Refrigerator

Freezer is cold refer not so much. Is there a readily replaceable motor for the blower that blows the cold air into the fridge part? I can't work on tractors if I don't eat!

Yes, find a place on the internet that sells parts
and look up your ref model #. I have one ref that I
keep a spare on top of it as it's a common problem.
for this model #

make sure you vacuum out any dust from in and around
the exposed freon coils. You may even need to blow
them clean. Dust will insulate them and prevent
proper air flow.

That's a common problem. Any appliance parts store should have one. They are specific for the model though.

You may have a defrost system failure. Most common is bad timer or possibly heater coil.

On self defrost it goes through a defrost cycle after a set number of hours of compressor run. If timer fails in run mode it will not defrost, frost and ice will build up on freezing coils and block air flow. Coils are in freezer side so it stays cool. Air circulation is blocked to the refrigerator side and it gets warmer.

As mentioned, also besure the coils underneath are free of lint and dust.

Tenant complained about the same problem. I just
call went to lowes and they delivered her a new
one. I kept the old one. A while later, same
problem. She was setting the freezer control on
the coldest setting, causing it to ice up. No cold
got to the ref section. I simply put the freezer
control in the middle and told her not to touch
it.

Nothing wrong with the old ref either, just the
woman putting the control to the coldest.

Yes it could be the defrost timer too. Empty the
refrig, open the doors and see how much ice melt
you get.
George

We bought a new sde by side a couple years ago. At 2
months old we had the same problem as you. Called the
store. Next day repairman shows up with new fan in hand.
Said he stocked them andnew they were a problem with
that unit. Freezer still worked but he changed both fans. I
would check with volt meter and see it it is getting power.

Could be the defrost drain is frozen. Are you getting water dripping in the back of the fridge, center of top shelf, under the vent that comes down from the freezer?

I currently work in apartment maintenance and have had several of these. If it is a frozen drain, the cure is to completely defrost it, then feed a piece of wire about 12" down the drain and wrap the top end of it around the defrost element. I keep scraps of 14-2 NMWG for this. Leave it long at first, put a slight bend in one end, bend other end at 90 degrees. Slight-bent end goes into the drain, 90 degree end you use as a handle and gently rotate/screw it in. The drain isn't a straight shot, it has two elbows at the top, hence the slight bend(to help navigate the elbows) and the handle. Cut to length when it's in far enough and give a couple wraps around the heating element.

If your defrost timer is a mechanical style(not a circuit board) you can stick a flathead screwdriver up in the hole and turn the timer to initiate the defrost cycle. This will let you verify that the defrost element is coming on. Also could be a bad defrost thermostat, which can be tested for continuity with a simple meter; should be closed when cold and open when hot.

Hope this helps, good luck.

Anthony

Thanks everyone for the help. It appears to be working now. The fan was OK but the passage that allows the cold air to go up into the fridge was apparently blocked. From what I see on a repair site there should be a door that controls this but I don't see one. I poured hot water down the air outlet and and then it started to blow cold air. The condenser coils were all covered in lint and I have cleaned them, and it appears that the drain for the defrost may be plugged, there was a little ice in a channel below the evaporator. There was also ice in the bottom of the freezer compartment. It is still a mystery about the control for the air into the refrigerator

There should be a rectangular cover that goes from the freezer fan down to the styrofoam insert for the opening to the fridge. On the ones at work, there is a plastic wing on the back side of that rectangular cover. The wing is adjustable; popping it off and turning it either opens or blocks the passage, thereby regulating how much cold air goes down the chute to the fridge. The styrofoam insert is just an open hole, no doors, flaps, etc to regulate airflow. Yours may be different, of course; this is the only style of setup I have seen.