GE Refrigerator TFX25PADA WW

[starpal]

Hi,

During this first really hot spell, the refrig is not getting cool (60) and the freezer is very cold (below 0). 

There was ice blocking the lower opening between the freezer/frig which I cleared, and the upper opening is open as far as I can tell, but the door (damper?) is in the way of my access.  I don't see any ice up there.

The condenser coil is fairly clean and the fan is running,

The evaporator fan is blowing forcefully and the coil has a little frost on the lower 1/4 of the tubes.

Advice?

Thanks,

Paul

[Pegi]

Sounds like the return air vent frosted up because the damper door is not opening, not letting air into the food compartment, sounds like it may be frozen shut or broken or both....might see if you can get it open to get some air into the food side, if that is the problem you can jam it open like half way till you can get a replacement...

[starpal]

Thank you , Pegi.  It looks like the damper is now clear of any ice, and it functions - I assume the coldest freezer setting is supposed to make the damper to the frig close, and the warmest freezer setting opens the damper to its max.

The frig temp control moves a gear but I don't know what effect that has.  Can you explain? 

I have the covers off the evaporator and the controls at the top of the freezer and the top of the frig.  I'll put them back and leave the damper open to see if the frig gets cold and let you know.

Any other suggestions?? - Thanks!

Paul

[Pegi]

Might have solved your problem if you are getting the damper open, set it warmer freezer to let more air into the food compartment, like on B in summer if it goes A-E or 1-7 set on 2 or 3....also make sure the light is shutting off when the door is closed, that will really heat things up.....did you see the evaperator coil clogged with frost when you had the cover off?  Might have a defrost problem if you did see it clogged, that would block the air to the food compartment also...however if you got both air vents clear you might be ok, be sure not to put any hot moist food in the frig., this causes all sorts of problems.

[starpal]

Thanks,

Refrig is holding a nice cool temp all day today, 24 hrs after opening up the frozen opening at the bottom of the frig/freezer.

If it continues to operate normally, can I assume an incompletely closed door may have caused this problem in the hot humid weather we had? Anything else to check?

If the problem reoccurs, and the door has been closed tight, gaskets look ok, and the condenser fan is running with clean coils, what should my next step be?

When I first uncover the evaporator coils, should there be any frost on them?? Yesterday, there was a covering of thin frost over the lower 1/4 of the coils. Is that normal and would be defrosted automatically?

THanks,

Paul

[Poobah]

A normal frosting of the coils is ok, and will be removed by the defrost cycle .....only having 1/4 of the coils frosted isn't good though after a day or so remove the back panel and re-check, they should be frosted all the way up

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Yep, if it looks like this, then they's gonna be big trouble in little China, Budrow.