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I have a ge profile. When it gets hot and muggy out the fridge and freezer do not keep to the correct temperature. We have to stop opening the doors to allow to slowly creep back to where it should be. The last time this happened, it didn't start working correctly again until the weather cooled way down that evening.
We pulled the fridge out in order to vacuum the back area, and I noticed that there is a white plastic fan that wasn't moving. I was able to move it manually though.
Should that fan be moving all the time?
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Rank: Member
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Joined: 5/28/2015(UTC)
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If that fan draws cooling air over the condenser or/and compressor, then yes, it should be running whenever the compressor is running. The condenser being unable to dump its heat would sure cause the problem you described.
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Joined: 2/12/2012(UTC)
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Hi, Yvonne. The condenser fan motor should be running as long as the compressor is. So if you discovered that the condenser motor is not turning, both the condenser motor and the main control board (located at the back of the fridge behind the metal cover) should be replaced. Here are the Main control board: Part number: AP4436216
Condenser fan motor: Part number: AP3797248
Click on the parts and watch the videos for the replacement instructions. The condenser motor for your fridge is different from the one in the video, but it's pretty much straight forward job. Let us know if there is any problems. Thank you. Simon.
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Rank: Member
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Originally Posted by: Rich77711  If that fan draws cooling air over the condenser or/and compressor, then yes, it should be running whenever the compressor is running. The condenser being unable to dump its heat would sure cause the problem you described. thank you. very helpful. but, silly question I know, how do I know when the compressor is running? fridge tends to always make a little humming noise....
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: APP Team
Joined: 2/12/2012(UTC)
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Hi, Yvonne.
If you put your hand on the compressor very briefly you should feel it vibrating and making some humming noise. Be careful - it may be very hot if the condenser fan motor is not running. Also, do not use the refrigerator with faulty condenser motor - you will kill the compressor - $$$!
Best,
Simon.
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Rank: Member
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Thanks for all input. I'm getting a little confused though. If you wouldn't mind, can we start from the top. This is what I know after watching the fridge/freezer all weekend:
1 - whenever it is hot, or even pushed back to the wall with little air circulation, the temps start getting too high.
2 - I probably checked 20 times over the weekend and never saw the white plastic fan move. I can move the fan manually though so it does move freely.
3 - I do not know where the compressor or condenser is so I don't know how to check them. The fridge just seemed to make the same sound all the time. Sort of a hum. I didn't know where to touch to see if anything was vibrating.
4 - The condenser motor is the same as the fan motor - correct?
5 - Does the main control board and the fan motor (same as condenser motor?) always have to be replaced at the same time and will this solve the problem as described above?
6 - Is there any chance that the condenser or compressor is bad now? How do I know the difference?
Thanks for being patient with me. I do need to do this quick. We have a little fan set up blowing air to the back of the fridge and hope that will help.
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Rank: Member
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For anyone interested, the video of how to change the fan motor has nothing to do with the actual refrigerator I posted. Not even close. It is a very different set up in my fridge.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: APP Team
Joined: 2/12/2012(UTC)
Posts: 5,556
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Hi, Yvonne. When you took off the cover at the bottom back of your refrigerator to get to the plastic fan you mentioned you should of been able to see the compressor on the left. It's a large black "roundish" part. Compressor Part number: AP4481489
Click on the photo and then choose the second frame for the better view of compressor. I hope you turned the refrigerator off, as I suggested. If your refrigerator is still cooling, the compressor is most likely good. Replace then the condenser fan motor and the main control board. Sorry, (as I mentioned in my article) the actual video is for the different part number, but it still gives you an idea. Please, keep us posted of the outcome. Thank you. Simon.
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Rank: Member
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To be honest with you, it wasn't even close. Very different set up. I knew to find it by the fan, but that was the only similarity. Other than that it was just figuring out how to get the old one out and what parts to move, to get to it, etc. The fan did not fix the problem and when we went to local parts store to get the main control panel he didn't want to sell it to me because he said he was pretty sure that the problem wasn't the panel. He figured it was probably one of the sensors. I have a repair man coming - we'll see what he thinks and I'll post.
UPDATE: the repair guy agreed that it was the control panel. He did feel there was probably nothing wrong with the fan though because it never made any noise.
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