Samsumg RF23M8090SR/AA freezer warm fridge OK, NOT iced up evaporator

[ethanladen]

I purchased a Samsung refrigerator about 9 months ago from a local guy who refurbishes them. Everything was working fine for 9 months when suddenly the control panel on the flex zone drawer showed an error. I looked up the error code and it showed no communication between the control panel and the main board. The refrigerator continue to run properly without the communication.

I determined that the reason there was no communication was that the wire harness between the control panel and the main board was broken. I've replaced the wire harness  and the control panel started to work again. BTW, the refrigerator ran fine for about a month and a half without the control panel working before I was able to replace the wire harness.

Coincidentally the freezer started to not work properly. It won't get very cold, about down to 15° (read on a freezer thermometer) and will wander up into the high 20s.. But occasionally the thermometer reads 0 degrees.    The fridge temperature seems fine and the ice maker is working fine as well.

The temperature displays on the control panel do not reflect the temps in the fridge and freezer.  If, however, I turn off the refrigerator by unplugging it, then plug it back in, the temperature sensor displays  show the proper temperature. Then the temperature sensor displays start to drop but it's not matched by the actual temperature, especially in the freezer.

I ran the diagnostics and it showed an error that the main board and inverter were not communicating.  Considering that the inverter is operating the compressor it may be the reason.  I took off the back cover to see if i could replace the motherboard and inverter.  There is NO INVERTER BOARD  and the compressor is not the original. the fridge ran fine for a while without it, but now that may be causing problems.  I included a photo of the panel.  There has been re-wiring to accommodate the new compressor and the lack of an inverter.

 

Is it worth it to get the right compressor and inverter and re-install them?

 

Thanks.