GE GFE28GMKUES FF Compartment Temp High by 4 Degrees

[igndoc]

GE french door refrigerator purchased new in April '24. Since new the FF compartment temps are warmer than desired. I have set the refrigerator temp as low as possible (34F), and the freezer at +2F.  Freezer maintains zero F with normal variation.  The coldest the refrig compartment can maintain is 38F, with coldest readings of 36 for short periods, and much time spent (hours) above 40F. I've measured via glasses of water on all three shelf levels, using several instruments (thermocouples on DVMs, instant read Thermopen, and a stand alone data logger that transmits via bluetooth. There is only one degree F variation between shelves, and no obstructions of airflow from any vents. Air movement seems normal. Turbo setting does not affect the operation in any way (fan(s) nor compressor).

There have been two service calls by a GE (Bodewell) technician. On the first visit, the tech stated that the operation was normal. I disagreed and phoned GE customer service to get some additional assistance. A second technician visit: He measured the temp at the evaporator outlet at the top of the air column (thermocouple placed on the thermistor) and verified that the actual temp was four degrees higher than the refrigerator data was indicating the thermocouple was reporting. Neither technician visit showed any fault codes. Software is up to date.

He ordered a new main board and will replace that this week when it arrives. He has not yet planned to replace the thermocouple.

Several questions: 1) Is this a known concern? 2) Which is more likely to be the cause; mainboard or TC? 3) Why doesn't GE allow their technicians to have a field adjustment of offset to allow the set temperature to align with the actual performance (such as with an oven)? 4) Finally, if the parts replacements don't correct the issue, what else should be investigated?

Thank you for any and all assistance you may offer.

[SANTA]

Was there a solution to this problem? I'm having the same issue. 

[igndoc]

Yes, there was recently a modification made that fixed the problem.

The thermistor that is located in the 'air tower' is close to the passages that direct the cooled air from the evaporator. The passages are 'sealed' by foam tape that does a poor job keeping the cool air from the sensor. I consider this to be a design defect.

A technician removed the air tower and relocated the thermistor to the outside of the air tower.  This separation allows it to sense the air temperature in the fresh food compartment without being affected by the cool air inside the air tower. There was enough slack in the wiring to allow this. The wires are still routed in the original way, and the technician snipped the two plastic bars that were in front of the thermistor to allow it to be pulled through the opening and be placed above the air tower where it is held in place by some white pvc electrical tape.  The modification has minimal visual impact, and the fresh food compartment now tracks the set temperature correctly. I keep the FF compartment set to 34F. Previously it would rarely get colder than 38-39F.

By the way, it took a letter by US mail to GE Customer Service to finally get another visit from a technician, as they had begun to ignore my emails.  Good luck with your refrigerator.

[SANTA]

Thank you.

[Casualcamo]

Wow. Good find man