Whirlpool Refrigerator WRT318FZDW02 freezer warm but refrigerator cold

[repair2021]

Whirlpool top-freezer refrigerator WRT318FZDW02 is only 3 years old. The refrigerator seems to run almost constantly. At first, the refrigerator was too cold (freezing items). Door gaskets seem fine and I vacuumed the coils/area at bottom rear (behind cardboard plate) even though they weren't dirty. After several weeks, the refrigerator section is fine, but the freezer is not cold enough (top shelf is somewhat cold, bottom shelf is not cold at all) and there is frost on the back wall of the freezer. The evaporator (freezer) fan working. Any ideas? Thanks.

[Metro Appliances]

The evap fan could be wired wrong or the fan blade installed backwards. Both would cause airflow in the wrong direction. 

Edited February 21, 2021 by Metro Appliances

[Vance R]

3 hours ago, repair2021 said:

there is frost on the back wall of the freezer

Possible defrost issues, pull the evap cover to check for frost build up. Tech sheet should be in the toe plate area.

[evaappliance]

Is it frost on all of the evaporator,or just one small area 

[vee8power]

I would suspect an intermittent evaporator fan motor. Replace it with part number 4389144. You may have to use new wire connectors. 

The stock motor has an inverter in it; they are not dependable. 

[vee8power]

4 hours ago, Metro Appliances said:

The evap fan could be wired wrong or the fan blade installed backwards. Both would cause airflow in the wrong direction. 

Really? 

[Budget Appliance Repair]

From the description you have given I can almost guarantee you have a sealed system problem.

I've already seen 4 or 5 of this model style that were only 2-4 years old and doing exactly what you describe.

You need to pull the evaporator cover and see if you only have a big build up of ice at the evaporator inlet - I'm pretty sure that is what you're going to find.

@Metro Appliances It's not the evaporator fan if the refrig section has been freezing food.   It's freezing the food because it's running constantly trying to get the refrig to the correct temp which it can't because of being low on Freon/R134a.

[Metro Appliances]

9 hours ago, Budget Appliance Repair said:

From the description you have given I can almost guarantee you have a sealed system problem.

I've already seen 4 or 5 of this model style that were only 2-4 years old and doing exactly what you describe.

You need to pull the evaporator cover and see if you only have a big build up of ice at the evaporator inlet - I'm pretty sure that is what you're going to find.

@Metro Appliances It's not the evaporator fan if the refrig section has been freezing food.   It's freezing the food because it's running constantly trying to get the refrig to the correct temp which it can't because of being low on Freon/R134a.

Ahh. Thanks for the correction. Up next, sealed systems...but in due time!

Edited February 22, 2021 by Metro Appliances