FIXED RF323TEDBSR Samsung Refrigerator Not Cooling Enough

[scbunker]

Model Number

RF323TEDBSR

Brand

Samsung

Age

6-10 years

Hello. I have a RF323TEDBSR. It was purchased in 2013.

I keep a temperature sensor in the fridge that monitors and logs temperature. I know that it's reading is correct; I've checked it against other thermometers and sensors.

I keep the temp setting at 35 and the fridge maintained this temperature well until a couple of months ago, when the average temperature jumped up to 42. The problem is that the fridge's temperature sensor is reading the wrong temperature. The fridge says it's reading 34 degrees, but my sensor inside says the fridge is 43. (Again, I have checked, and I know my sensor is correct.)

Through various efforts through a service company and my own troubleshooting, I have tried replacing the evaporator cover (which comes with a new temperature sensor and evaporator fan) and replacing the main control board. The service company also checked refrigerant pressure. I also read on a forum that one person had success removing the temperature sensor from its housing within the evaporator cover and moving it out into the main fridge compartment. I did that and it hasn't helped.

I have reviewed the steps at this link. I have read that some fridges have thermostat calibration settings, but I can't find that my model has this.

What else can I try to fix this problem?

 

[Jake]

Ok, did you look at the frost pattern of the refrigerator evaporator coil? You should have a thin layer of frost on it from Top to Bottom or it won't cool the refrigerator section properly.

Look at the very bottom photo below, where it says NORMAL FROST PATTERN.

Jake

 

[scbunker]

Jake, thanks for your reply. Yes, I did see the frost on the coils when I dug out the temperature sensor and it did look like the bottom photo. I'm glad you shared that because I wondered whether there should be any frost on there at all.

 

[Jake]

Ok, then its a mystery to me as well why its doing that.

You will probably need to have a Samsung tech. come out and see what's going on.

Jake

 

[scbunker]

Can I run two thoughts by you?

1. The control board I put on it was used from eBay. It was $80 vs $150 new. When I installed it, the interior lights wouldn't turn on, so I knew at least that was bad on it. But I only left it in for a day and didn't see any changes to the temperature reading, so I dismissed the control board as the issue. I returned the board citing the inoperable interior lights.
   However, the more I'm thinking about this, I assume the temperature sensor is just connected directly to the control board, with nothing in between. So if the temperature reading is wrong, it has to be either the sensor or the board. The sensor was replaced. Do you think I should just buy a brand new control board?
2. When I pulled the temperature sensor out into the box, I left it so that it hung some. So it was probably 2" from the top and 3" from the back. That's as far as the leads would go. This morning, I decided to tape the senor itself directly to the top of the fridge, thinking it'd be warmer up there. And the fridge temp readout did move up to 35° (up from 34°). Could I cut and splice the sensor to give it longer leads and route it up to the front of the box at the top? That's about the warmest part of the fridge, right?

Thanks.

 

[Jake]

I assume the temperature sensor is just connected directly to the control board, with nothing in between. So if the temperature reading is wrong, it has to be either the sensor or the board. The sensor was replaced. Do you think I should just buy a brand new control board?

That is correct.

Here's the main control board for your model:
Samsung DA94-02680A Assy PCB

When I pulled the temperature sensor out into the box, I left it so that it hung some. So it was probably 2" from the top and 3" from the back. That's as far as the leads would go. This morning, I decided to tape the senor itself directly to the top of the fridge, thinking it'd be warmer up there. And the fridge temp readout did move up to 35° (up from 34°). Could I cut and splice the sensor to give it longer leads and route it up to the front of the box at the top? That's about the warmest part of the fridge, right?

You said you replaced the entire assembly, it comes with the sensor already placed where it should be.

Samsung DA97-12608A Assy Cover Evap-REF;AW4 (AP5620515) - AppliancePartsPros.com

ASSY COVER EVAP-REF;AW4 DA97-12608A / AP5620515 made by Samsung

click.linksynergy.com

Jake

 

[anthony185]

Can I run two thoughts by you?

1. The control board I put on it was used from eBay. It was $80 vs $150 new. When I installed it, the interior lights wouldn't turn on, so I knew at least that was bad on it. But I only left it in for a day and didn't see any changes to the temperature reading, so I dismissed the control board as the issue. I returned the board citing the inoperable interior lights.
   However, the more I'm thinking about this, I assume the temperature sensor is just connected directly to the control board, with nothing in between. So if the temperature reading is wrong, it has to be either the sensor or the board. The sensor was replaced. Do you think I should just buy a brand new control board?
2. When I pulled the temperature sensor out into the box, I left it so that it hung some. So it was probably 2" from the top and 3" from the back. That's as far as the leads would go. This morning, I decided to tape the senor itself directly to the top of the fridge, thinking it'd be warmer up there. And the fridge temp readout did move up to 35° (up from 34°). Could I cut and splice the sensor to give it longer leads and route it up to the front of the box at the top? That's about the warmest part of the fridge, right?

Thanks.

Hi,
Did you ever repair this? I just fought for months on a very similar problem with my similar Samsung fridge (I had temp set to 34 via door controls, my actual temp as read by digital thermometer was like 42 - 46)
LInk:

FIXED - Samsung RF28HMEDBSR Main Refrigerator Compartment Rarely Gets Below 40 deg F

I have been battling this for months, hoping for some ideas-- Symptoms: Fridge temp set to 34 deg, temp display on door reads 34 deg, actual internal temp of main compartment (as read by 2 digital thermometers in various locations) typically between 40 and 48 deg even after doors have not been...

www.applianceblog.com

Turns out--even though they don't call it "calibrating" the sensor, there is a way to electronically adjust that. Maybe Samsung doesn't publicize it, cause it's too easy--but it can be done.

Here is your service manual. https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1228750/Samsung-Rf32fmqdbsr-Aa.html?page=81#manual

Go to page 81--just to see how to enter your Options Setting Menu, and how to adjust parameters, then
Page 83--shows you which #'s to use to compensate your main food compartment temp either up or down. You'll want to go down obviously.

Assuming your Fridge is operating OK otherwise, this will fix you up.

After dicking around for months replacing the main sensor, defrost sensor, and fan--this fixed me up in like 10 minutes.

 

[scbunker]

Thanks for your reply. I did fix it. I decided to try a control board again. I purchased it used again, from from a seemingly more reputable source. As soon as I installed the new board, the fridge temp reading matched my sensor and I haven't had a problem since.

 

[Jake]

Thanks for your reply. I did fix it. I decided to try a control board again. I purchased it used again, from from a seemingly more reputable source. As soon as I installed the new board, the fridge temp reading matched my sensor and I haven't had a problem since.

Excellent, glad to hear that.

Thanks for the update!

Jake