Brand: Kitchenaid Model Number: KFIV29PCMS03 Main Symptom: Compressor keeps running, front display never goes to sleep(turns off) and no water from dispenser What happens & when: I replaced the controller board with the same one WPW10589837. The new board the compressor never comes on and refrigerator is not getting cold but the front display goes to sleep and functions. I left this new board in for an hour the compressor or fan never came on. I open doors all lights are working. I swapped the old board back in and the compressor and fan came on in a minute and 10 seconds. Fan/compressor/front display never shut off.
Error Code (if any):
Parts or tests already tried:
Photos / video link:
Based on what you’ve described, this actually tells us quite a bit.
What your results suggest
Original control board:
Compressor starts after about 1 minute.
Condenser fan runs.
Refrigerator cools (or at least attempts to).
Front display never goes to sleep.
Water dispenser doesn’t work.
Compressor never cycles off.
Replacement WPW10589837 board:
UI operates normally and goes to sleep.
Interior lights work.
Compressor never starts.
Condenser fan never starts.
No cooling at all.
Those are two very different failures, which makes me question the replacement board before assuming anything else is bad.
Most likely possibilities (in order)
1. Replacement board is defective or not programmed correctly (Most Likely)
The replacement board should begin cooling within several minutes if the refrigerator is warm.
If neither the compressor nor the condenser fan ever starts, yet the UI and lights function normally, the main control board isn’t commanding cooling.
This happens with:
Defective replacement boards (not uncommon)
Incorrect part despite having the same number on the label
Remanufactured board with an internal fault
2. Verify the replacement board is actually identical
Compare both boards side-by-side.
Verify:
Part number
Revision number
Connector locations
Jumper or personality settings (if present)
A board with the correct base part number but incorrect software revision can cause unusual operation.
3. Service diagnostics
With each board installed separately, enter Service Diagnostics.
Run:
Compressor test
Condenser fan test
Water dispenser test
If the replacement board will not energize any loads during diagnostics, the board is almost certainly defective.
4. Water dispenser issue (original board)
The dispenser problem probably isn’t caused by the compressor running continuously.
Test whether the dispenser works with the replacement board.
If both boards have no water, the problem is elsewhere:
Door harness
Left door wiring
Water paddle switch
Dual water valve
UI communication
Why the original board runs continuously
If the refrigerator never satisfies the temperature setting, the compressor will run continuously.
Common reasons:
Bad thermistor sending incorrect temperature
Frosted evaporator reducing airflow
Sealed system issue
Main board interpreting a bad sensor
The fact that the display never sleeps also makes me wonder if the board is constantly seeing an input such as:
A door switch
User interface communication
A sensor fault
I’d like you to check one thing
With the original board installed, answer these questions:
What are the actual temperatures?
Freezer
Fresh food
Does the interior evaporator fan run?
(Open the freezer drawer and hold the door switch closed.)
Can you enter Service Diagnostics?
If so, are there any stored fault codes?
When you press the water dispenser paddle, do you hear the water valve humming?
At this point, I do not think you’ve proven the original board is bad. In fact, your testing suggests the replacement board may be defective, because it never commands the compressor or condenser fan on despite the refrigerator being warm. The original board at least controls the sealed system, even though it has other abnormal behavior. The next diagnostic step is to verify sensor readings and whether the replacement board can operate loads in Service Diagnostics.
Compressor starts after about 1 minute.
Front display never goes to sleep.