CFE28TSHISS Fresh Food (evap) fan noise

[Sethcrash]

Model Number

CFE28TSHISS

Brand

GE

Age

6-10 years

Hello and thank you in advance for your help. The small evaporator fan above the coil in the back of the fresh food compartment gets ice build up then starts to make noise. It’s a very small amount of ice normally just a few drops of water that freeze then interfere with the fans free rotation. This noise occurs 4-6 times per day and lasts approximately 3 minutes then stops. Cooling does not see affected and the fan continues to run. The evaporator coil itself is clean and I have not seen ice build up on the fins.
I’ve done the following

• Replaced fan motor
• Confirmed defrost heater works (pulls 1.3 amps)
• Ran defrost heater test with evap thermistor feedback (good)
• Replaced evap cover (plastic & styrofoam)
• Confirmed door seals and ice shute flapper is good
• No ice buildup in condensate drain or pan
• Turned FF and FZ temp from 37/0 to 40/5 with no change
• Ran FF fan test with feedback signal- seemed good
• Removed/reinstalled defrost t-stat and coil thermistor, confirmed proper location. Have not replaced w/new

I checked error code history- abnormal defrost was there.
I’ve noticed a small amount of ice in the duct above the evap coil, where the fan is mounted, and just above the fan. It’s just enough that I can feel it with my hand but minimal.

 

[Jake]

Its possibly the evaporator thermistor.

Have you ohm tested it? It should also read about 16.3k ohms at 32 degrees.

Thermistor WR55X10025

 

[Sethcrash]

Thanks for the Reply Jake! I have not ohm’d it out. When I ran the defrost heater test the displayed temperature seemed close to the evap temp, and increased as the heater remained on.

I went ahead and ordered the part number you supplied and will install/ report back. For my own curiosity I’ll dunk the new and old thermistor in ice water and read the resistance.
As I’m typing this the fridge started it’s noise again. Sounds like a playing card in bicycle spokes (much more consistent though).

 

[Jake]

Ok, sounds good. But it seems to be defrosting fine, its just that fresh food evaporator fan motor noise, if nothing is hitting the fan blades, then it seems like a defective fan motor.

Here's the refrigerator(fresh food) evaporator fan motor for your model:
Refrigerator Evaporator Fan Motor WR60X26866


I know you said you already replaced it, so if you can make a video of that noise so we can hear it too and upload it here.