Freezer is cooling but fridge is not.I unplugged it for 24hr and its the same. the evaporator fan runs smoothly for 20 scnds every time I plug it then stops! no ice build up. whats wrong with the fan?

There are several possible causes when a refrigerator doesn't keep your milk cold or your ice cream frozen. Before you attempt more complex repairs, try these simple fixes if your refrigerator is not cooling and if your freezer is not working:
·Be sure the fridge is plugged in and getting power. The light should come on when you open the door.
·Check the thermostat to make sure it hasn't been turned way down by mistake. If your fridge/freezer thermostat isn't working.
·Be sure the vents on the back of the freezer compartment aren't blocked by boxes of ice cream or frozen vegetables-the vents have to be clear for cold air to circulate.
·Vacuum the coils under or behind the fridge. Clogged coils can cause poor cooling.
·Check to make sure nothing is stuck in the condenser fan and that it spins freely (models with coils on the back won't have a fan). To do this, unplug the fridge and pull it out. Clean the fan blades and spin the fan by hand to see if it's stuck. Plugin the fridge and make sure the fan runs when the compressor is running. If the fan doesn't run, see the directions below, which show how to replace it.


Replace the Refrigerator Evaporator Fan
·Here are some refrigerator troubleshooting tips to help you zero in on the problem if you notice your fridge not cooling. If you can hear the compressor running but the fridge isn't cooling, the problem is most likely either frost-clogged evaporator coils or a stuck or broken evaporator fan. Evaporator fans often squeal or chirp when they start to go bad. You'll know it's the evaporator fan if the noise gets louder when you open the freezer door. The evaporator coils and fan are located behind a cover in the freezer compartment
·If you remove the cover inside the freezer and find the coils completely filled with frost, take everything out of the freezer and fridge, unplug it and let it thaw for 24 to 48 hours. Keep a few towels handy to soak up water that may leak onto the floor. When all the frost is melted away, plug the fridge back in. If it works, the problem may be a defrost timer, defrost heater or defrost thermostat. Replacing these parts isn't difficult, but figuring out which is faulty requires troubleshooting that we won't cover here. Call a pro if you suspect a problem with these parts.
·Normally the refrigerator condenser fan and compressor, located near the floor on the back of most refrigerators, come on when the thermostat calls for more cooling. If you don't hear the compressor running after the door has been left open for a while, it could mean the condenser fan is stuck or worn out or that the relay or compressor is bad.

do you mean that your fridge is not cooling and freezer just freezes up ?

usually means low freon... (of) and evaporator fan failure. can you hear the fan running in the freezer portion?...

it's 20 years old,replace it,don't waste a penny into that machine,most likely you have a problem in the sealed system compressor and freon so don't waste any of your time or money.good luck,if you say the compressor and fans are running and it's not getting cold one of the lines could have rotted out and the freon gas leaked out,you can remove the back inside wall of the freezer and look at the evaporator coil,if it's running fine you should see an even frost pattern covering the coil,if you only see frost where the lines connect to the coil you have a freon leak but i wouldn't even waste my time doing that on this machine just repace it.

ok well... those pipes coming from your compressor one of them should be hot. if not your compressor is not running.

Is the compressor motor running.If no check starter/overload relay.
Check to see if the condenser fan at the back underneath near the compressor is running. If no check fan.

Are the condenser coils near there warm or room temp. should be warm


How to check stuff>
http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/appliance/refrigerator/refrigerator.php


Is the evaporator fan in the freezer running. It blows cold air into the fridge side through a damper in the wall between the freezer and fridge. Make sure the damper is open.

Below the evaporator fan is the evaporator coils. Remove the back cover in the freezer to observe the frost pattern. Light frost everywhere(NORMAL) or a partial pattern of ice(LOW ON FREON) or nothing(LOW FREON OR COMPRESSOR PROBLEM).

If the evaporator coils behind the back panel of the freezer are icing up because of auto defrost failure that will stop the circulation of cold air and eventually affect the freezer too.

check defrost timer, defrost heater, defrost thermostat. In most newer models the timer has been replaced by an electronic control board. If the heater and thermostat are ok it’ll be the control.

You can turn the defrost timer till it clicks and everything shuts down. The heater should now come on. If it does, replace the timer. If it doesn't, check the heater and defrost thermostat. Turn the timer again till everything starts back up to end the defrost cycle.


Your evaporator coils frost up in normal use and every eight hours or so the entire unit shuts down and the defrost heater comes on to melt the frost. This cycle last about 20 minutes. The melted frost drips into a drain pan and through a drain tube to the drain tray under the freezer/refrigerator where it's evaporated by the condenser fan.

if you hauled on its side then it is very possible you have oil in evaporator. replace all sealed system parts. compressor, drier and evaporator.

In the Freezer or Fridge compartment, there is the Evaporator Fan (& Motor) If the freezer is cold, the Evaporator fan motor most likely went bad. Check to see that when the compressor is running, so should be the fan motor. If not, you have to remove it & replace it. It is not an expensive repair unless you call for service on it. Make sure that you unplug the fridge when you replace the fan motor.

check the freezer panel in the back for frosty ice build-up. is the freezer evaporator fan running?

You didn't say if the compressor is running or not. If it is and all other things you stated are running then it has a sealed system problem. The sealed system comes with a 5 yr warranty in most cases (check owners manual). If the compressor is not running then listen for a click at the compressor. If you hear the click then I would replace the relay on the compressor. If you need further help I will need the complete model # off the sticker inside the fridge section.