KitchenAid Refrigerator KRFC704FSS01 - Freezer works fine but fridge not cooling and RC fan doesn't run

[han0747]

Model Number

KRFC704FSS01

Brand

KitchenAid

Age

1-5 years

Hello everyone. My fridge recently has some issue and it is not cooling at all. freezer works fine. I entered diagnostic mode and turn on the RC fan then can start running and bring cold air to the fridge. I noticed some ice at the bottom of the fridge. unplugged it and open all doors to let ice melt for 2 days. re-plugged in, same problem. It seems RC fan can't turn on to bring cold air in. any suggestions what to check and what could be the problem?

 

[Jake]

Locate connector P-14 on your main control board, and get a multimeter and set it on Volts DC and measure between P14-3 and P14-4 you should get 12.7 Volts DC, that controls the voltage to the RC EVAP FAN.

The main control board is located in the back of the refrigerator, once you pull it out from the wall, you will see the cover for it on the back of the refrigerator.

Here's the RC fan motor in the refrigerator section for your model:

Whirlpool W11395558 Cover-Evap (AP6980049) - AppliancePartsPros.com

Cover-evap W11395558 / AP6980049 made by Whirlpool

click.linksynergy.com

Here's the main control board for your model:

Whirlpool W11450890 Panel-Ui (AP6993913) - AppliancePartsPros.com

Panel-ui W11450890 / AP6993913 made by Whirlpool

click.linksynergy.com

Jake

 

[han0747]

Thanks Jake for your reply.
I tested P14-3 and P14-4, as RC fan was not on at that time, the reading is 0. But when I enter the service mode 57 and turn on the fan, it reads as 12.6v. Does that look normal?

 

[Jake]

Ok, did you also do--->Service Test - 01 RC Thermistor
--->Read RC compartment Temperature. “SH” indicates “shorted” thermistor, “OP” indicated “open” thermistor.

But when I enter the service mode 57 and turn on the fan, it reads as 12.6v. Does that look normal?

Yes, that means if the RC fan motor runs fine and gets 12.6 volts DC, then the problem is the main control board, IF the RC Thermistor tests good.

Jake

 

[han0747]

Thanks again Jake. Service Test - 01 RC Thermistor shows 33. Actual temperature is 48 using a thermometer in RC.

 

[Jake]

Ok, so that indicates the RC thermistor is the culprit.

Unfortunately, you can only get the RC thermistor only when you order the complete evaporator fan motor assembly:

Whirlpool W11395558 Cover-Evap (AP6980049) - AppliancePartsPros.com

Cover-evap W11395558 / AP6980049 made by Whirlpool

click.linksynergy.com

Jake

 

[han0747]

That’s expensive for a thermistor 😭😆
thank you very much for your help Jake!

 

[Jake]

That’s expensive for a thermistor 😭😆

Your preaching to the choir! LOL

Jake

 

[cheesecakee]

Thanks Jake for your reply.
I tested P14-3 and P14-4, as RC fan was not on at that time, the reading is 0. But when I enter the service mode 57 and turn on the fan, it reads as 12.6v. Does that look normal?

Sorry to bump this but can you assist on how to test this with the Voltmeter? Do I attach red and black from the meter to P14-3 and P14-4?

 

[Jake]

Yes, Locate connector P-14 on your main control board, and get a multimeter and set it on Volts DC and measure between P14-3 and P14-4 you should get 12.7 Volts DC, that controls the voltage to the RC EVAP FAN.

The main control board is located in the back of the refrigerator, once you pull it out from the wall, you will see the cover for it on the back of the refrigerator.

Jake

 

[cheesecakee]

Can you explain this in more detail? Red to the 3rd wire and Black to the 4th wire on this pin?

 

[Jake]

Look on the wiring schematic I posted in post #2 above.

P14-3 is violet/white wire
P14-4 is tan wire

Make sure you have the exact same model number KRFC704FSS01 or it will be different.

The model number tag is located inside the refrigerator section on the upper walls or ceiling.

Wait, do you mean the RED and BLACK meter probes? It does not matter, if its backwards it will say -12.7 volts DC. But that won't hurt anything, its still means 12.7 volts DC.

Jake

 

[cheesecakee]

Thank you Jake for all your knowledge. I find it amazing how local technicians do not even go through the brief diagnostics to try and see what is wrong with the appliance.

My last question is the location of the above mentioned evap cover. Is it in the refrigerator bin or the freezer bin?

 

[Jake]

RC EVAP FAN means Refrigerator Compartment evaporator fan motor.

Jake

 

[cheesecakee]

Can someone help with how to get this drawer box out?

 

[Jake]

Make sure you have the exact same model number KRFC704FSS01 or it will be different.

The model number tag is located inside the refrigerator section on the upper walls or ceiling.

Is KRFC704FSS01 your model number?

Jake

 

[cheesecakee]

Yes it is.

 

[Jake]

Watch this video: Crisper frame assembly

Jake

 

[silvermullet]

Hello all, sorry for bump again.. i have a similar problem. i have a KRFC704FPS04 - 6 months old.. RC is lukewarm with the bottom crisper compartments keeping cool. temp controlled tray at the very bottom of the RC is freezing and frost forming. RC fan pushes air through air tower randomly but infrequent it seems. tech came out today with a new logic board and front UI panel. doesnt seem to have helped. a couple weeks ago when i noticed the issue, i also ran the tests and on test 57, fan did turn on. presumably the tech checked the thermistors before concluding that it was the logic board.

anyway after reading this thread and

FIXED - KitchenAid Refrigerator KRFC704FPS03 not cooling, freezer working

We've had this refrigerator for about two years. The temperature in the middle of the refrigerator is about 55 degrees. The freezer is working fine. We had a tech come out and he shotgunned the fix by replacing the control board and UI board. That did not resolve the issue. I'm going to have...

www.applianceblog.com

im also thinking that its the evap cover thermistor/fan assembly. what i did notice tonight was... after i run test 57 for about 1min and then bring the fridge out of test mode, the fan does blow out of the air tower for a little bit.. is there a correlation or is it just coincidence? Like the OP, i did notice that test 1, RC thermistor, was 35 but the temp of the fridge was closer to 47. does this confirm a bad thermistor as well?

any help would be appreciated!! thanks in advance.

 

[silvermullet]

Can someone help with how to get this drawer box out?

View attachment 64467

may i ask how you go this out? i did watch the video that Jake posted a link to, but seems like a different style. min is like this one and it seems to be catching on each side. also, did you remove one of the doors as it says in the manual? thanks!