Loud whirring noise from top/back of refrigerator


  #1  
Old 06-30-16, 11:43 PM
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Loud whirring noise from top/back of refrigerator

My GE CYE23TSDSS refrigerator, 2.5 years old, is intermittently making a very loud whirring noise. It sounds like a motor is off. It seems to emanate from the ceiling of the fridge, but it may be coming from further back. The fridge still cools.

Here's a video of it:
https://youtu.be/gg-9ExD_Udk

Thoughts? Compressor or condenser fan?
 

Last edited by Waylo; 07-01-16 at 12:27 AM.
  #2  
Old 07-01-16, 05:02 AM
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Yea, something is not right with the circulator fan. It might be a bearing going bad or the fan may have come loose on the motor shaft or it could be ice or a bit of something fell into the duct and is hitting the fan blade. Unfortunately much of the stuff in the fridge will need to be removed to remove the panel to get access to the fan so get some coolers ready.
 
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Old 07-01-16, 10:28 AM
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The model number is incomplete... you missed a letter... CYE23TSD_SS

That's definitely the noise from an evaporator fan. It almost sounds like bad bearings and the blades are hitting something.

Your series shows two fans.... one in the freezer and one in the fridge.
I can check further when you fill in the missing number.
 
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Old 07-05-16, 10:59 PM
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Thanks for the replies.

The full model is CYE23TSDCSS.

I did pull open the freezer (bottom compartment) when the sound came up and it was not emanating from down below. The fan down there was not turning either.

Does that mean it's the fridge evaporator fan?
 
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Old 07-06-16, 05:13 AM
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If the sound was emanating from the "ceiling of the fridge" why did you start in the bottom? Just Google your model number and many appliance parts websites will appear. Most have good drawings/diagrams showing the parts of your fridge. You will see a separate fan for the upper/fridge section that's possibly your problem.
 
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Old 07-06-16, 09:42 AM
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The fan seems to be located in the lower rear and follows an air channel up. I don't see any fan topside in that unit.

Looks like pictorial part 716.
FRESH FOOD SECTION Diagram & Parts List for Model cye23tsdcss

sears parts direct/png/PLDM/H1411276-00008.png
 
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Old 07-10-16, 11:29 AM
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Yes, for some reason, the sound has quieted down a bit but still much louder than usual. And it more clearly is coming from the mid/rear, where that fan is located.

Not sure why the sound initially was coming from the ceiling, maybe it was being sent out through the top vent. There are no moving parts in that part of the fridge.

Repair guy is coming Monday.
 
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Old 07-19-16, 07:30 PM
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The repairman opened the rear middle part to expose a lot of ice on the condenser coils, probably similar to the situation in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSbruQKxSq8

The fan was replaced, and putty was added to the cover edges to help make a better seal to prevent the condenser from icing over again. Let's see if that's a fix, we're still hearing a loud whirring sound but not quick like the initial sound.
 
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Old 07-19-16, 07:39 PM
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I see GE has a problem with that model. Apparently it builds up more frost than it can defrost.
That was a good video. If you do try something like that.... use a blow dryer not a heat gun. A heat gun will melt the plastic very quickly.
 
 

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