Chosen Solution
Hey everyone. My whirlpool (2013 model) has stopped cooling in the fridge and Freezer. I have check the continuity on the compressor wires and it checks out good. The fan is running and the compressor cuts on and off. Any ideas of what to check now? Thanks for any help.
Cause 1 Condenser Coils are Dirty The condenser coils are usually located under the refrigerator. They dissipate heat as refrigerant passes through them. If the condenser coils are dirty, they won’t dissipate the heat effectively. As debris builds up on the coils, the refrigerator becomes less efficient, causing the refrigerator to work harder to cool down. If the coils are significantly dirty, the refrigerator will not be able to maintain the proper temperature. Check the condenser coils to determine if they are dirty—if the condenser coils are dirty, clean them. Cause 2 Evaporator Fan Motor The evaporator fan motor draws air over the evaporator (cooling) coils and circulates it throughout the refrigerator and freezer compartments. Some refrigerators have more than one evaporator fan motor. On refrigerators with only one evaporator, the evaporator is located in the freezer compartment. If the evaporator fan is not working, it will not circulate the cold air to the refrigerator compartment. If this occurs, the freezer may still get cold, while the refrigerator will not get cold. To determine if the evaporator fan motor is defective, try turning the fan blade by hand. If the fan blade does not turn freely, replace the fan motor. Additionally, if the motor is unusually noisy, replace it. Finally, if the motor does not run at all, use a multimeter to test the motor windings for continuity. If the windings do not have continuity, replace the evaporator fan motor. Cause 3 Condenser Fan Motor The condenser fan motor draws air though the condenser coils and over the compressor. If the condenser fan motor is not working properly, the refrigerator won’t cool properly. To determine if the fan motor is defective, first check the fan blade for obstructions. Next, try turning the fan motor blade by hand. If the blade does not spin freely, replace the condenser fan motor. If no obstructions are present and the fan blade spins freely, use a multimeter to test the fan motor for continuity. If the condenser fan motor does not have continuity, replace it
I recently had this happen on my parents fridge! It was a setting in that weird little touch screen that they have. I accidentally bumped up against it and it stopped cooling. After tons of searching for the manual I found one here: http://www.kitchenaid.com/digitalassets/… . Look on page 5 of this manual for the operation of the touch screen. In the touch screen controls there is a way to turn on and off the cooling. I don’t know if this is the same problem you are having but I hope this helps!!
Hi @ Michael Morabito, If the compressor is running and the evaporator unit in the freezer compartment is not getting icy cold and the condenser coils are not getting warm to hot then there is a problem with the sealed system. It could be a faulty compressor (even though the compressor motor is running), a blockage in the sealed system or a lack of refrigerant due to a leak (are there any signs of an oily substance below the compressor or the condenser coils?) Depending on the age of your unit, most manufacturers give a 5 year warranty on the sealed system including the compressor (but maybe not the labour cost) so check the warranty for your fridge in the user guide that came with the fridge.
Hi @ejvds, What is the make and model number of the fridge? Can you hear if the evaporator fan located behind a panel inside the freezer compartment is running? You may have to place your ear next to the fridge to hear it. It will stop when a door is opened and start again when a door (any door, fridge or freezer) is shut. If you can’t hear it, it may be faulty or iced up. If it is iced up it may be due to a faulty defrost heater or defrost thermostat or worst case a faulty control board. Do not confuse it with the condenser fan which is outside the compartments near the condenser coils and compressor. This fan runs whether the doors are open or shut
Same problem (( milk going bad refrigerator not cold )) looked and the coils on front under doors completely obstructed with lint dust hair… vacuum and removed back cover Freon lines all frozen , after about 15 min everything appears to be back to normal
Hi @jimott , Here’s a link that may help.
There is a big model list more recently added as of this posting, manufactured under Whirlpool Brands, that you can find on top-class actions that have a combination of problems from design, manufacturing - parts. I have model # WRX986SIHZ00 French door “dual evaporators” RC not cooling. FC works perfectly. The first place to “START” is the 3-way refrigerant solenoid valve and install a new receiver dryer simultaneously. This 3way valve is part of the sealed refrigerant system. Externally, the solenoid valve slides onto the refrigerant valve that magnetically turns the internal refrigerant valve either to FC or RC, so the refrigerant is directed to each individual evaporator compartment. The internal valve is defective and getting stuck in the wrong position. Currently, there is a back order on a new solenoid and refrigerant valve design. This combination can also cause “electric control boards” to become defective and have to be remanufactured. The manufacturing defrosts defect causes will be no ice cube production, warm in either FC, RC, or both. Ice build-up on RC evaporator middle drawer pushing out from ice build-up etc.
