Freezer works fine, but build up frost not allowing air to flow down to the refrigerator section. the fan inside the freezer is running. I can defrost it and it is fine for a while, but frost eventually builds up again in a month or so. The model number on the placard is GR9SHMXKQ00... a Whirlpool Gold series. Can you help?

check the thermistors ..Check ur cold control thermostat, ur thermistors in both fridge and freezer ( they should be checked for both ohms and for amount of current being put out as per ur model ), ur air flow vent from freezer to fridge.( to make sure it opens and closes without any restrictions) On thermistors check for A close circuit and amount of ohms not just an Ohm reading. As per ur model. Most should atleast show 1200 ohms. Also Check door seals for leakage.
Evaporator coils
Poor cooling is often the result of a heavy frost build-up on the evaporator coils. You can't see these coils without removing a panel on the inside of your freezer. A sure sign that there is a build-up is the presence of any frost or ice build-up on the inside walls, floor, or ceiling of the freezer. Such a frost build-up usually indicates a problem in the self-defrosting system or damaged door gaskets.
If one of the components in the self-defrosting system fails, the refrigerator continues to try to cool. Eventually, though, so much frost builds up on the evaporator coils that the circulating fan can't draw air over the coils. There may still be a small amount of cooling because the coils are icy, but with no air flow over the coils, cooling in the refrigerator compartment is quite limited.

FAN check to see if it is operating or restricted A fan that is not blowing or restricted will not circulate the cold air properly.

Often, the first thing that folks do when their refrigerator starts to feel warm is turn both controls on the coldest settings.This is exactly the WRONG thing to do.Turning the cold control to the coldest settingwillkeep the compressor running longer and make lots of cold air.

But turning the air door to the coldest settingclosesthe airway to the food section. Lots of cold air is made, but most of it stays in the freezer section, and the food section actually getswarmer.

check the cold control thermostat with a meter for both OHMS and volts ( VOLTS is a live test with fridge plugged in so be careful) It must show 110 volts. An open or thermostat that reads infinity will not allow the proper cooling and defrosting cycles to operate and may in fact stop anything from happening as if there is no power to the unit?

ALSO CHECK THE AIR FLOW VENT SYSTEM At times it can get stuck to far closed or open. Some units feature a digital electric adjusting vent system while others are manually set. Check for any ice build up or other obstruction in the vent damper, see if u can manually open or close it. Some times when u have the settings set to the highest it closes off one area while allowing to much cold air flow to the other area!
Check ur cold control thermostat, ur thermistors in both fridge and freezer ( they should be checked for both ohms and for amount of current being put out as per ur model ), ur air flow vent from freezer to fridge.( to make sure it opens and closes without any restrictions) On thermistors check for A close circuit and amount of ohms not just an Ohm reading. As per ur model. Most should atleast show 1200 ohms. Also Check door seals for leakage.
Evaporator coils
Poor cooling is often the result of a heavy frost build-up on the evaporator coils. You can't see these coils without removing a panel on the inside of your freezer. A sure sign that there is a build-up is the presence of any frost or ice build-up on the inside walls, floor, or ceiling of the freezer. Such a frost build-up usually indicates a problem in the self-defrosting system or damaged door gaskets.
If one of the components in the self-defrosting system fails, the refrigerator continues to try to cool. Eventually, though, so much frost builds up on the evaporator coils that the circulating fan can't draw air over the coils. There may still be a small amount of cooling because the coils are icy, but with no air flow over the coils, cooling in the refrigerator compartment is quite limited.

FAN check to see if it is operating or restricted A fan that is not blowing or restricted will not circulate the cold air properly.

Often, the first thing that folks do when their refrigerator starts to feel warm is turn both controls on the coldest settings.This is exactly the WRONG thing to do.Turning the cold control to the coldest settingwillkeep the compressor running longer and make lots of cold air.

But turning the air door to the coldest settingclosesthe airway to the food section. Lots of cold air is made, but most of it stays in the freezer section, and the food section actually getswarmer.

If you remove the entire back panel of the freezer section there is a evaporator (aluminum grill looks like a car radiator, contains r-134a, do not puncture or unit is ruined) Some frost on back freezer wall, means probably this entire grill is encased in frost, not allowing any air flow, which is how the entire refrigerator section is cooled, by air flow) The frost build up has to be removed,(got a hair dryer) you can unplug it for a couple of hours with the door open, overnight is better,this would fix the problem for a couple of weeks....Your automatic defrost is not working, there are three parts- the timer or control board, a heating element, and a bi-metal thermostat(often the problem)

You popped off the cover for the ice maker, you need to defrost the whole freezer section behind the back panel. Freezer cold means your compressor and freon are fine, you have a defrost problem with ice build up restricting air flow. A normal automatic defrost runs every 8 hours, three times a day, rule of thumb.....Sounds like you have a couple of weeks built up...........
hope this helps

The vent from the freezer to the fridge can be blocked with frost and is preventing the flow of cool air to the fridge.
This can happen if there is frost build up due to failure of the auto defrost timer.
So please check on the fan section , remove panel and see if there is frost or block, if so check the timer Heater and the thermostat.

Hi shannon_sell,

You can start addressing this issue by looking at the back panel inside the freezer. If you notice frost covering the back panel, you have defrost problem. What happens when you have a malfunction in the defrost system is tha air cannot circulate from the freezer to the fresh food section. Also, excess frost builds up within the coils inside the freezer. This is what is blocking the air flow to the fresh food section. The defrost system consists the defrost control or timer, thermostat and heater. Also, you need to check if the evaporator fan is working.

Hope it helps.

Thank you for using FixYa.

I believe it's showing the actual temperature that it's currently inside the refrigerator, not the temperature it's set at. At least that's how my sub zero works. You may need to clean the coils to get it to cool better.

When the compressor is running, if the fan by the compressor and the fan inside the freezer are both running, and there is no frost on the back wall of the freezer (if there was frost would indicate a defrost issue) then check the air dampener. It is located at the very top left back side of the fresh food section. If it is not opening up, no air will flow from the freezer compartment (where all the cooling takes place) into the refrigerator section.

Generally speaking it is the refrigerator control that controls the compressor operation. Refrigerator is cooled by air from the freezer. When the refrigerator gets down to its designed temperature it shuts off the compressor. The freezer control determines how much air is allowed to flow into the refrigerator section and there-by controls the freezer temperature.

Few questions first. 1.  What is the entire model # on the sticker inside the fridge section?  2.  Is the fan in the freezer running?  3.  Is there a thick frost build up on the back panel in the freezer (look at the bottom half for a side by side)?

3 most common things that cause this are a defrost problem (will notice frost build up on back freezer panel), bad evaporator fan motor (should hear fan running in the freezer), or bad damper (vent to the fridge section). If no frost and fan is running check for air flow out of the vent. It should be at the top of the fridge section.