[BryonH]

I have a Kitchen Aid Superba - but i don't know the model number... whoever i bought it from took great care to remove the data sticker

The bottom of the freezer of course is very cold, the top is almost room temperature. the fridge side is a balmy 60 degrees

There's no airflow, no frost, no blockages, no food stored in there yet (just got it on craigslist)

i can hear the compressor when it runs, the compressor fan (in the back, outside, bottom) spins very well and draws a lot of air from the front across the coils (also cleaned)

the only thing i can find that doesn't work is the evaporator fan. it never spins, when the compressor is on or off, door open or closed... never.

there are 4 wires on the motor (pin 1 is red, then yellow, blue, white).

when i test it for ohms using any combination of any and all pins, i get just about nothing. when i test pin 1 and pin 2, the meter doesn't change from 1 (open)
pins 3 and 4, the meter stays at 1 too
pins 3 and 1, and 3 and 2 present a spike to about 130 for 0.25 seconds
pins 4 and 1, and 4 and 2 present a spike to about 130 for 0.25 seconds
(i dont think 3+1, 3+2, 4+1, 4+2 are supposed to relate to each other)
(meter set on 200 ohms)

when i test for DC voltage coming from the harness in the freezer, pins 1 and 2 produce about 11.25 volts dc... pins 3 and 4 produce something like 0.18 volts dc

now just to see what would happen, i took a computer case fan (12v dc brushless) and plugged it into the pins 1 and 2 in the harness (11.25 volts) it did NOT spin... but i dont know if the computer case fan is just picky and requires 12 volts or more.

when i put 12 volts directly into the original motor pins 1 and 2, it didnt spin... but i wonder if it needs something with pins 3 and 4?

when i hold the motor and spin the stick between my fingers, there is no resistance, and no roughness

when i go into the "secret menu" in the control box (7 internal tests), test 3 is the evaporator motor and obviously that shows a red light since the fan isn't spinning

what should i do, replace the evaporator motor? what's this about the motherboard, is that likely to be bad considering i'm getting 11.25 volts?

i'll upload a picture of the front of the fridge (maybe can identify it?), the motor, and the control box in the fridge side.

i did find a wiring diagram stashed in the bottom of the entire thing, but it doesn't mention the model number - can scan it if you think it's helpful

[BryonH]

Well, i'm torn between replacing the motor, or the board... but since there's seemingly correct voltage coming to the motor, i guess i have to assume the board is fine

since putting 12v into the motor from another known-good source into the motor doesn't cause the motor to spin, that's another mark against the motor

so i'll replace the motor. would still love to hear diagnosing steps and thoughts from the experts though, please reply if you know something

[BryonH]

So, i ordered the motor from appliancepartspros.com on sunday, received it today... installed it...

fan still doesn't spin

so it has to be the control board, right?

i've seen them for sale anywhere from $150 to $350... or a repair service on ******** specifically for this board for around $150 where they fix your board...

anyone have any thoughts at all here - am i heading in the wrong direction? any experience using board repair services?

[richappy]

Your main board probably failed when the motor bearings failed due to lack of oil. The motor is a brushless dc motor that probably needs a square wave on one set of pins to provide external commutation and force the motor to turn in the right direction.

[BryonH]

Wow, what an adventure.

I paid to have the main board reconditioned, and the evap motor STILL doesn't spin. It doesn't spin with the original evap motor OR the one i purchased from this site...

So I guess it's time to cut my losses and never buy on craigs list again...

Does anyone know the approximate laws on filing charges for someone who scammed you out of $600 by selling you a refrigerator that "works great" - but has an unfixable problem?

[richappy]

To prove a scam is very difficult. I do not think you got a rebuild board, GE will not release info on it and it is rather complex and almost impossible to rebuild. It is also very difficult to test the motor.In my sticky above, there is a procedure to clean and oil the motor, however, you still run the risk of burning out the motherboard if it is bad.
With the new evaporator motor installed, I would buy a new motherboard from this site.

[BryonH]

Wow that's a tough call - there were so many good feedback reports about that company repairing failed boards like this. This site even recommended them as the only option since the board hasn't been made in years

So i have to decide, spend another $350 on a new board, for a CHANCE it might work... or try to sue the seller... or be stuck with the fridge and the loss of around $700

What would you put the odds at that a 'new' board (you didnt paste the link to buy from) would work?

[richappy]

Order the board from the parts site on this forum. If you use the new motor (not rebuilt) and the motor still will not run with the new board installed, you can return it and get your money back.

[BryonH]

That is a great option. I still have the new evap motor from this site, not sure if i can get a board though from here, did you see one? I was estimating the model number since the sticker was removed, but i did find one on the back, i'll post that when i get home

[BryonH]

Originally Posted by richappy

Order the board from the parts site on this forum. If you use the new motor (not rebuilt) and the motor still will not run with the new board installed, you can return it and get your money back.

Alright, so my fridge model is KSCS25FKSS00

The physical board i pulled out of it is part number 2214443

Apparently, the first part number they used was 2221536, but that was replaced by the manufacturer with part number 4389211, but that was later discontinued as well.

So, i don't know what to replace the board with - Angela from this site said there are no replacements the only option was to have the logic on the board repaired. I used the site she suggested, for $100, it came back as 'repaired', but the neither the original evap motor nor the new evap motor i bought from this site, actually spins

I left it on overnight, checking on it every few hours, the fan never spins.. regardless of temp, condenser cycle, etc.

What should i do next?