Many people report that their Frigidaire refrigerator is not cooling while the freezer works fine! If you are facing this problem, you are in the right place.
Your Frigidaire refrigerator might not be cooling due to the faulty evaporator coil. Blow the hot air to defrost the ice or replace the coil if it is completely damaged. Cooling problems may also happen due to the malfunctioning defrost timer. In such a case, you must replace the timer.
This article will help you to figure out the root cause behind your Frigidaire refrigerator not cooling even when the freezer works. You will also learn the step-by-step process to fix the issue by yourself without spending the dollars on professionals.
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This post includes some affiliate links.Why is my Frigidaire refrigerator not cooling but the freezer works?
Last year on Halloween, when guests were in my home, I encountered a warm refrigerator that didn’t let me serve chilled drinks and desserts.
I felt terrible, so I know how bad you feel when your refrigerator doesn’t cool.
I researched and found some common causes behind this.
Although I don’t use a Frigidaire refrigerator, I learned about this brand while researching. Also, the problem of not cooling is almost similar to other brands. So, Let’s have a look.
Here are the 5 common causes why a Frigidaire refrigerator does not cool even though the freezer is working fine.
1. Frozen evaporator coils
Evaporator coils are there to make the interior of the refrigerator cool.
When the refrigerant gas enters the evaporator coils, the compressor creates air pressure to pull the refrigerant gas forward to the opposite of the coils.
While this refrigerant gas is distributed, it absorbs the heat surrounded by the evaporator coils and the food compartment inside the refrigerator.
After absorbing all the heat, this refrigerant gas is pushed back into the refrigeration cycle.
When the evaporator coils are damaged or filled with frost, they won’t pass the refrigerant gas to make it cold.
Here is a quick fix to defrost the ice surrounding the evaporator coil:
- You can defrost the ice by blowing the hot steamy air from the hair dryer.
- After defrosting the ice, let your refrigerator run and see if the ice frost is still forming.
- It will form again if the defrost heater assembly is at fault.
Here is how you can replace a faulty defrost heat assembly:
- Start by disconnecting the electric supply by unplugging the electric socket from the outlet.
- Detach the trays from the freezer.
- Pull out the shelf supports that you can find in the interior wall of the freezer compartments by removing the screws securing them.
- Now, disconnect the back panel of the freezer by removing the screws securing them.
- Disconnect the wires attached to the defrost heater.
- Locate the hangers at the base of the evaporator coils. If you find plastic insulation from the evaporator coil, detach them.
- You can now access the defrost heater, and pull it with pressure to detach it from the refrigerator.
- Prepare the new defrost heater, and attach it with the evaporator coil assembly.
- Attach the defrost heater by connecting the mounting clips at the base of the evaporator coil.
- Reconnect the wire you disconnected initially while removing the faulty defrost heater.
- Now reattach the back panel by securing it with the screws you removed.
- Attach back the trays you removed. Plug in the refrigerator.
2. Damaged defrost timer
Defrost timer plays an important role in monitoring the frost formation in the refrigerator.
It will automatically turn on when the excess frost builds up in the evaporator coil.
Refrigerators use the timer to keep the frost formation in control.
If the defrost timer in the refrigerator is at fault, you may face the problem of the frigidaire refrigerator not cooling.
To fix this issue, you must replace the defrost timer.
- Start by disconnecting the electricity from the refrigerator.
- Disconnect the top shelf by removing the screws that are securing it with the body of the refrigerator.
- Access the assembly to which the defrost timer is attached.
- Using the screwdriver remove the screws attaching the assembly to the ceiling of the refrigerator.
- Disconnect the wire harness attached to the assembly.
- Keep the assembly in a comfortable place to detach the faulty defrost timer.
- Remove the screws holding the timer with the assembly. Disconnect the wire harness to detach the timer and keep it aside.
- Prepare the new defrost timer to attach to the assembly.
- Attach the new defrost timer with the assembly by securing it with the screws.
- Reconnect the wire harness with the assembly.
- Fix back the assembly into place by securing it with the screws.
- Reconnect the wire harness and attach the top shelf back.
- Plug in the refrigerator. Let it run for a few hours and check if the issue is solved.
3. Malfunctioning evaporator fan
An evaporator fan plays a significant role in pushing the cold air throughout the evaporator coil.
After passing through the evaporator coil, it is distributed throughout the refrigerator.
If the evaporator fan is in faulty condition, it won’t distribute the cold air everywhere in the refrigerator, making it warm.
An evaporator fan may not work because of the faulty motor.
If the fan is completely damaged, you have to replace it.
Follow this step-by-step process to replace the evaporator fan.
- Disconnect the refrigerator from the electricity by unplugging it from the electric outlet.
- Access the freezer. Transfer it to the temporary insulating coolant if it is filled with the content.
- Remove the baskets and shelves from the refrigerator.
- Keep the screwdriver handy to disconnect the rear wall from the freezer by removing the screws securing it.
- After removing the rear freezer wall, you can access the evaporator fan and the shroud.
- Access the wires connected to the evaporator motor. Disconnect the wires attaching the evaporator fan with the motor.
- Pull the fan blades with your hands and remove them from the shaft.
- Rotate the shroud to attach the new evaporator fan to the shaft.
- Reconnect the wires to the new evaporator fan. Attach the new evaporator fan to the motor.
- Reposition the entire assembly into the freezer housing.
- Reattach the rear wall to the freezer by securing it with the screws.
- Once done, attach back the baskets and shelves to the freezer.
- Plug in the refrigerator and let it run for a few hours. Check if your refrigerator is cooling back.
4. A faulty damper control assembly
A damper control assembly transfers the cold air from the freezer to the refrigerator by opening and closing the control doors attached to the assembly.
It determines the amount of cold air that passes to the refrigerator.
Sometimes, it may be struck in the closing position, not allowing the air to pass through the refrigerator.
You can inspect it manually.
Decrease the temperature of the thermistor and turn off the light switch inside the refrigerator to let it know that the door is closed.
While inspecting it, you must feel the cold air coming out of the control doors.
If not, the damper control assembly is at fault for causing the refrigerator to be warm.
In such a case, you need to replace the damper control assembly.
Here is how you can replace the damper control assembly from your frigidaire refrigerator:
- Start by unplugging the refrigerator from the electric outlet.
- Remove the top shelf from the refrigerator to access the damper assembly.
- Use a screwdriver to remove 5 screws securing the top shelf to the refrigerator.
- Remove the light bulb from the convenient unscrewing.
- Pull out the top shelf control box to access the wire connections.
- Start by disconnecting the locking tabs and the yellow wire.
- After disconnecting the wires, pull out the temperature sensor from the slot. Now you can completely detach the control assembly from the refrigerator.
- You can now access the damper at the end corner of the control assembly.
- Remove the damper from the control assembly by disconnecting the electric plug and the ground connections.
- Now remove the control door from the control assembly.
- Prepare the new damper assembly for the control assembly.
- Position the new damper assembly into place.
- Connect the electric plug and the ground connection.
- Now reattach the control box to the refrigerator by positioning the temperature sensor in its slot.
- Reconnect the locking tabs and the yellow wires. Reattach the control assembly back to the refrigerator.
- Secure it with the 5 screws you removed.
- Plug in the refrigerator and let it run for a few hours. Check if the issue is solved.
5. A damaged thermistor
Thermistors regulate the temperature inside the refrigerator by transferring the electric signals to the temperature control board.
A temperature control board will transfer the power to the evaporator fan and the compressor as per the reading in the thermistor.
If the thermistor is faulty, showing an inappropriate reading, the evaporator fan and the compressor won’t function.
Thus causing a refrigerator to be warm.
In such a case, you need to replace the thermistor.
Follow this step-by-step process to replace the faulty thermistor with the new one:
- As usual, start by unplugging the Frigidaire refrigerator from the electric outlet.
- You can locate the thermistor at the side wall, the ceiling of the refrigerator, or the back wall based on the model of your Frigidaire refrigerator.
- As a next step, use a screwdriver to remove the thermistor cover.
- After removing the cover, pull the thermistor out of the cover.
- Disconnect the thermistor and the wire harness attached to the thermistor.
- Prepare the new thermistors to attach to the thermistor cover.
- Fix it in the thermistor cover by reattaching the mounting clips & the wire harness.
- Now attach the thermistor cover back to the refrigerator.
- Connect the refrigerator with the electric supply. Check if the issue is solved after running the refrigerator for a few minutes.
What to do if a new Frigidaire refrigerator is not cooling?
When your refrigerator is new and not cooling, this may be due to the below-mentioned reason.
1. You may not have plugged the refrigerator properly.
Check if you have plugged the refrigerator in the electric out that is not faulty.
Check the power supply of the electric outlet, and ensure it transfers enough voltage that a refrigerator needs.
2. Thermostat temperature
You might have yet to check the thermostat’s temperature when you have just installed the refrigerator.
Ensure the thermostat’s temperature setting is at the right temperature to cool the refrigerator.
3. Check if the door is closing properly
The door which doesn’t close properly will prevent the refrigerator from getting cold.
Check if any content inside is preventing the door from closing properly.
Also, check if the gasket is firm enough to seal the door with the refrigerator.
4. Overstuffing the refrigerator
Immediately after installing the refrigerator, keep it neat with boxes and tin, which would block the air distribution throughout the refrigerator.
Ensure to organize the content inside the refrigerator to give air enough space to circulate throughout it to make the refrigerator cool.
How to reset a Frigidaire refrigerator?
A Frigidaire refrigerator doesn’t have a reset button, but you can still reset it by following the below-mentioned methods.
Unplug the refrigerator
When your frigidaire refrigerator is not cooling, but you want to reset it while it does not have a reset button, you can do it by unplugging the refrigerator.
Leave it unplugged for 5 to 10 minutes.
Now, plug it back into the electric outlet.
This is one method to reset the frigidaire refrigerator.
When you plug it back, you will notice the sound from the refrigerator, which is completely normal.
Rotate the defrost timer anti-clockwise
Defrost timer regulates the ice formation in the freezer.
It is automatically turned on when excess ice is formed from melting them.
You can locate the defrost timer on the back side of the control panel.
Access the defrost timer, and use a screwdriver to place it inside the notch.
Turn it anti-clockwise.
It is the second method of resetting your Frigidaire refrigerator.
Final thoughts
A Frigidaire refrigerator not cooling even when the freezer works is a problem that you easily fix by following the step-by-step process mentioned in the article instead of replacing the refrigerator.
Start the repairing process by figuring out the cause of why your frigidaire refrigerator is not cooling. Figure out the causes by going through the 5 common causes mentioned in the article.
As I mentioned in the step-by-step process, you can fix the issue yourself. If you still can’t figure out the issue or you find it too technical to do a fix, you can hire a professional to do the job.
Reference: Frigidaire Official Troubleshooting Guide.
