Whirlpool side by side fridge, delivered in time for Xmas is NOT cooling. lights are on but temp is 54F freezer side is just at 32. both controls have been set at coldest setting for 24 hours. bought from Lowe's as a Discontinued item 48hours ago. tag said "fan repaired"

SOURCE: Freezer works great, as it should, but fridge is only keeping items room temp. I have the setting at the coldest setting: #7. What is wrong?

Here's what I did, I defrosted! I found out that the fridge temp is monitored and maintained by the freezer. Because we had a power outage one night, my freezer thawed while we all slept and then when power came back on, freezer re-froze but this cause an ice build up on the vent on the back wall of the freezer. Well, ice must have been in one (or more) vents, causing blocked air flow in my top half of the refrigerator. I turned the dial in the freezer to "off" which also shuts down power to the fridge half. I then unplugged the refrigerator, hauled all my food items into coolers, opened the freezer door and refrigerator doors and left them open for a little over six hours. I took advantage of this empty fridge and freezer and wiped everything down. After this time frame passed, I plugged the fridge back in, turned the freezer dial to my preferred freezer temp, and wah-lah! Within two hours I had a cold fridge and solid ice cubes in the freezer. I then put all my food items back into their appropriate compartments, and went to work. Bear in mind, a total 24-hour period is needed for the fridge to re-set itself, but still, after two hours the fridge was noticeably cold. Who knew, besides our parents' generation: DEFROST!

SOURCE: Kenmore Elite bottom freezer refridgerator

I just went through this with my refridgerator and actually posted one of the questions. Here is what I found ........

In the freezer compartment behind the panel there is an evaporator fan which pulls cold air from the freezer and pushes it up into the refrridgerator compartment. If the fan is not working it is one of three things.. 1) there is so much frost in the fan area the fan blade is stopped and cannot push the cold air into the refridgerator compartment or the air channel is blocked. 2) there is no electricity going to the fan (usually tied to the door switch of the refirdgerator compartment, and 3) the motor is dead and will have to be replaced.

Solution to #1 - defrost but there is another problem in the "frost-free" part of the system which must be addressed or the frost will return and it will happen again in the future.

Solution #2 - check to see there is power to the fan. (most are 110VAC but some are 100VDC. Use a meter and check)

Solution #3 - If there is power, the motor is dead. Replace the motor. Be aware that AC and DC motors are different and replace per manufacture's specifications.

SOURCE: Fridge not keeping food cold.

When you open door to freezer do you hear a fan inside that compartment blowing? If you don't the fan motor is shot and will need to be replaced.

SOURCE: Freezer cold not frozen, fridge cool but not cold enough.

HI, simply replacing the thermostat and air diffuser assembly will fix this cold control issue you are experiencing.

SOURCE: Whirlpool Fridge and Freezer quit cooling properly at the same time.

You likely have a defrost system problem.....call a service company to look at it.