels in your freezer section and check the evaporator coils while the unit is running you can check the frost for the answer. If the frost is softer (your wet finger does not stick to the metal on the evaporator) which is the cold aluminum tubing lines, then the compressor is weak. If you can see frost only on half or less of the evaporator lines then the unit is low on Freon. Either way most likely the fridge will be too expensive to repair at this point the fridge should normally be replaced.