I was out of town for a week and my wife called to report the fridge not cooling but freezer fine. it was 54F in fridge. My neighbor recommended a guy who came, checked and told her she needed a board which controlled the system and defrost. She paid $140 + 40 labor for board but still not cooling. The fan in freezer works fine. Any suggestions? Jim

Hi Gene,

As for me my refrigerator is a Kennmore 106.53652300. I have read a lot of this thread and tried a few things.
1. I cleared out the frige and examined the apparent vent to the freezer in the upper left corner of the fridge of this side-by-side unit. It was completely blocked with ice. I am wondering what caused this?
2. To rule out further, I then cleared the freezer side. I took out the icemaker and removed the upper rear paneling and air guide forms. The fan is operational and air is blowing up out of the back panel area. The "L" shaped guide to the fridge was clear and I could not feel any ice going into the hole in the side wall to the fridge.
3. Next I took a hair dryer and melted all the ice out of the fridge side of the upper left corner air supply. I did not note any change in the seemingly non-existant air flow to the fridge side from this vent.
4. Next I removed the Lower rear freezer side panel revealing the evaporator coil. There was ice at the upper top right side right where the refrigerant line makes the turn down. There was also minor ice buildup at the bottom front area of the coil. I melted that with the hair dryer too. It should be noted that the ice would not seem to melt off the starting horizontal run of the refrigerant line (start of the evap coil) or on the first leg down. This block of ice at the top corner (turn down as prev described) and the light layer on the beginning line section to the bottom just would not melt. I assume that was because I never unplugged the unit. It should also be noted that toward the end of this 30 min process, the compressor and circulation fan shut off regardless of the fact that things were nearing room temp?!?!
5. So after I have put everything back, the compressor and fan kicked on again as I was completing the re-install of the parts. It was a total of 10 minutes it was not running. But I can detect no real air movement though the frige wall at the upper left cold air supply opening. It should also be noted that when I felt on the freezer side of this upper transfer duct, there was not air from the hair dryer going through. Actually I thought there must be a wall baffle diffusing the air flow, but now I am wondering if that was indeed the control flap stuck???!!??
6. To date and previously:
a) I have cleaner the lower condenser coil and noted the condenser fan appeared operating normally.
b) I have NOT measured the temperature. As the freezer seemed really cold and I noted the fan running and plenty of air comming out in my face when I opened the door.

I did not further water dripping from the upper left vent area after I completed the reinstall of all parts. I THOUGHT I have melted all the ice and even heat dried all the moisture. Perhaps there IS still ice in there causing the flap to sick shut.

I am hoping it is not a CONTROL BOARS ISSUE of course.

FINALLY, I can't figure out for the life of me how to take off the upper left air vent/baffle part from the fridge.?!!? Pehaps it snaps in from the freezer side.?

So let me correct myself again. Yes that is apparently a motor on the diffuser but only controlling the opening and closing of the thru vent apparently. I have jumped the thermistor hookup point as I cant get a closed circuit reading on the meter when the thermister is warm or cold. But still not really a lot of air. Perhaps I should look in there and see if it is moving when I jump it?

Now is the point I would normally go nutty and take the part out and try to fix IT.. But ya know what. You guys saved me probably at least a hundred bucks on repair labor so the hell with it. I have ordered both the thermistor and the diffuser from you. Thanks again...:)

Gene,
More info: GE 25 side by side: today I emptied freezer and put all food in another fridge. The back wall has some ice and fan still blows fine but no air coming into fridge side (temp 54f) The unit was fine for the past year. I never hooked water or ice maker but it was not a problem in past. I mentioned on 8/31 that my wife had board replaced with new one with no improvement. I am assuming it has to do with defrost system. The APP parts guys said the defrost clock/timer on this model is built into the board. GSS25JFPDww Orlandojim