[lauraneal72]

By all appearances the refrigerator is working fine. The fans (condenser and evaporator) are spinning, the coils aren't blocked by ice, I cleaned the condenser, the compressor comes on, it defrosts, and the damper opens and closes (although it isn't open as often as it needs to be). I have had problems with the ice freezing in one big clump in the ice maker, so I know the freezer gets too warm sometimes but that has been happening off and on for months before this problem with the fresh food side started.

A few days ago, the freezer was too warm (around 40 degrees) and the fresh food side was around 60 degrees. I pulled it out, cleaned the condenser, and called the repair man. I pushed the unit back into place but didn't put the rear panel on (inexperience) because I knew the repair man would come in the morning. Because the panel was off, it ran too hot and he couldn't properly diagnose the thing. He said it looks like the condenser fan or motherboard or both. He said usually the motherboard needs to be replaced at the same time as another part because they don't make them very well.

Since the repair call, the freezer has been fine between 0 and 10 degrees but the fresh food side hasn't been below 50 degrees and has been as high as 80 degrees. We have the cold setting for both freezer and fresh food set at 5 (right in the middle).

I did replace a thermistor a few months ago because the coils were a block of ice and we haven't had that problem again. Off and on the ice will freeze into a big block in the ice maker. Apparently the freezer gets too warm on occasion and just recently the fresh food side won't cool below 50 degrees.

I'm hoping you can help me diagnose what could be the real problem before I give up and just get a new unit. I can use a meter to test continuity if instructed where and how to test. I'm also not afraid of replacing parts if directed how. It's been acting so strange that I think it may be a bad motherboard. It could also be a weak fan motor, I suppose. I could also be a bad damper. Although that doesn't explain why the freezer is warm sometimes.

I know this is really long and I appreciate any advice you have.

Thanks!

[Gene]

Originally Posted by lauraneal72

...I did replace a thermistor a few months ago...

Which thermistor it was?


Unplug the refrigerator. Pull the refrigerator out of the wall and remove the cover from the main control board. Set your ohmmeter at the highest scale. Disconnect the J1 plug and measure the resistance between the wires connected to: J1-5 & J1-1, J1-5 & J1-2, J1-5 & J1-3 and J1-5 & J1-4. At the same time you should know exact measured temperatures in the freezer and the fresh food compartment. Post the results.

Gene.

[lauraneal72]

Sorry I wasn't clear which thermistor I replaced. It was the one on top of the coils next to the thermostat at the back of the freezer.

Here are the results of the ohmeter test:

Freezer Temp: 8 degrees
Fresh Food Temp: 60 degrees
I set the meter on 200k.
There was no wire in #J1-1.
There are wires in #J1-6 & #J1-9 in case you need that info.

J1-5 & J1-2 = 10.0
J1-5 & J1-3 = 42.0
J1-5 & J1-4 = 40.6
The J1-3 & J1-4 numbers were dropping quickly over the course of a few minutes while the refrigerator was unplugged.

I tested again about 10 minutes later when the freezer temp was 13 degrees and fresh food temp was 53 degrees. (Could be my thermometer, sorry.)

J1-5 & J1-2 = 10.0
J1-5 & J1-3 = 33.7
J1-5 & J1-4 = 29.0

I have no idea why the temperatures were so different in just a few minutes. The thermometer I have is an analog one that takes some time to adjust. I hope this information is helpful.

[Gene]

Looks like the thermistors in the freezer and the refrigerator are out of range. They both are identical and are mounted on the walls.

- The thermistor Part number: WR55X10025

Gene.

[lauraneal72]

I read that the thermistors in this refrigerator may be faulty. My next problem is getting to the thermistors. I found the freezer thermistor. Shouldn't be too difficult to change since I've already replaced the evaporator one.

The fresh food one looks to be behind the back panel of the fresh food compartment. Is it easy to remove the panel and find it, or am I mistaken in its location? I do see a plastic vent on the left panel in the fresh food section and took it off. I don't see a thermistor in there though. I can take the back panel off if needed.

Thanks so much for the information!

[lauraneal72]

I found the fresh food thermistor! It was up by the damper. I replaced that one tonight since I had one on hand and will order another one for the freezer. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks so much for your help!