Samsung refrigerator model RFG237AAWP/XAA-01 not freezing

[Douglas2115]

The freezer in my Samsung refrigerator model RFG237AAWP/XAA-01 is not freezing and my ice maker is not working, but the refrigerator compartment is working fine. I have no error codes on the front panel of the refrigerator, and the red light on my Inverter PCB is a constant red with no flashing. Flashing would indicate a problem, but no flashing.

I have been troubleshooting and have replaced some of the parts as follows to no avail:

Cleaned the condenser coils of dust and dirt.

Removed the freezer compartment fan assembly panel. Found no ice formation on the evaporator and both evaporator fans work.

I put the refrigerator into a forced (manual) operation, but the freezer compartment did not get any colder.

I replaced both the temperature sensor and the defrost sensor in the freezer compartment.

I replaced the main PCB (circuit board) thinking that must be the problem but it wasn’t.

Any suggestion on what could be the problem or where to go next?

 

[Douglas2115]

In addition to my original post, I have also tried unplugging the refrigerator and doing the hard reset. When I first noticed the lack of freezer cooling it was cooling in the mid 30 degree range. I pulled the panel off in the back of the freezer to check for ice build up and check the fans for operation. There was just a light coat of frost on the evaporator and the fans worked so I reinstalled the panel, pulled the electrical plug and did the hard reset. Once I did that the freezer seemed to start cooling better and I monitored the temperature for about 4 days with the refrigerator cooling at about 38 degrees and the freezer cooling down to about the mid teens. I'm not sure if the ice maker was working at that point. After about 4 days the freezer just stopped cooling entirely and shows about the mid 60 degrees now. Ice maker not working and refrigerator cooling down to 36-38 degrees.

The refrigerator is about 11 years old.

 

[Jake]

Hi,

It seems you have a sealed system problem since the compressor is running but its not getting down to 0 degrees in the freezer.

The sealed system consists of the compressor, condenser, evaporator, heat exchanger, filter/drier and refrigerant.

Common problems with a sealed system are bad compressors, refrigerant leaks, and system restrictions.

Sealed system repair costs will often exceed the machines value.

 

[Douglas2115]

I was wondering if it might be something of that nature and have looked through for information on the Refrigerator model to see if it had some sort of 3-way refrigerant valve that fed the freezer/ice maker but doesn't seem to have anything like that. The compressor runs, cycles and keeps the refrigerator compartment cold at 36 degrees, but since the freezer is not cooling at all it seems that a restriction would be more likely? How do these sealed systems get such a restriction that would block the refrigerant flow, and is there a way to check or test the compressor to determine if it's the cause?

Thanks for your reply and help.

 

[Jake]

I don't see a 3 way valve on your model either. But the freezer should get to 0 degrees with a thin layer of frost on all the evaporator coils from top to bottom.

How do these sealed systems get such a restriction that would block the refrigerant flow, and is there a way to check or test the compressor to determine if it's the cause?

It can have a partially clogged filter drier or a floating restriction, seen both happen.

You need manifold gauges to take the low and high side pressure. Low side should be between 0 and 5 psi.

High side should be about 125 to 150 psi.

 

[sharonmenschik@]

I was wondering if it might be something of that nature and have looked through for information on the Refrigerator model to see if it had some sort of 3-way refrigerant valve that fed the freezer/ice maker but doesn't seem to have anything like that. The compressor runs, cycles and keeps the refrigerator compartment cold at 36 degrees, but since the freezer is not cooling at all it seems that a restriction would be more likely? How do these sealed systems get such a restriction that would block the refrigerant flow, and is there a way to check or test the compressor to determine if it's the cause?

Thanks for your reply and help.

Hello Doug
I am having the same issue top is 36 degrees freezer is not working. After testing the evaporator parts have come to the same conclusion as you did. Were you able to resolve your issues and if so would you mind sharing how you repaired it. Thank You Chuck

 

[Douglas2115]

Hi Chuck,

My refrigerator compartment was not getting down to 36 degrees but was getting down to around 40-44 degrees and the freezer compartment was not cooling at all. After replacing my freezer temperature sensor (because the ohm reading wasn't per the chart) and replacing the control panel (I thought that was the problem after watching a youtube diy video) and making sure that the freezer fan was working I was at a dead end. The advice that I received on this website was that I had a bad compressor or restriction in the sealed system. At that point, I called out an appliance repairman who looked at it for 5 minutes and said that I had a bad compressor $65 dollars please and advised me to buy a new refrigerator as the repair would cost $1500. I wasn't quite ready to toss in the towel, so I purchased a freon recharging kit and freon 134. I added refrigerant to the system and had the correct low pressure reading with frost coming back to almost the compressor. I couldn't check the high side pressure because my tap valve was too big for the small line. With that the freezer started cooling again and would cool down to around 36 degrees, definitely not getting cold enough. The refrigerator compartment was cooling to around 40 degrees. At that point I had invested a bunch of time and a couple hundred dollars in trying to get it fixed. I hated to do it, but I finally decided just to just replace it with a new refrigerator. I thought about replacing the compressor and dryer myself but wasn't 100% sure that was the problem and didn't want to spend more time and money for not. It almost seemed like there was a thermostat/temperature sensor not telling the freezer compartment to get colder, but I don't know as I couldn't find anything in the service manuals that I was looking at. Anyway, that's my frustrating story. I wish you better luck!! Maybe you can let me know how it turns out for you.

 

[sharonmenschik@]

Hey Doug
Thank you for the response! I was thinking of doing the same steps that you have but after reading about your adventure I believe that I will be money and time ahead, but as you also stated I hate to do it. Again thank you for the quick response.

 

[medoyle]

In addition to my original post, I have also tried unplugging the refrigerator and doing the hard reset. When I first noticed the lack of freezer cooling it was cooling in the mid 30 degree range. I pulled the panel off in the back of the freezer to check for ice build up and check the fans for operation. There was just a light coat of frost on the evaporator and the fans worked so I reinstalled the panel, pulled the electrical plug and did the hard reset. Once I did that the freezer seemed to start cooling better and I monitored the temperature for about 4 days with the refrigerator cooling at about 38 degrees and the freezer cooling down to about the mid teens. I'm not sure if the ice maker was working at that point. After about 4 days the freezer just stopped cooling entirely and shows about the mid 60 degrees now. Ice maker not working and refrigerator cooling down to 36-38 degrees.

The refrigerator is about 11 years old.

Thank you, Doug, but I tried resetting multiple times. My freezer does not cool at all. Fridge works fine.

 

[medoyle]

Hi Chuck,

My refrigerator compartment was not getting down to 36 degrees but was getting down to around 40-44 degrees and the freezer compartment was not cooling at all. After replacing my freezer temperature sensor (because the ohm reading wasn't per the chart) and replacing the control panel (I thought that was the problem after watching a youtube diy video) and making sure that the freezer fan was working I was at a dead end. The advice that I received on this website was that I had a bad compressor or restriction in the sealed system. At that point, I called out an appliance repairman who looked at it for 5 minutes and said that I had a bad compressor $65 dollars please and advised me to buy a new refrigerator as the repair would cost $1500. I wasn't quite ready to toss in the towel, so I purchased a freon recharging kit and freon 134. I added refrigerant to the system and had the correct low pressure reading with frost coming back to almost the compressor. I couldn't check the high side pressure because my tap valve was too big for the small line. With that the freezer started cooling again and would cool down to around 36 degrees, definitely not getting cold enough. The refrigerator compartment was cooling to around 40 degrees. At that point I had invested a bunch of time and a couple hundred dollars in trying to get it fixed. I hated to do it, but I finally decided just to just replace it with a new refrigerator. I thought about replacing the compressor and dryer myself but wasn't 100% sure that was the problem and didn't want to spend more time and money for not. It almost seemed like there was a thermostat/temperature sensor not telling the freezer compartment to get colder, but I don't know as I couldn't find anything in the service manuals that I was looking at. Anyway, that's my frustrating story. I wish you better luck!! Maybe you can let me know how it turns out for you.

Hi Jake,
Douglas's problem sounds similar to mine, with the fridge working good and the freezer not cooling at all. Our model is RF266AERS/XAA01. Since it has a "twin cooling system", does that mean there are two compressors? It looked to me like there was only one. I was trying to figure out what could cause the freezer to not cool, while the fridge section worked fine. Thanks for your advise.

 

[Jake]

Here's your parts diagram: Parts for Samsung RF266AERS/XAA-01: Cabinet Assy Parts

I only see 1 compressor, its #18.

 

[medoyle]

Jake, Thanks for your response. Sounds like the problem is something other than the compressor, since the refrig section is working, fine. Do you know which components could cause the freezer to be dead, while the fridge works fine? Thank you, very much.

 

[Jake]

Like I mentioned in post #5 above: I don't see a 3 way valve on your model either. It can have a partially clogged filter drier or a floating restriction, seen both happen.

We don't really get into sealed system repair here, there's a lot to it. Compressor/sealed system work is not a repair a normal consumer can do. Doing compressor/sealed system work is very unique craft that you need to be trained in with lots of hands on experience.

Doing sealed system work requires you to have a turbo torch, acetylene for the torch, knowledge of how to use and weld with a turbo torch, also having a vacuum pump, and the proper amount of R-134a to use, changing the Filter Drier as well, solder, flux, silfloss, sandpaper, etc.

You need to be a certified Type 1 40 CFR part 82, subpart F. AHAM-NARDA Refrigerant Tech. to change Compressors or do any sealed system work involving Freon(Refrigerant Gas). I got certified on 11-17-1994 when i worked for Montgomery Ward Service Dept.

You'd have to have a licensed refrigeration tech come out and do it for you.

 

[medoyle]

Jake, Do you know if the control board could cause my problem? Thx

 

[Jake]

I doubt it since the compressor is running but its not getting down to 0 degrees in the freezer.

Take a photo of your freezer evaporator coil, I need to see the frost pattern on it.