Fridge not cooling - evap fan?

oppiecat · 12-05-2006, 04:17 PM

I have a 2005 Kenmore ColdSpot (Whirlpool 106.xx) top freezer model that mostly stopped cooling in the fridge section last weekend (to 55 F) – freezer still cooled, but showed evidence of melt and refreeze, with frost built up on ice and foods. No great buildup of ice or frost on coils when I took the rear wall off. I did have lots of ice built up on the evap tray and ice blockage about 2-3 inches down the drain tube in the freezer (but have not had problems with water in fridge). Hoped it was just ice blocking the air flow to the fridge, but I have manually defrosted the whole thing and melted the ice blockage, and 24 hrs later still not much cooling in fridge (50 F) and now even freezer seems a little warmer (could just be that it’s empty, though). Also noticed some puddles already frozen in the evap tray again, so I’m thinking the defrost system is working (?) The compressor is running, the fan beside the compressor is running, and the coils underneath are free of dust – so that’s not it. However, I don’t think the evaporator fan in the freezer is running at all – not sure how to test it definitively, but it has shown no signs of life. The fan blades will rotate freely by hand.

I have the Sears guy coming in a week (!) to fix it. Would rather use a local place sooner, but I suppose there’s a chance it could be something still under warranty (compressor only, I think). Any diagnosis thoughts out there, and any chance it’s something a novice could fix? Thanks.

jeff1 · 12-05-2006, 07:41 PM

Hi,

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I don’t think the evaporator fan in the freezer is running at all – not sure how to test it definitively, but it has shown no signs of life. The fan blades will rotate freely by hand.

Normally test with a volt meter for power to the fan motor leads...power to the fan motor but no go = new fan motor time. No power to the fan motor and we have to check to see where the power is lost.

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and now even freezer seems a little warmer (could just be that it’s empty, though).

If the evaporator fan motor is not running, the freezer temp will be effected as well. Having nothing in the freezer will increase the temp some as well.

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I have the Sears guy coming in a week (!) to fix it. Would rather use a local place sooner, but I suppose there’s a chance it could be something still under warranty (compressor only, I think).

If over 1 years old, compressor only is under warranty.

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2005 Kenmore ColdSpot (Whirlpool 106.xx)

106. is the prefix numbers to a full model#.
106.########

jeff.

oppiecat · 12-05-2006, 09:31 PM

here's the model # 106.76239401 Thanks for the feedback.

No voltmeter here. Not sure I'm up to trying this one myself. Does the fan sound like the culprit, given those symptoms? Is that an expensive part/labor kind of job?

It doesn't sound like a compressor thing, so my only reason to stick with Sears (ugh) would be to pay for the repair by buying a 1-year warranty, which is more than the repair is likely to be - maybe - but given that an 18 month old fridge is already having problems, maybe not a bad idea? My local guy charges 89 just for the trip charge.

jeff1 · 12-06-2006, 07:46 AM

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Does the fan sound like the culprit, given those symptoms?

Definetly a good possibility.

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Is that an expensive part/labor kind of job?

Nope.

Evaporator fan motor

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It doesn't sound like a compressor thing

So far, no.

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but given that an 18 month old fridge is already having problems, maybe not a bad idea?

Probably not a bad idea.

jeff.