HI, Here is the background trouble I've suddenly been having:

All of a sudden when the fridge starts up (evaporator fans starts) it starts quite loudly, (like a grinding noise) for about 3-4 min. (actually is seems longer than that but it is not), and then the noise tapers out to normal, until it shuts down normally for a little bit. But then again when it's time to start, it happens all over again.And yes, I am sure the noise is coming from the fan/freezer section. Sometimes it even sounds like an engine revving.

I observe that the fan while working is not hitting anything, nor stopping at any whirrling point, has plenty of lube on the spindle,etc.. There is some snowy frost behind the back cover wall, but that seems to melt during defrost ok. I have noticed some icicles on the outside of the back wall plate down by the vents, but that could have been from the last time I took it out, defrosted everything and put it back. Seems to run quiet after I manually defrost it. Maybe there is a little ice on the fan, but then why would the sound eventually disappear after a couple of min.?

I have no problem with cooling. Everything works great there. But....when I took the back wall out, attached to the backside of the metal wall is a white foam thin strip attached across the length of the wall. Half of that strip came off a yr or so ago.

I mention the strip because I am thinking that maybe when the frost builds up prior to defrost mode, could the vibration of the motor be causing that part of the metal wall to vibrate against the coils and frost, causing this noise?

Any insight would be great. The fact that this all of a sudden started (about a week ago), and the part that really gets me is the loud noise at start up and then as it continues it dissipates to normal.

Thanks