[dawgpound818]

The refrigerator part of my unit seems to be cooling (maybe not 100%, but cooling adequately), but the freezer is not cooling. The unit is on and running, thermostat controls are in their normal place. It doesn't seem that the fan is blowing any chilled air into the freezer and it has been like this for 3 days. Any help or ideas are greatly appreciated.

[denman]

Here are your parts
Replacement parts for SXD25S2W models | AppliancePartsPros.com

Here is a tech sheet
http://www.servicematters.com/maytag...s/T13014R1.pdf

It doesn't seem that the fan is blowing any chilled air into the freezer
You have this backwards, it is the freezer/evaporator fan that pushes cold air from the freezer into the fresh food section.

Check that the compressor is running. It should be warm and you should be able to feel it vibrating.
If it is running then pull the cover in the freezer so you can see the evaporator coils.
If they are heavily iced/frosted over you have a defrost problem.
It will be one of 3 things.
The defrost timer Item 29 in Section 13. Rotate the timer cam till the fans and compressor go off, you are now in a defrost cycle. Check to see if the defost heating element comes on. Be careful do not burn your fingers.
If it does come on replace the timer.
If it does not come on check the following.
The defrost heater. Remove the wire to one side of it and check it with a meter usually around 20 ohms.
The defrost thermostat. Remove one wire from it and check it with a meter. Should be 0 ohms when frozen. Note it opens just above freezing so it must be frozen when checking.
If both the above are OK then you either have a broken wire or the contacts in the timer are toast.

Here are a couple good sites with troubleshooting help
http://www.applianceaid.com/frig.html
Refrigerator Repair Guide: How To Fix a Refrigerator - ACME HOW TO.com

[dawgpound818]

OK, sorry for my ignorance. I'm mechanically inclined, but this is my first go at repairing a refrigerator. I turned the defrost timer and it does cycle the compressor on and off. I removed the inside lower (evaporator coils, etc) cover from the freezer to inspect the evaporator coils and evaporator fan motor (since I was getting no chilled air flow). The coils were freezing (working properly), but no excessive dirt or frost build-up. The evaporator fan motor was not running and upon testing, tested open (motor shot). I'm sourcing a new motor and will install it this evening. I've heard that the bimetal switch and defrost timer are also suspect and fail fairly frequently. Do you have any suggestions on parts I should replace with the evaporator fan motor so that I don't have to re-diagnose the same problem in the near future?

Thanks, this forum is truly a life (and $$$) saver. I sincerely appreciate the help.

Nick

[denman]

OK, sorry for my ignorance. I'm mechanically inclined, but this is my first go at repairing a refrigerator.
No need to apologize, I just thought I would correct it so you do not start off in the wrong direction.

The evaporator fan motor was not running and upon testing, tested open (motor shot). I'm sourcing a new motor and will install it this evening.
This may solve the problem. The unit relies on the proper cold air circulation to run correctly.

I've heard that the bimetal switch and defrost timer are also suspect and fail fairly frequently.
I does not sound like you have a defrost problem so replacing the above would just be a waste of money right now.

Do you have any suggestions on parts I should replace with the evaporator fan motor so that I don't have to re-diagnose the same problem in the near future?
I think the motor will solve the problem. Now that I have said it Murphy will step in and jinx it.