[netpog]

This side-by-side Kitchen Aid unit is suddenly (last couple days) running too warm. Fridge is 53 and freezer is 32-ish.

Both fans (in freezer-back and under the unit) are running. I feel cool air circulating into the top of the fridge. And I pulled off the freezer's back inside panel, and saw only light frost (on the bottom couple rows of the evaporator, only) which I removed by hair drier.

What do you recommend I do to fix -- or diag -- this problem?

Also, what exactly does the fridge's thermostat control. There don't seem to BE any dampers (I examined the unit, and also all the parts diagrams). Does it operate the freezer's fan? With the freezer's thermostat operating the compressor?

UPDATE: I just thought (*headslap*) to clean the (filthy) condenser coils under the fridge. Freezer temp is already dropping, but the fridge still seems warm. I'll report in a few hours, as to whether I've really got a problem.

Thanks much!

[Gene]

Hopefully condenser coil cleaning would help to solve this problem. This is one of most common problems with any refrigerator.

For your future references here are the break down diagrams for the Kitchen Aid refrigerator Model KSRS27FGSS13

Gene.

[netpog]

Thanks, Gene. Indeed it's now all better. I realize that -- before the fridge was failing to keep temperature at all -- this was an incredible inefficiency, and probably made a hot summer even hotter in the kitchen.

I studied those breakdowns, and don't see any dampers. Does this fridge use the fan (the one behind the freezer) to control the fridge temperature? I don't NEED to know, now, but I am curious.

Thanks again!

[Gene]

The fan next to the compressor cools down the compressor. The fan inside the freezer distributes cold air in the freezer and from the freezer into the refrigerator.

Gene.

[netpog]

After one perfect day, the freezer remains cold, but the fridge is warm! I think the damper OR the fridge's thermostat would be busted. (Kitchenaid/Whirlpool calls the damper an air baffle, and it seems to be part of the "diffuser")

Two questions:
1) How to tell if it's a bad damper or a bad thermostat? The thermostat has 3 or 4 wires into it, so simply shorting it out seems risky to me. (Two if its leads go to the damper unit.)

2) How to remove the control box escutcheon or front-cover? I see the two nuts behind the control box, but the cover seems firmly attached.

For now, I've got a pencil propping that damper open.

Thanks again!

[Gene]

If there is normal (about 0°F to 5°F) temperature in the freezer but the refrigerator is warm then most likely the air diffuser is bad and has to be replaced.

You can find the complete removal and installation instructions for air diffuser in this Service manual.

Hopefully this post Control Box Removal will help you to find the way on how to remove the control box.

- The part number for the air diffuser is AP3046080

Gene.

[netpog]

Since you think it's likely to be that diffuser, and NOT so likely to be thermostat et al, then I'll order a new one. Maybe easier to replace it than diagnose it, at this rate.

And I think I ought to buy it from appliancepartspros.com, don't you?
[UPDATE: I just ordered the diffuser. And a Whirlpool fridge repair manual, just for good luck.]

That service manual is very cool! Thanks for that link. (I don't have the electronic-control version, but the diffuser replacement is the same.)

That control-box-removal thread you sent me doesn't apply to me. That said, I won't NEED to remove that box, if the problem's in the diffuser unit itself.

Thanks much!

[netpog]

Popped the new diffuser unit (which incorporates the damper-control, despite Whirlpool's misleading parts list) and the fridge WORKS PERFECTLY.

Gene, thanks!

The repair was very easy (routing the thermostat lines along the unit's clips was fussy, but not too bad).

The tight friction-fit of the styrofoam diffuser against the fridge's hard plastic meant I caused a lot of styrofoam squeaking that agitated the dog. Otherwise everyone was happy.

[Gene]

I'm glad you were able to fix it.

Gene.