sub zero 700TC not cooling fridge or freezer

i have a sub zero 700 series that has two freezer drawers on the bottom and the fridge on top. I believe the compressor is on the bottom. a few weeks ago I noticed that the freezer was not freezing all the way. Fridge seemed to work fine but there was water at the back of the fridge. I took off the panel in the back of the freezer door and cleaned off a small amount of ice. I also vacuumed the grill area. I noticed at this time that the fan in the back of the freezer did not seem to be working even when I depressed the button to indicate the drawer was closed. I was away for ten days and when I came back the fridge was 68 degrees and the freezer was 54. I had to throw everything out. I have been so busy catching up after my trip that I just have left it alone. Now the fridge is cooling to 19 and 34 degrees. the fan in the freezer is not working but the one in the fridge was until just now when I went to check the temp of the unit. It was working an hour ago.

Is this just a fan issue? I had a repair person come out and replace my icemaker last year and it cost me $1400. I feel like I was ripped off big time and can not afford to have it happen again. Any help would be great.

 

Welcome to the forums.

I can feel your pain with the repair prices. These units are not as easily serviced as some of the other companies.

I need a full model number as 700 is a series. Post that and I'll try to help you.

 

700TC it has two drawers on the bottom for the freezer and the bottom is also where the mechanicals are.

 

As far as I can tell there is only one fan inside the cold area. The second fan is underneath the unit with the compressor.

That one fans needs to be running for the air to be flowing properly.

Can you tell if the compressor is running all the time ?

I've found out these fridges had a common evaporator coil leak problem. The sealed system parts are warranted for 12 years. You'll need to remove the cover from the coil in the back of the fridge. If the copper line is frosted/iced like in the picture.... you have a refrigerant leak.

 

thanks for the help. I took the back panel off and the coils and hose were dripping water, not frosted at all. The compressor does not appear to be running all the time. fridge is warm, upper frezer drawer is fridge temp and lower freezer drawer is frozen solid. i have had water in the back of my fridge off and on for a while now that I think of it

 

It sounds like your unit just defrosted. Your fridge has an electronic control board that controls all of the cooling functions as well as defrost. Have you tried turning the temperature down in the unit.... does it make a difference ?

 

yes i have turned both the fridge and freezer all the way down... nothing changed. it stopped working about a week ago, the it worked for a couple of days then it stopped again

 

When you took apart now.... had you previously shut it off or was it already not running ?

Currently I'm leaning towards a problem with the control board.

 

i have only turned it off and then back on to see if it would reset... it has been on the whole time since. lights work but freezer fan does not go on but fridge fan does

 

I had a tech come out... he did not even fnow where the compressors were located. i had to show him. his diagnosis was to replace the control board and the fresh food thermister and the freezer evaporator moter but he said that is where they start it could require replacing the fridge compresser. juust to start he wants $1700. with no guarantees that will fix it. it isw a built in so i hate to try to replace it.... any ideas as to where to buy the parts... my son is an engineer and probably could put them in.

 

Sounds like he's throwing parts at. The thermistors should be checked for tolerance first.
The control board should be checked for power out to the compressor.
The dead fan should be checked for A/C power. If the power is there.... replace the motor.

Remember these units have had known issues with evaporator leaks. That coil and the compressor are under the 12 year warranty.

I can't help you with parts. They must be bought from an authorized $$$ parts reseller.

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