Upon purchasing new Frigidaire refrigerator odds are you will love the unit, more than most fridges out there.
With all the bells and whistles these fridges boast there will be some instances where error codes pop up or stuff malfunctions.
Rest assured it is normal for any appliance to have issues at some point.
If the Frigidaire refrigerator fan starts and stops it might need replacement, or there is an issue with the wiring or the control board.
In other instances, the evaporator fan malfunctions due to clogging.
It needs to be fully functioning or the fridge might be rendered useless.
Review the causes and solutions below for an evaporator fan starting and stopping.
Frigidaire Refrigerator Fan Starts and Stops- Causes
Wiring
If your Frigidaire refrigerator fan starts and stops erratically, it could be an issue of wiring.
Any faulty wiring in a fridge leads to error codes and stuff malfunctioning.
This is the case when a Frigidaire refrigerator fan starts and stops.
When refrigerators are moved, either for cleaning or relocation purposes, wires get disconnected.
This sometimes leaves one or two wires connected but not all the way.
It means occasionally, the fan will misfire so to speak.
It will receive signals at one point and receive another signal to stop revolving soon thereafter.
These wires send mixed signals and if not checked could result in extra damage to the unit.
Malfunctioning Fan
With time evaporator fans get clogged or simply slow down due to wear and tear.
This leads to malfunctions like the one mentioned here.
It takes a little expertise to remove the fan, but knowing it has issues is easy.
Where the damper and vents are located should be a fan too.
This should be sending airflow to the fridge to help with cooling.
If nothing is coming out of the evaporator fan intermittently, it means it stops and then starts up again.
This should not happen with a fully functioning fan.
However, the best advice would be consultation with an expert in refrigerators.
Replacing a fan should not be attempted in an amateurish manner.
Control Board
The control board might not be sending the correct signals and might be malfunctioning itself.
This could be due to several reasons.
Whatever the cause for the control board misbehaving, it should be fixed to stop the destruction of the fan.
If the Frigidaire refrigerator fan starts and stops erratically, it might still be functional.
It means fixing the control board mishaps is crucial to avoid further damage to the fan.
When the control board misbehaves, it is likely a problem with wiring or short circuits.
These shots can cause the control board to send the wrong signals or inconsistent messages to the control box and fan.
Adaptive Defrost Control Board
This is not the main control board or control box.
Rather, it boasts more wires and is easily located around the food section.
For some, it might be harder to find a replacement due to discontinuation.
There are however some sellers with old fridges no longer working, who dispose of these wires.
They come with their harnesses and should be pretty easy to reinstall.
If this adaptive defrost control board is malfunctioning, the chances of the evaporator fan misbehaving are also high.
The adaptive defrost control board supplies electrical power to the evaporator fan.
If the wires are loose or cracking due to ice, there will be no power fed to the fan.
Thermostat
If the thermostat is faulty inside the fridge, the fan might misbehave too.
This is unlikely to be the cause if the Frigidaire refrigerator fan starts and stops during shorter intervals.
If it happens intermittently but minutes apart, the thermostat could be behaving irregularly.
It means the fan turns on and off based on irregular prompts from the thermostat.
Replacing a thermostat requires expertise and should be handled only by a professional.
Thermostats can become slow or sluggish especially a few years down the line.
Replacing thermostats conveniently helps to avoid additional damage to an evaporator fan and other parts of the fridge.
Frigidaire Refrigerator Fan Starts and Stops – Fixes
Solutions are available if your Frigidaire refrigerator fan starts and stops and most are easy maneuvers.
Replace the Fan
Knowing the fan has issues because there will be little to no air flowing from it, or indeed it behaves erratically.
When this happens, replace it with online orders from renowned sellers and resellers.
An evaporator fan is simple to remove but might still require expertise.
Removing screws for the evaporator fan door is the first step, and then one can proceed to pull out the fan.
In most cases, the fan might fall out spewing dirt or debris into the room of the fridge.
The removal of an evaporator fan might lead to other small components needing replacing.
Without a professional removing and replacing the fan, other problems might develop.
Be sure to consult a professional for all things electrical.
Check Wiring
This is more often the cause of all malfunctions within the fridge.
For starters, remove the wiring harness connecting the adaptive defrost control board feeding power to the fan motor.
If the wires are frayed or cut/frozen, that is likely the cause.
These wires and harnesses are easily ordered online and replaced within a day.
Removing wires might involve opening doors internally, some of which are sealed using glue.
It is important to reseal them with proper glue to ensure moisture doesn’t find its way back onto the wiring.
Seal and insulate all wires using wiring tape, usually black sometimes white to ensure the same doesn’t recur.
When in doubt, a professional electrician will help out with rewiring and sealing.
Unplugging
Chances are you’ve tried this already and it didn’t work, but perhaps you erratically shut it off.
The idea is to reboot the fridge giving it ample time to reset.
It requires a few minutes to rest after unplugging it, at which point it should reset.
Once it has been off for a few minutes, reconnect it to the power source.
This is enough to reset everything including components that have received wrong signals.
The evaporator fan should start and stop during appropriate intervals.
If not, resort to step 1 above with an expert’s help.
Be advised that unplugging and re-plugging a unit needs to be subtle.
The opposite could lead to further destruction of the unit, including short-circuiting other components.
Adaptive Defrost Control Board
This unit feeds the fan motor with the power to keep running.
If it is faulty, the fan might perform erratically, turning on and off.
If the Frigidaire refrigerator fan starts and stops for no apparent reason, check and replace this control board.
It hosts several wires and needs professionals to remove harnesses and rewire the unit.
As an older Frigidaire refrigerator fan starts and stops the adaptive defrost control board might pose other problems.
If this unit is indeed the problem, finding adaptive defrost control boards is easier on the web.
Forums are available as well as renowned sites bring together buyers and sellers with similar interests.
Thermostats
Thermostats regulate temperatures within the refrigerator and when temperatures rise, the fan blows.
When thermostats are not functioning well and need replacement, it is the job of technicians.
Most thermostats are not easy to reach and will likely be hidden behind a door.
This needs to be unscrewed and parts removed slowly.
If there is a chance the thermostat still functions well, the technician would know.
It is crucial to have them remove and test it to avoid jerking out wires and parts which leads to damage.
There might be other parts at fault, not the thermostat.
How Do I Test My Frigidaire Evaporator Fan?
Before going deep into the refrigerator searching for fan issues, listen to it.
The Frigidaire refrigerator fan starts and stops with noises.
If you hear chirping noises or high-pitched sounds, it might be blocked.
These are signs of malfunctioning fans.
1. Additionally, check to see if the fan blows when temperatures increase in the interior.
Leaving the door open helps with this test.
Temperatures rise quickly especially during summertime, so leaving the door ajar should have the fan blowing quickly.
If it doesn’t come on, the fan has a problem.
2. If you are feeling techier, remove or disconnect the evaporator fan completely.
Next, using a multimeter, proceed to check the resistance.
If readings don’t meet recommended standards, the fan is faulty.
This test should only involve the two wires connecting directly to the coils.
3. Using a cable with at least two wires, connect the fan directly to a power source.
Connect the wires and see if the fan responds.
Use the multimeter, now switched from ohms to voltage, to check how many volts flow through it.
4. Using the fridge door switch, turn off the interior lights and hold for a few seconds.
This works with most refrigerators and freezers.
In a few seconds or perhaps a minute or two, the fan should restart.
If it doesn’t or continues with erratic starts and stops, it needs replacing.
Recommendations
The air ducts and other panels within the fridge hold several components, including the fan motor.
If at any time there is a need to open such panels, a professional should be sought.
Remember that foodstuff can cause clogging around fans and vents.
Be sure the fridge undergoes regular maintenance to avoid costly repairs.
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