Refrigerator Malfunction

[FLBentRider]

Has anyone seen where the freezer is fine but the fridge side will not get cold ?

Our garage fridge (used to be the house fridge, its 18YO) will only get down to about 52F. The freezer is about 9F.

I know (or at least think) that the fridge gets it cooling from the freezer, so what gives ?


I'm probably going to end up pitching it and getting a new one.

Hmm... Maybe a cold smoker / curing cabinet. --- I just don't have the room.

[squirtthecat]

Same compressor, but the fridge gets it cool air from the fan that forces it in...  Perhaps that cr*pped out on you.

[Hopefull Romantic]

Wish I could help you there.

I only know how to open them, close them and load them up with groceries.

HR

[OU812]

I aint no refrigerator mechanic but it sounds like the fan that moves the cold air from the freezer to the fridge. The one i have in the garage did the same thing and it was the fan blade, the blades all broke off, go figure

[justpete]

I had the same thing happen to me twice.

It was the fan that blows the freeze air into the fridge.

Peter

[Mr Walleye]

FLB

I'm assuming this is a frost free fridge with the freezer on the top....

If so there are only a couple of things it will be. It will be the defrost timer, the defrost element or the fan. Not that I have a lot of experience, anytime I had a problem it was always the defrost timer that was the culprit. What is happening is your condenser (usually located in the bottom or back of the freezer compartment) is icing up and the not allowing air flow into the fridge portion. You will need to locate the defrost timer and cycle it with a screw driver. When you cycle it, you can feel it click when it reaches the defrost cycle. Once in the defrost cycle remove the panel in the freezer portion so you can see if the element gets hot and defrosts the condenser. If it does it's the timer. If it does not I would unplug the fridge, remove the wires from the defrost heat element and check it for continuity. No continuity = bad element.

I'll see if I can find you some links to some illustrations on line.

Mike

[Mr Walleye]

FLB

Here is a link that does a better job of explaining it.

http://www.applianceaid.com/frig_notcold.html#ff

It really is a fairly easy trouble shooting/fix. (usually)  ;)

I think the last defrost timer I put in was about $25.

Mike

[Habanero Smoker]

Just to add to the conversation, both the refrigerator and freezer seem to be running warmer then normal. Most freezers are set for 0°F.

[Mr Walleye]

Your right Habs.

This can also be caused by the condensor freezing up. It literally becomes an ice box.  :D

Mike

[Tiny Tim]

Mine showed this same problem 6 months ago.  Haven't fixed or replaced it yet (brought a "Pop Cooler" home from the store).

Probably going to buy a new fridge anyway, rather than fix this one, as I have no idea how old it is, and would probably fail soon anyway if I fixed it.

[FLBentRider]

It's a side by side.

The fan is behind a panel behind the icemaker. The screws were not giving it up.

I need to take another crack at it when we get back from this camping trip.

[Oldman]

We have this problem every summer. What I do is to remove all items, turn off the frig, and place a fan that blows air into the refrig part. This then melts the ice that is blocking the air flow from the freezer. This unit is a "frost-free" unit if you can believe that.  It is only 3-4 years old to boot. But it is out in the garage.

[g]

If its 18 yo consider getting a newone. Your energy savings will pay for itself in a year & you will have the fridge you want