FIXED KRFC704FPS01 Freezer and ice maker work fine. RC is not cooling.

[78Fridge]

Model Number

KRFC704FPS01

Brand

KitchenAid

Age

1-5 years

I have reviewed the threads on this topic and I would like one clarification. When I check Tests 01 and 03, these seem to be working and are in about the right range, 31-35 degrees for Test 03 and 37-40 degrees for Test 01. I have been using ice to keep the RC cold and the direct-read thermometer shows 40 degrees.

Test 58 works and the RC fan runs strong with no odd noises.

Given the above, is it more likely that I have a control board issue? Is there simple test for the control board? (The techs that come are often not the best.)

I have a service contact where I order and pay for parts. I would prefer to avoid having the tech give me the “Easter egg” treatment at >$200 for each of the two likely parts (control board and evaporator cover / fan /thermistor assembly.)

Thanks in advance!

 

[78Fridge]

I typed in an error above. Test 57 versus Test 58….Evaporator fan runs .

I took the ice out of the RC and I’m getting some unexpected results:
RC Thermistor: 39
FC Thermistor: -9
RC Evaporator Thermistor: 48
Pantry Thermistor: 35
Direct read thermometer in RC: 58

Not sure I understand how the Pantry and RC Thermistors can be so far off actual RC temperature or how the Evaporator Thermistor can be warmer than the RC / Pantry Thermistors.

 

[Jake]

Here's a similar thread:

FIXED - KRFC704FPS01 RC parts confirmation - RC not cooling

Hey all, Yet another KA fridge with the RC not cooling (and ice maker probs). I've read through many threads here, found the service manual and done the diag tests which point to a bad control board (GF2) that isn't activating the RC fan. I saw several threads that resolved via new thermistors...

www.applianceblog.com

RC Evaporator Thermistor: 48

That seems way too high, was the evaporator coil frosty when you did that test? Normal would be a thin layer of frost on all the coils from top to bottom.

 

[78Fridge]

Thanks for responding, Jake. I reviewed that thread. I have not removed the cover so I can’t comment re: frost. I’m having trouble getting the crisper frame out. Looks like I need to remove the air tower cover first. I’m probably going to let the tech do that…he’s coming on Monday.

I am going to check tests again this AM.

Weird thought…is it worth cycling the power? Does that ever “reset” the control board? I have also seen a TSP mentioned regarding placement of the evaporator thermistor. Can you send me a link to that?

Thanks again…hitting “donate” today 😉

 

[78Fridge]

Readings this AM:
01 51 deg
02 -2 deg
03 42 deg
05 Open (I disconnected the wire to the crisper frame)
42 02 (closed)
57 on (fan runs)
Direct read thermometer 58 deg

And very strangely, while I was removing the air tower cover, the evaporator fan started running. It has since stopped. I did cycle the power (after all of the above) so we’ll see if temps look different this afternoon. I still can’t get the crisper frame out….so we’ll see what the trick is on Monday, I guess.

I don’t really want to get my meter out and check pin voltages on the control board but if that will definitely isolate to the evaporator cover / fan /thermistor or the control board, I will ask the tech to do that.

 

[78Fridge]

Here's a similar thread:

FIXED - KRFC704FPS01 RC parts confirmation - RC not cooling

Hey all, Yet another KA fridge with the RC not cooling (and ice maker probs). I've read through many threads here, found the service manual and done the diag tests which point to a bad control board (GF2) that isn't activating the RC fan. I saw several threads that resolved via new thermistors...

www.applianceblog.com

That seems way too high, was the evaporator coil frosty when you did that test? Normal would be a thin layer of frost on all the coils from top to bottom.

Do you think the high reading on Test 03 indicates a bad thermistor or some other problem?

 

[Jake]

Weird thought…is it worth cycling the power? Does that ever “reset” the control board?

Yes, that's fine to do, that's a hard reset.

Thanks again…hitting “donate” today 😉

Thanks!

And very strangely, while I was removing the air tower cover, the evaporator fan started running. It has since stopped. I did cycle the power (after all of the above) so we’ll see if temps look different this afternoon. I still can’t get the crisper frame out….so we’ll see what the trick is on Monday, I guess.

That is odd, don't know what to make of that either.

I don’t really want to get my meter out and check pin voltages on the control board but if that will definitely isolate to the evaporator cover / fan /thermistor or the control board, I will ask the tech to do that.

That's fine.

Do you think the high reading on Test 03 indicates a bad thermistor or some other problem?

Service Test - 03 RC Evaporator Thermistor--->Read Refrigerator Evaporator Temperature. “SH” indicates “shorted” thermistor, “OP” indicates “open” thermistor.

You'd need a laser thermometer to compare it too, look here:

FIXED - KitchenAid KRFC704FSS01 Cold Freezer Warm Fridge Issue, But with Data

Hello There Appliance Blog, I have read through the stickies and searched the forum and made an attempt to isolate my issue the best I can. I need a little help to nail down the fault. I have a freezer working great with a warm fridge. Ice maker in the door is working great. The fridge has...

www.applianceblog.com

4. Service Test 03 RC Evaporator Thermistor = 75

Your model uses that exact same one, 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

 

[78Fridge]

Thanks Jake. So please confirm or correct me…is the thermistor associated with the Evaporator Cover Assembly the Evaporator Thermistor (i.e. Test 03)? Is the RC Thermistor supposed to read something close to the actual temperature in the RC?

I’ve collected 4 sets of readings since I removed the ice I was using to keep the RC cool. In 3 of 4 sets, the Test 03 reading is 10-13 deg higher than the Test 01 reading….seems backward, like the evaporator is heating the RC 🤷‍♂️

In every case, the thermometer temperature (old school alcohol thermometer) in the RC is 8-12 deg higher than the Test 01 reading.
In the same 3 of 4 readings, the Test 03 reading and the thermometer temperature were about equal.

To be clear, all the thermistors are providing a reading. None are open or shorted. I’m finding it difficult to understand how the evaporator is pretty consistently warmer than the RC if the thermistors are accurate.

Latest readings:
Test 01: 37 deg
Test 02: -5 deg
Test 03: 50 deg
Test 05: N/A….crisper frame wire disconnected
Thermometer reading: 48 deg

 

[78Fridge]

So I powered down the fridge for about 5 hours to see what I could learn about temperature relationships as the fridge tried to draw down. After 5 hours powered down with the RC doors open, Test 01 read 60 F; Test 03 read 89 F and the Thermometer read 67 F. I then powered up and checked temps 40 minutes later. Test 01 read 44 F; Test 03 78 F; Thermometer 48 F. The RC Evaporator fan ran for about 10 minutes during this period.

Checked again an hour later. Test 01: 44 F; Test 03: 77 F; Thermometer 52 F. I ran Test 57 and measured the temp of air coming out of the Air Tower. It was 35 F. I’m pretty convinced that the Evaporator Thermistor is wildly inaccurate. Please let me know if I’m missing something.

 

[Jake]

So please confirm or correct me…is the thermistor associated with the Evaporator Cover Assembly the Evaporator Thermistor (i.e. Test 03)? Is the RC Thermistor supposed to read something close to the actual temperature in the RC?

Its comes with the evaporator cover.

So I powered down the fridge for about 5 hours to see what I could learn about temperature relationships as the fridge tried to draw down. After 5 hours powered down with the RC doors open, Test 01 read 60 F; Test 03 read 89 F and the Thermometer read 67 F. I then powered up and checked temps 40 minutes later. Test 01 read 44 F; Test 03 78 F; Thermometer 48 F. The RC Evaporator fan ran for about 10 minutes during this period.

Checked again an hour later. Test 01: 44 F; Test 03: 77 F; Thermometer 52 F. I ran Test 57 and measured the temp of air coming out of the Air Tower. It was 35 F. I’m pretty convinced that the Evaporator Thermistor is wildly inaccurate. Please let me know if I’m missing something.

Like I mentioned, you need a thermometer to read realtime temperature along side that RC evaporator thermistor, like lasor thermometer, or a meter with a thermometer probe on it to see if that RC evaporator thermistor is reading wrong.

 

[78Fridge]

Thanks, Jake. I understand but I don‘t have one of those and I haven’t been able to remove the Evaporator Cover.

I am inferring, by the temperature of the air coming out of the air tower (about 30-35 F) that the evaporator can’t be as warm as 75-90 F. Similar to checking whether the A/C on a car is working by putting a thermometer in a vent. If I could get the crisper frame out, I would probably go buy an infrared thermometer 😉.

I appreciate all of the help you have provided.

 

[Jake]

Ok, then I'm not following what your saying.

Its best at this point to contact KitchenAid to come out and see what's going on.

 

[78Fridge]

Jake, thanks for the reply. Tech was here this AM. He agreed with my assessment and has ordered the Evaporator Cover Assembly.

So…since I do not have an infrared thermometer, I figured the best I could do would be to compare the reading on Test 03 with the temperature of the air blowing over the RC Evaporator to see if there was a big difference. I ran Test 03…RC Evaporator Thermistor several times and got readings between 77 F and 96 F.

Each time, I also ran Test 57 to activate the RC Evaporator Fan and used a digital thermometer to measure the temperature of the air blowing out of the RC Air Tower. Those readings were between 28 F and 35 F. So, while the RC Evaporator Thermistor reading per Test 03 was very high, the air blowing over the RC Evaporator was coming out of the Air Tower at an appropriate temperature and I could tell that the RC Evaporator was much colder than Test 03 was indicating.

I know it’s not as good as an exact measurement of the RC Evaporator Thermistor but it confirmed that the RC Evaporator was cold and certainly not running at 77-96 F. My conclusion is that the RC Evaporator Thermistor is not providing accurate readings or input to the control board.

I hope this is clearer.

Thanks again!

 

[Jake]

My conclusion is that the RC Evaporator Thermistor is not providing accurate readings or input to the control board.

I hope this is clearer.

Exactly, I agree 100% with that.

Yes, the new evaporator fan cover that comes with the new evaporator thermistor should fix it.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[78Fridge]

Thanks. I appreciate your patience with my questions and methods. I’ll post again when the fridge is fixed!

 

[Jake]

Ok, sounds good.

 

[78Fridge]

It’s fixed! Thanks again for your help. I can’t seem to figure out how to tag the thread “fixed.”

 

[Jake]

Excellent, glad to hear the new evaporator fan cover assembly fixed it.

Thanks for the update!

I marked it FIXED for you.