Amana fridge freezer not getting cold


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Old 08-08-16, 10:44 AM
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Amana fridge freezer not getting cold

Hi all

Looking for some advice, we have an amana side by side fridge freezer model SRD522VE which is no longer getting cold. The compressor and rear fan is running. I've removed the front panel and noticed the evap fan is not running, and the coils were clogged full of ice, at this point I suspected it could be the defrost heater, so I defrosted the freezer coils with a hair dryer cleared all the ice, switched it back on but the fan is still not running and is not getting cold enough!

Any help and advice would be appreciated
 
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Old 08-08-16, 10:47 AM
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Also to add checked for continuity on the fan and the defrost thermostat which appears to be fine
 
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Old 08-08-16, 11:00 AM
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Welcome to the forums.

Did you check for 120vac on the evaporator fan ?

Defrost thermostat can only be checked ice cold.
Defrost heating element may need to be checked but just having the fan not running will cause the coil to ice up.

Your fridge has a mechanical defrost timer which makes servicing easier.
 
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Old 08-08-16, 11:14 AM
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Hi pjmax

I advanced the defrost timer, fridge switches off but the defrost heater does not come on.

As I had manually defrosted the fridge and assuuming based on the above that the defrost heater did not come on I would have expected the fridge to run normally and the evap fan to run but this is not the case. I'm I wrong to assume this
 
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Old 08-08-16, 11:32 AM
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It could take several minutes for the heater element to warm up.

You have made a correct assumption. When the defrost timer turns back on..... the compressor, the inside fan and the fan underneath should all come on and run.

The fridge should run normally until the coil frosts over again.
 
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Old 08-08-16, 11:46 AM
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When in defrost mode, the heater does not come on, its been 15 mins since i put it in defrost mode, I have taken it off defrost mode, fridge is back on but evap fan not running, coils icing up but not cooling lower area of freezer cold but above is warm
 
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Old 08-08-16, 11:52 AM
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Did you check for 120vac at the evap fan ? The door may need to be closed or the switch held in.
 
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Old 08-08-16, 12:29 PM
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I am based in the uk and get 230v reading, doors are closed and not left open
 
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Old 08-08-16, 01:18 PM
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I thought I was seeing things when I read 230v on the evap motor in the parts list. I didn't realize you were in the UK. You can go into your bio and change your location to non-US.

Usually... your model numbers do not appear in the US database but yours did.

Anyway... if you measure 230v on the motor and it's not working.... it's bad.
 
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Old 08-08-16, 01:50 PM
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I'm not sure if my multimeter is defective i've checked again to be sure and now i am getting a reading of 1!? Confused
 
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Old 08-08-16, 11:04 PM
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Checked again with another multimeter and i am getting a 238v reading for the evap fan. Did the same for the defrost heater and get a 238v reading for 1 of the 2 wires for the defrost heater wiring. Is this normal?
 
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Old 08-08-16, 11:08 PM
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Anyway... if you measure 230v on the motor and it's not working.... it's bad.
If the unit is in defrost.... and you measure 230v at the ends of the heating element...and the element is not getting hot....then the element is open and bad.
 
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Old 08-09-16, 01:10 AM
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I'm only getting 238v from one of the wires on the defrost heater element. Also lets assume it is the heater at fault and i've manually defrosted the freezer in theory the freezer should work with the evap fan running until it freezes over but this is not the case. Can i upload pics will this help
 
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Old 08-09-16, 09:14 AM
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Certainly you can upload pics..... http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...-pictures.html

You can't measure voltage on one wire. You have to measure between two points. In order for you to be measuring 238v you must be measuring to ground. That is not what we need to do.

In the diagram below.... the right side of the tree is neutral, which if you measure to ground is 0v. The left side(L1) is the 230v supply. You'll notice that one side of the heating element is connected to neutral which means the one side of the element will measure 0v to ground. The other side will measure 230v when the timer is in defrost mode.

Name:  005 Defrost Strip Circuit - Copy.jpg
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Old 08-09-16, 09:43 AM
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What ive also just done to eliminate that it is not the defrost thermostat i've cut the brown and orange wires and joined them together without the thermostat, still no fan running and still no defrost heater on when in defrost mode
 
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Old 08-09-16, 10:30 AM
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image attached

[IMG][/IMG]
 
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Old 08-10-16, 12:23 AM
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Hi Pete

I also connected live and neutral directly to the fan to see if it would run, the fan did not run at all although I heard a 'pop'

I also did the same for the defrost heater, but did not get hot

Could it be possible that both items have failed at the same time!?
 
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Old 08-10-16, 12:37 AM
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The fan says 230v right on it so you didn't hurt it.

I doubt they went bad at the same time. The defrost element may have been out for a while.
Depending on humidity..... it can take a while for the coil to freeze up.
 
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Old 08-10-16, 12:41 AM
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What would you suggest I replace? it's really bugging me, can you see the pic? what are your thoughts?
 
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Old 08-10-16, 01:47 AM
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They both need to be replaced. Unfortunately the fridge won't cool right without them.

Yes... I see the pic.
 
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Old 08-10-16, 01:53 AM
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Ok will order the defrost heater and fan

Based on the pic is it safe to say its not a compressor or a starter relay/capacitor issue
 
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Old 08-10-16, 08:47 AM
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If it were a compressor problem you wouldn't get any cooling.
 
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Old 08-10-16, 10:04 AM
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Cheers pete! Parts should be with me tomorrow, will rewire the defrost thermostat back on, i hope the new parts do the trick!

Will report back!
 
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Old 08-11-16, 10:36 AM
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Hi pete

New fan and defrost heater fitted, fridge has been running for 30 mins still no evap fan running!

Im sure i have connected everything correctly the only thing i doubt is whether i connected the wires correctly to another part i didnt recognise when runs alongside the defrost heater

Any ideas?
 
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Old 08-11-16, 01:21 PM
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There are only two wires on the fan. Check it for voltage with the fan connected.
 
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Old 08-11-16, 01:30 PM
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Ok when i connect 1 probe to the yellow and 1 to the brown i get no reading but if i touch 1 of the probes to earth i get a reading of 238v
 
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Old 08-11-16, 02:00 PM
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You are not getting neutral to the motor. I don't have the exact wiring diagram of that fridge.
There may be a door switch in the neutral line.

The wiring diagram is posted on your fridge.
 
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Old 08-11-16, 11:46 PM
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Hi pete

I have checked the freezer light switch, im getting continuity and 230v
 
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Old 08-12-16, 12:43 AM
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Ok when i connect 1 probe to the yellow and 1 to the brown i get no reading but if i touch 1 of the probes to earth i get a reading of 238v
That means either the yellow OR the brown wire will have 238v on it while the other wire will have 0v when checked to ground. Whichever one doesn't have the voltage to ground on it is the neutral and must be traced out.

You must end up with 238v ON the motor..... across the two wires.

Like I've mentioned.... I can't tell you where the neutral goes to. I don't have a wiring diagram to look at.

You may find the diagram behind the front grill....taped up in a bag or on the back or on a removable service plate.
 
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Old 08-12-16, 04:20 AM
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Could it be a problem with the pcb? Where is this located?
To trace out the neutral sounds like a big job, i guess i will need to strip everything out to find out the source of the wire
 
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Old 08-12-16, 09:20 AM
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I spent several hours reading thru customers problems.

From what I've found out is the evaporator fan motor gets its neutral thru the defrost element and thermostat. All the info I found and partial diagrams are for the 120v USA model. I can't find anything specific to yours. I did read the wiring diagram was posted on the back.

I need to see that to help you further. It needs to be a BIG picture taken from a phone or camera set to best picture. You won't be able to post it here. If you check your PM's there is a place you can send it to.
 
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Old 08-12-16, 09:59 AM
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Hi pete

I will take the back panel off and send you some pics, much appreciated!

With the fridge powered on when i do a voltage test on the evap fan no voltage readings whatsoever, when i probe the yellow wire and the other probe to earth i get a reading and the same applies to the brown wire voltage reading only appears when the other probe is on earth
 
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Old 08-15-16, 02:39 AM
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Hi Pete

Have an update..

Connected the mains to the NEW defrost heater and it heated, connected it back to the fridge, with the defrost thermostat also wired back in and advanced the defrost timer, after 10-15 mins the defrost heater became hot but tripped the house RCD electrics, reset the electrics but within 5 mins electrics tripped again

Checked for continuity on the defrost thermostat, when cold previously it has had continuity but when checked this time around no continuity!

Connected OLD defrost back to the fridge which works as I have tested this directly with the mains but the defrost heater does not come on but the RCD electrics do not trip

I'm thinking this could be a defrost thermostat issue, however I am not sure as I have cut the defrost thermostat out and connected both wires together to bypass but again the defrost heater does not come on and neither does the fan!

Keen to get your thoughts, the Mrs is running out of patience! and wants me to scrap the fridge and purchase a new one!
 
 

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