Frigidaire Evaporator Fan

Refrigerator & Freezer Repair
1

Hello!

I recently bought this refrigerator used for the garage from a private individual.. I knew this had sat in some water from the hurricane a couple years ago. It powered on but had a SY EF code. This code showed evaporator fan failure, or possible control board. I took a chance and ordered a fan but same issue. I then tested both fans with a battery and they both worked. There are 3 leads, +12V, GND, and a yellow wire which I’m assuming is the control for LOW/Hi/OFF? I had to put voltage to the yellow wire to make the fan come on. In the freezer where the fan goes, I have 12V at the fan connector. The yellow wire always has 0.25v.

I then ordered a used control board and same issue. Same voltage on yellow wire, both at the fan connector and directly off the control board pin out. (I tested this in diagnostics mode where you can turn fan to OFF/LO/HI)

Now I don’t know what to do, the freezer and refrig cool slightly but not what it’s supposed to.

All other functions seems to work going thru the diagnostics except for the evap fan which won’t turn on.

Also I’m not sure if the old owner had tried to fix, the control board on the bottom of the fridge didn’t look like it had sat in water. I wondered if he had tried the same things, but now I’m not 100% certain if the board is the exact part # that should be in this frig.

Can anyone help me!?

2

UPDATE:

I forced the evaporator fan ON and now have reached normal operating temps in frig and freezer. I ordered another new control board. It seems odd that 2 boards would have same exact issue though.

UPDATE 2: Although it’s working, the code SY EF has returned the next morning.
I’m wondering.. is there a circuit board inside the display on the door that can also cause this?

3

When the fan is installed, does it rotate with 12VDC going to it immediately after plugging the appliance power cord in? If not, does the compressor operate? If the compressor is running, the most likely issue would be a wire failure since the control and fan motor have been replaced. Unfortunately, the wire is inside of the liner and is not replaceable.