If your Frigidaire refrigerator doesn’t feel cold enough, especially in the freezer, but still seems to cool a little, there might be a problem with one of its main components. The most common causes are a faulty condenser fan motor or an issue with the main control board. You may also notice the refrigerator section feels warmer than usual.
These parts are important in helping the fridge manage its cooling system. However, other components like the thermistor or defrost system could also be involved. In this guide, we’ll focus on checking the condenser fan and the main control board to help you figure out what’s going wrong.
Here are the tools and safety steps you’ll need before starting.
Signs the Condenser Fan or Main Control Board May Be Failing
Watch out for these warning signs when diagnosing the issue:
- The freezer is cold but not fully freezing items
- The refrigerator section is warmer than normal
- You hear a clicking sound but no fan running
- The condenser fan is silent or making grinding noises
- There is frost buildup in the freezer section
- Food in the fridge spoils quicker than usual
- The compressor feels hot but is not cycling properly
- The fan near the compressor never seems to turn on
Tools You’ll Need
- 1/4-inch nut driver
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Multimeter
Safety Precautions Before You Begin
Before working on any part of your refrigerator, it’s important to stay safe and protect the appliance from further damage. Follow the steps below before beginning any checks or repairs:
- Turn off the power by unplugging the appliance or switching off the circuit breaker.
- If the refrigerator is connected to a water line, turn off the water supply at the valve.
- Keep a towel nearby in case there is leftover water in the lines.
- Only use a multimeter if you know how to do so safely. Do not test anything that still has live power.
- Let the refrigerator cool down completely if it was recently used.
- Work in a space with good lighting so you can see all components clearly.
- Keep the work area clean and free from tools, cords, or anything that could get in the way.
- Make sure children and pets stay out of the work area.
- Always keep your hands dry when handling internal parts.
- Read the user manual to find any specific instructions for your refrigerator model.
- Be gentle when removing or handling parts to avoid breakage or injury.
- Wear insulated gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal parts.
- If you are working in a dusty or dirty space, consider wearing safety glasses or a dust mask to protect your eyes and lungs.
How to Fix a Freezer That’s Not Cooling Properly
Here are the steps to help you check and troubleshoot the parts that may be causing your freezer to stay warm.
Access and Inspect the Control Board
- Remove the three 1/4-inch screws under the refrigerator’s control panel
- Take out the water filter from its compartment
- Go to the back near the top of the fridge and remove the 1/4-inch screw on the right side, behind where the filter was
- Drop the control panel cover down to reveal the control housing
- Remove the 1/4-inch screw under the cover at the back, where the filter used to be
- Remove the two recessed 1/4-inch screws from the left side corner
- Lower the control housing to access the control board
- Press the two clips holding the board to release it from the housing
- Check the board for burn marks, discoloration, loose components, or signs of moisture
- Look over the wiring between the board and the condenser fan motor
- Watch for loose wires, damaged plugs, or corrosion
- Confirm that all connectors on the board are firmly attached
Test the Control Board
Live Voltage Warning: This step requires testing live voltage. Only proceed if you are comfortable using a multimeter.
- Plug in the refrigerator and turn it on
- Set your multimeter to the VAC (Volts AC) setting
- Find the J5 connector on the control board and the white wire connected to it
- Find P1 Pin 11 and the light blue wire connected to it
- Place one multimeter lead on the white wire at J5
- Place the other lead on the light blue wire at P1 Pin 11
- Read the voltage on the multimeter
- If the reading is around 120 VAC, the board is sending voltage correctly
- If there’s no voltage, the board is faulty and needs replacement
Access and Inspect the Condenser Fan Motor
- Move the refrigerator away from the wall to reach the lower back area
- Remove the four 1/4-inch screws securing the compressor cover
- Locate the condenser fan motor next to the compressor
- While the fridge is powered on, listen to hear if the fan motor is running
- If the fan isn’t running, unplug the fridge
- Check if the fan blades are blocked by dust or debris
- Spin the blades gently by hand to test for free movement
- If the blades are stuck or if the motor looks damaged, replace the motor
- If no visible issues are found, continue with testing the motor
Test the Condenser Fan Motor
Live Voltage Warning: This test also involves live voltage. Only continue if you’re confident using a multimeter.
- Plug in the fridge and make sure it’s powered on
- Set the multimeter to the VAC (Volts AC) setting
- Locate the blue and red wires connected to the fan motor
- Place one multimeter lead on the terminal with the blue wire
- Place the other lead on the terminal with the red wire
- Check the multimeter reading
- If it shows about 120 VAC, power is reaching the fan
- If the fan is not running despite having power, replace the fan motor
- If there’s no voltage, the problem may be in the wiring between the board and the motor
To Recap
Solving a cooling problem in your Frigidaire refrigerator may feel overwhelming at first, especially when the freezer isn’t keeping food cold enough. But once you narrow the issue down to the condenser fan motor or the control board, things become easier to manage. With just a few tools and some careful checks, you can figure out which part is causing the trouble and fix it. Whether it means cleaning around the fan or changing out a faulty board, taking action can help your fridge work like it should again. If anything seems too technical or risky, it’s always a good idea to reach out to a repair professional.