Troubleshooting Evaporator Fan Problems in Refrigerators

The evaporator fan at the back of the refrigerator blows cool air into your refrigerator and freezer when the compressor turns on. If your refrigerator isn’t cool because the evaporator fan isn’t blowing cool air, this video from Sears PartsDirect can help you diagnose the problem.

1. Check the electronic control board in diagnostic mode
First, test if the evaporator fan runs in the diagnostic test mode.
To enter the diagnostic test mode on this Kenmore model, within 2 seconds, press the light switch 3 times and then press and hold it a 4th time until you hear a long beep. (If this method doesn’t work on your model, check the tech sheet for instructions. It’s usually behind the bottom front grill or on the back of the refrigerator.)
Test the evaporator fan by pressing the light switch twice. You’ll hear two beeps. Repeat 3 more times.
• If the evaporator fan runs in test mode, replace the electronic control board. Here’s a link to a video that will show you how to do that.
• If not, go to the next step.

2. Troubleshoot wiring problems
If the evaporator fan doesn't run in the diagnostic test mode, check for a break in the wiring.

If the wire isn’t visibly damaged, check for electrical continuity in the wires supplying power to the fan.
First, remove the electronic control board, lower the back freezer panel and unplug the evaporator fan.
Put a multimeter lead on each end of the red wire with the white stripe. If the wire is intact, the multimeter reads near 0 ohms Check the light blue wire in the same way.
• If both wires have continuity, the problem is with the fan motor or the electronic control board. Go to the next section.
• If neither wire has continuity, unplug the wire harness from the refrigerator ceiling. First, check continuity between the ceiling plug and the control board plug on the wire that had no continuity.
If that checks out, check continuity between the ceiling receptacle and the fan plug.
If you find a wire that reads infinite resistance, repair the broken wire or replace the wire harness. If both those wires had continuity, the problem is with the fan motor or the electronic control board.

3. Check the fan motor
If you eliminated wiring problems in section 2, check the evaporator fan motor.
In this refrigerator, the evaporator fan motor has a control board inside the motor casing, so you can’t check for continuity. Instead, remove the support bracket and fan motor cover and examine the fan control board for damage. Replace the evaporator fan motor if the board has visible burn marks.
If you don’t see any damage, have a service technician do a bench test on the evaporator fan..

Or call 1-800-437-1673 to speak with a parts specialist.

The video includes these parts. Look up your model to make sure you get the right parts for your refrigerator.
Electronic control board
Evaporator fan motor

Find parts for your refrigerator at:

Or click here to schedule an appointment with a repair technician.

[wallybeck]

Damn - the more Wayne talked, the more I wanted to invited him over for beer!

[clarkridlen]

By his appearance I wasn't expecting a lot but this fellow is a wealth of knowledge.

[CardinalEgan]

Great video! Logical troubleshooting steps, clearly presented, and still comes in under 4 minutes!

Thank you!

[DlcEnergy]

I just used a hair dryer and a presto!👌I had put too much stuff in front of it earlier today which meant all the cold air didn't have much place to go, so was colder than it was supposed to be in the area behind the fan. And of course they prevent the fan operating if it's too cold back there so that it doesn't damage itself. So it would've naturally defrosted and came back on anyway. But using a hair dryer will quickly resolve the issue. And no longer obstructing the air flow.

[teresamartinez]

Hi I have a question my fridge fan stopped working & neither fridge or freezer is cooling what could be the problem & is it an easy fix or would it be better to just buy a new one ? It just went out today

[davidmee]

My fridge fan was getting noisy after 10 years. Same model . There's only 2 screws holding the brass bearings on & there are little slots on the inside where YOU CAN OIL THEM . I used synthetic 5 W- 20 & it's quiet now !

[dawoodmakawa]

Thank u great tips. U helped me resolve my fridge problem and saved me money.

[raylegend]

I’m hearing a humming noise coming from the top freezer when I open door and see some ice buildup from back of freezer any suggestions ?

[MrMultitool]

What a great new channel. You do a great job.

[gotredeemed]

I removed the fan and found 110v at the jack. The coil on the motor was blackened and a resistance check showed infinite. I have a question. The cooling coils are loaded up. Is this because the evaporatior fan was broke or is this a defrost switch fail?

[carlospadron]

111.7302...kenmore fridge...only bottom freezer works...both evaporator fans are good but they don't turn on...no 13 volts to them...any idea what feeds them?a relay or a control board?seeing both dont work you think I need a new control board?thanks in advance for your help sir 🙏

[steveistevei]

hi, Thanks for your clear explanation of Troubleshooting Evaporator Fan Refrigerator . I have one rather important question I would like to ask. Your Airflow where does the Air come from. Is it normally a Close Loop System where the Air is constantly re-circulated by the Evaporator Fan in the Fridge, or is Fresh Air Intake going on so that the Evaporator Fan is constantly pulling Fresh Air from the Outside and blowing it through the Evaporator Coils inside the Fridge. Also if it is not a close Loop System and the Fresh Air is constantly being sucked in from outside, is it vented out as it is recirculated inside and replaced by a fresh stream of air. Thanks

[jijoe]

Hello,
I have an LG bottom freezer refrigerator model number # LRBC20512WW. The refrigerator gets cold in both compartments, but will not freeze in the freezer. Do you have any suggestions for me? Thanks, Joe

[cvinny]

Hello, we have the LG LSXS26386S Linear model. Only about 2.5yrs old.
Anyway, both fans and compressor are running, although the compressor is not getting warm to the touch which seems odd to me. Also, the fan in the freezer area seems to cut off until i open that door, then it turns on right away. I feel around the vents in the fridge and don't feel any air movement. I vacuumed and blew out the dirty coils already. Thanks for any tips..

[kennnethnutt]

HI, I SEE YOUR TIPS ARE GREAT, I HAVE AN LG REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER COMBI332SF, THE FAN AND COMPESSORS RUNS, ALL DUCTS TO FRIDGE ARE CLEAR, THE FAN DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO SEND THE COLD AIR DOWN TO THE FRIDGE, FREEZER WORKING GREAT, DO YOU THINK THE FAN MOTOR IS TIRED?ANY HELP APPRECIATED.THANKYOU.KIND REGARDS.

[anandnagappan]

My year and a half old kenmore refrigerator seems like has a similar problem. While the freezer is cold, the fridge is warm. Opening the back panel, see that the freezer fan is running, but the evaporator fan isn't (froze, saw lot of ice build-up). After cleaning it up, it seems to be run, but not always. Fridge is not cold enough. Is there a problem with the control board that turns on/off the fan or the fan itself needs to be replaced ?

[icemanm]

I live back in the woods I'm going to try to make this fast...
The refer was warm when i woke up. Now this unit has 5 lights' ...
If you need to lower the temperature Select #1 and to rase it Select #5 and all the numbers between.

I see that all The light are blinking like crazy, skipping the 4 hours it took me to "fix it"

I would unplug the top fan, the blinking would stop and compressor would come on!!

Thought i would see just how bad the fan was. using a 7-volt power supply Or A "Wall wort" I wired the fan to the 7-volt power supply and the fan was Runing great! But when I plug the fan back in blinking lights!!

I connected the fan back up to the 7-volt power supply and put everthing back together aside from there being a wire coming out the freezer it works!

I will fix it up correctly next time i go to town.

I hope somone can read this and save their meats and TV dinners, lol

[IsmaelFlores-rpod]

Maybe you can help me the evaporator fan is not running it moves freely I did all maintenance on please help

[jdinyari]

Why don't you mention the easiest thing to check. Thaw out the refrigerate to clear any ice that may have formed inside the wall of the unit that interferes with the operation of the blower fan. I could not see the ice even after emptying out the refrigerator but thawing out for 24 hrs cured the issue. This should be the 1st troubleshooting tip.

[shawoo]

Is frost buildup in the freezer a sign of a failing or inefficient fan blade?