FIXED FFTR1821TD0 A perplexing riddle: EVAP fan goes on during defrost, off during cooling.

[martinvolk]

Model Number

FFTR1821TD0

Brand

Frigidaire

Age

1-5 years

My 18 cubic foot Frigidaire has the classic cold freezer warm fridge issue. I assumed it was the defrost timer so I replaced it. I also replaced solenoid and the temperature adjust thermostat. The evaporator fan works fine I tested it with direct 110 volts. When I turn the defrost timer advance the fan is off during the cooling 10 hour time. It turns on during the 30-minute defrost cycle, which makes no sense to me. The other thing that's weird is that the fridge light which I believe is on a completely separate circuit is off. It only turns on when I turn the temperature adjustment dial all the way to off. This perplexes me because on the wiring diagram it's not even linked up to the defrost timer and unless I misread the diagram it should be on continuously unless the door switch turns it off. I removed the defrost heating element. It reads 30 ohms which appears normal.

To sum up:
Compressor works
Evaporator fan works
Evaporator fan turns off during cooling cycle when it should be on
Evap fan turns on during defrost cycle when it should be off.
Fridge light is on when temp dial is turned off and light goes off when temp adjust dial is set to cooling.

Any ideas would be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Jake]

Sounds like you got a defective defrost timer, where did you get it from? It was not doing this before you replaced it correct?

Refrigerator defrost timer OEM Part #241705102

 

[martinvolk]

I didn't diagnose carefully enough, so I'm not sure. But prior to replacement, it was only cooling in freezer. I have another timer coming from Amazon. Two bad timers would be weird but I'm desperate, so I'm going to try it.

 

[Jake]

That's the problem, is amazon, they only sell aftermarket parts there, and they don't work properly on appliances.

Order it from my post #2 above and you should be back in business.

 

[martinvolk]

it's exactly the same part. I don't think the timer is the issue. The 2nd one also doesn't fix the problem. I checked continuity between the red and light blue wires from the fridge control panel

 

[martinvolk]

Problem solved after replacing damn near every part other than the compressor, lol. The light blue wire's molex plug pin in the machine compartment wasn't seated correctly in the plastic housing and it had pushed back a little. I diagnosed it by checking continuity of the red and light blue wire from the fridge control panel to the machine section next to the compressor. The red was continuous, but the light blue was not. I reseated the pin and that resolved all issues.

The amazon components work fine, btw. I currently have the relay. temp control thermostat and defrost timer all from amazon, because I left the replacement parts in the fridge after I tried to troubleshoot by replacing one suspect component at a time. Promoting the purchase of $65 part that should literally only cost $12 because it's supposedly "genuine frigidaire" seems a bit sus, especially since they are the identical part made in China.

 

[Jake]

Ok sounds good, glad you found the problem.

Thanks for the update!

The amazon components work fine, btw. I currently have the relay. temp control thermostat and defrost timer all from amazon, because I left the replacement parts in the fridge after I tried to troubleshoot by replacing one suspect component at a time. Promoting the purchase of $65 part that should literally only cost $12 because it's supposedly "genuine frigidaire" seems a bit sus, especially since they are the identical part made in China.

It always bothers me that amazon is like a walmart, from dog food to diapers, LOL. Buying appliance parts their does not sit well with me.

In my 35+ years I have never bought any appliance parts from amazon or ebay. Only at AppliancePartsPros and RepairClinic which--->Always has a 365 day warranty on ALL parts.

OR your local appliance parts dealer in your town/city if you have one, where they ONLY sell appliance parts.

Just like AUTOZONE and O'REILLY'S only sells auto parts.

If I need a auto part that's where I go. Not to amazon.