[scorp508]

Hi Everyone,

Our Kenmore side-by-side (106.55382400) is too cold in the fresh food area. The digital controls suggest a setting of 4 (Goes 1-7 with 1 being lowest) for both the freezer and fresh food sections. With the fresh food section set to 1 we're still seeing about 30-32* (F) on the top shelf, and anything you put into the lowest drawer freezes.

I've cleaned the front of the condensor that you can actually reach. There doesn't appear to be any adjustable louvers in the top or middle of the center wall. I don't notice it running any longer than usual, but to be honest I'm not in the kitchen enough each day to really be able to say what would be unusual.

I've seen other threads suggest the cold control may have failed, but wanted to see if there are any other possible suggestions. Ironically the owners manual has troubleshooting steps for everything except "Refrigerator is too cold". I have no problem with tearing this thing apart to replace whatever is necessary.

Thank you greatly in advance.

[richappy]

You will need to go to the Sears site, ********************************, to get the parts breakdown info. In the fridg liner picture look at the diffuser part #15 Check to see if the damper door is jammed open in this. If ok, check the fridg section thermistor, item12, part # 2188819

[geeson1]

Replace your thermistors... both fridge & freezer side.

[richappy]

You can check the thermistor resistance, probably around 5Kohm at room temperature.

[denman]

Thermistors are listed as 2,700 ohms at 77 degrees F.

[richappy]

Thanks Denman, I will remember that.

[scorp508]

Thank you for the suggestions, everyone. I'll give this a shot in the next week or so!

[scorp508]

I finally got around to yanking the thermistor from the fresh food side out.

Sitting in my living room @ 66* I'm getting a reading of ~3,650 ohms. If I submerge it in water as close to 77* as I can get it, I read ~1,980 ohms. At 71* as the water cooled it was ~2,240 ohms. I've ordered a couple thermistors and other parts I had been putting off.

I have the diffuser out as well. It did appear as if the slats were in the open position even with the unit turned off. They're open right now as it sits in my hand and I can't forcibly close them. Does the unit use something like a worm gear which makes it impossible by hand, or should this be relatively easy?

[scorp508]

Disassembled the motor and saw the white cog that moves the slats open and shut. I plugged it in with the parts visible and when you turn on the refrigerator the cog spins 180* then come to a stop. This appears to be the "open" position to let air in from the freezer side. I have it all back together and just have the diffuser sitting on the top shelf to see what happens when it cools down.

[scorp508]

I found that the Power + Filter Reset for 3 seconds also works on this model to get into diagnostics mode. Interestingly both thermistors say they pass, and the diffusor door test does cycle the baffle open and shut properly during its test.

I'll still replace the thermistors and see what happens.