Refrigerator cooling ?

[Jim Almquist]

We have a 20 cubic foot Amana that just started having a problem. The freezer is fine but the frig part gets no cooling at all. Is something froze up ?

Or is it shot ?

We might very well have taken a lightning hit and did not notice for a few days that it was losing its ability to cool. We lost a cable modem and a PC and I blamed lightning but no one was home so we are not sure.

[Surface Tension]

Jim, since the freezer is working I'd suspect a damper control, or fan.

Air is blown from the freezer by a fan and there is a damper that opens.

One of the two more then likely aren't working.

[Jim Almquist]

I started to disassemble the damper and that is not the problem. I suspect the fan if I can find where it is located.

[Jim Almquist]

Well the fan is fine and now I do wonder if the damper was stuck and when I took the cover off I released it. Just not sure how much air should be blowing out of the damper in the frig section.

[Jim Almquist]

I took the back panel off the rear of the freezer section and the coils were all iced up

I have a fan blowing in there to melt the ice but I wonder why the ice build up ?

[Surface Tension]

I was going to ask if the coils were froze in which case your defrost isn't working.

Since your thawing it out now and find it works again there is your answer.

[Jim Almquist]

Must be something with the defrost because the drain tube is working fine. Got the fan thawing it out as quick as possible.

[syd2nd]

I had a Kenmore frost free and my problem was the circuit board that controlled the frost in the freezer. Just like your problem, it froze up and cool air was cut off and the fridge got warm, but it took a while for us to notice.

[Ebiz]

Quote:

I had a Kenmore frost free and my problem was the circuit board that controlled the frost in the freezer. Just like your problem, it froze up and cool air was cut off and the fridge got warm, but it took a while for us to notice.

Just had the same thing happen to us last week. Thawed everything out and it's been working fine since.

[SpecialK]

It might just be because of the high heat and humidity that you guys have had up there this year. It really makes cooling units work harder than normal.

[Jim Almquist]

It looks like the complete thaw might just have done the trick. It is cooling down real nice. Just have to keep a eye out on the frost from now on.

[ikatcher]

Watch for the frost to reappear in about a week. If it does,you have either a bad derost conyrol, heater or bi metal. If its an older model its probably the bimetal. good luck.

[Jim Almquist]

Watch for the frost to reappear in about a week. If it does,you have either a bad derost conyrol, heater or bi metal. If its an older model its probably the bimetal. good luck.

I took a look at a parts HSOforum and it is Bi-metal. If it is bad it will cost 24.00 for a new one and that is much cheaper than a new frig.

[Northlander]

Jim I had the same deal. Freezer got all frosted up and the fridge lost cooling. I took all the food out and put in another fridge and freezer in the garage and then let it thaw for 2 days. Plugged it back in after giving it a good cleaning and its working like a champ. Knock on wood!

[bearslayer]

+1 on what ikatcher said. Amanas usually have bad bimetal when auto defrost is not working.