FIXED KBLS36FKX02 KitchenAid Built-In working fine but beeping over and over

[jpaul34]

Model Number

KBLS36FKX02

Brand

KitchenAid

Age

6-10 years

Hi all, thanks in advance for the help.

We have a KitchenAid built-in KBLS36FKX02 that started beeping every few minutes (with the "call service" light illuminated) a few weeks ago. Otherwise the fridge was working normally.

We had a repair guy out to look at it, and he diagnosed the problem as part #2252161 (main control board?). The beeping would go away for a bit when we hit the "Over Temperature Control" button twice, but always reappeared.

Unfortunately, we did not send the board to Core Centric, the recommended spot. We stupidly sent it to Atlas Electronics (found on ebay), which wasn't a good experience, but they said the board was fixed and returned it. Long story short (too late), the board was installed yesterday morning and the beeping has returned.

I called KitchenAid to see if I could schedule an authorized repair company to come look at it and they told me that they are not recommending that owners send the boards in to Core Centric to be rebuilt since they are hearing so many stories like mine where the boards don't work correctly after repair. They offered to forward my file to a group who gives discounts to people like me who can't get their fridges repaired.

So... the fridge is working fine -- the only issue is the constant beeping. Is there anyway to disable this? If not, do the wise souls here in the forums think it's a good idea to send the board in to Core Centric to get it repaired? I have already paid the repair guy twice to remove the board and to re-install it. I would rather not do that again -- maybe I can do it myself.

Please help.

John

 

[jpaul34]

I found this post which explains how a $1.49 capacitor available at Radio Shack can cause chirping/beeping and light faults.

I'm going to pull my board out tomorrow and see if the capacitor is bulging at all. In the meantime, if any knowledgable repair people have any other suggestions for my issue, I'm all ears.

 

[Jake]

Core Centric is very good, we have had many members send the control boards to them and not 1 complaint. Its just the "so called fake" companies like Atlas Electronics (found on ebay) that are out to rip people off by jacking down the price to lure people in. Rick can testify to that too!

I found this post which explains how a $1.49 capacitor available at Radio Shack can cause chirping/beeping and light faults.

A few members have gone that route, only one member said the beeping returned again: FIXED Refrigerator started beeping and the display flashes

I've never done that repair myself though.

Jake

 

[jpaul34]

I worked with a tech today and he determined it was the freezer evaporator fan that was causing the beeping. He had me check the voltage from the board to the fan and it was only sending 12 V for a few seconds before going back down to zero. Every time the board turned the fan on, it beeped. We will be sending the board to Core Centric next week and hopefully they'll be able to repair it. I wish I had known about Atlas earlier. I was fooled by their high feedback score on ebay.

 

[Jake]

Yes jpaul, I agree.

Yes, Core Centric is very good, you should be good to go when you get the control board back from them.

Jake

 

[jpaul34]

Got the board back from Core Centric and, unfortunately, the board started beeping again. I want to take a sledgehammer to this thing, tbh.

 

[Jake]

That's odd, seems both the techs. may have made the wrong diagnosis.

In your first post you said this:

The beeping would go away for a bit when we hit the "Over Temperature Control" button twice, but always reappeared.

Is that till true now after you received the control board back from Core Centric?

If so, you may have a button shorting out in your control panel user interface.

Here's the parts diagram for your control panel user interface parts: Parts for KitchenAid KBLS36FKX02: Liner Parts

I'd turn the power off to your refrigerator then drop down the control box #37 then you should have access to your control panel user interface overlay #38, I can't tell if the overlay has a ribbon cable on it that connects to your control panel board #39. If it does, unplug the ribbon cable that attaches the control panel board, Then use a pencil eraser and only rubbing in the direction of the traces, use the eraser as you would erase, to clean the traces.

You can try that, and see if that solves the beeping issue.

Jake

 

[jpaul34]

Yes, it's still doing the same thing, but the main control board continues to send irregular voltage to the evaporator fan. (Goes to 12 V for a few seconds then drops down to 0 V.) You still think it's worth investigating the buttons?

 

[Jake]

Hold on, I just ran across a similar beeping issue when I was helping another member a few minutes ago, and I said Bingo and thought of your thread.

Rick helped him. Read this thread: FIXED Kitchen Aid Built-in Is Beeping - Bad ECB or Something Else?

Then in post#2 of that thread Rick posted the condenser fan motor part number you can order, its the exact same condenser fan motor as your model takes. He also posted the service flash you can read.

Jake

 

[jpaul34]

In his case, replacing the condenser fan motor didn't fix his problem, but you're suggesting that I should go that route since I already sent it to Core Centric for repair?

 

[Jake]

but you're suggesting that I should go that route since I already sent it to Core Centric for repair?

Exactly.

Jake

 

[jpaul34]

Just to clarify - I have the KBLS36FKX02, which is not listed on the service flash, but you're certain it has the same part/problem? What I don't understand is why the board is only sending 12 V for a few seconds and then stopping -- doesn't that indicate it's the board?

 

[Jake]

but you're certain it has the same part/problem?

Yes.

What I don't understand is why the board is only sending 12 V for a few seconds and then stopping -- doesn't that indicate it's the board?

That's what I don't understand either, but the board may be sensing a fault in the condenser motor and cutting the 12 V power to it. And you already sent the board in for repair and it didn't solve the issue.

So it has to be a bad condenser fan motor.

Jake

 

[jpaul34]

Oh, I was talking about the evaporator fan motor. It's the one that's getting only a few seconds of 12V before getting cut down to zero. When I go into Service Diagnostics Mode, I get an error on Step 3 (evaporator) which shows a "2" and then sometimes switches to "1" when the fan gets up to speed. I'm also getting an error on Step 5 (Compressor). Step 4 (Condenser Fan Motor) has always been error free. I dunno, I'm at a loss. The fridge is keeping its temperature.

 

[Jake]

Sorry I meant to say evaporator freezer fan motor. Its the same exact thread.

Here's the evaporator(freezer) fan motor for your model you can order here(Comes with installation instructions):
Manufacturer's Number: 8201589

I'm also getting an error on Step 5 (Compressor).

I'm stumped as to why your getting that error, your compressor is running fine isn't it? Is is still cooling fine after you installed the repaired board you got back from Core Centric?

Jake

 

[jpaul34]

Everything is running fine. The fridge and freezer are both keeping their temperature. It's just the infernal beeping.

I think I'll give the evaporator fan repair a try before sending the board back to Core Centric. I was confused since you sent a link to a thread that talks about a condenser fan -- I don't see any mention of an evaporator fan in that particular thread.

Thanks for the link for the evaporator fan parts. I hope it's a fairly easy repair.

 

[Jake]

The member in that thread "Nicks" meant to say evaporator motor, not condenser motor, I corrected it in his 1st post.

Jake

 

[jpaul34]

Ah, ok. Well, I ordered the evaporator fan replacement. I'll report back once it's installed.

 

[Jake]

Ok, sounds good.

Jake

 

[jpaul34]

After three attempts to send me the right part (two of the boxes had the fan and the fan blade, but neither wiring harness that was supposed to come in the 8201589 kit), I finally got the full kit from AppliancePartsPros.

However, as you can see from the picture on the left, the connection (4 x 1) doesn't match the connection from the fan (2 x 2) or either end of the wiring harness (2 x 2). The connection on the far left is the one that goes directly into the fan (but for the new fan, it's welded/glued in). Did I not follow the wires back far enough or do I not have the right harness? The wires go back into the back of the fridge.

The pic on the left was from my first attempt to replace the fan. I have since put the old fan back in and don't want to attempt another repair until I know I have the right parts.