Whirlpool WX988SIBM01 not cooling - has never been cold enough

[nlitend1]

Model Number

WX988SIBM01

Brand

Whirlpool

Age

1-5 years

Hello, I have a 2015 Whirlpool refrigerator that has never been cold enough. The Fridge does not go below ~43 degrees and freezer does not get colder than ~15 degrees despite setting them at the lowest settings: 33F and -5F. What's crazy is that it seems like it is warmer in the summer months when the room temperature is 75+ in the house and slightly colder in the winter when the indoor temperature is less than 70 degrees in the house. I don't feel any leaks around the doors and there is no ice build up in the freezer.
I am wondering if anyone could help me troubleshoot this issue or knows of a great technician in the area of Cerritos, CA (90703) that may be able to help out. This is almost a $3000 unit and it's been such a disappointment. We've had technicians out multiple times under warranty (see below) and no one seems to be able to help us.

Thank you for any advice you can provide,

Ken

A "little" history:
1. When first purchased the refrigerator doors were leaking in the center where the plastic flap folds over. The door with the ice maker and the plastic flap were both fixed under warranty after about a month and that the leak was fixed. We still noticed both zones were warmer, but they told us to give it some time to stabilize.
2. We still had the issue months later and so whirlpool sent another technician out to fix it. They replaced a control module. Still not fixed.
3. We then noticed we were not getting ice in the ice maker and another technician came out and replaced a fan on the back of the freezer (I believe it blows air up to the ice maker?) and that fixed that problem.
4. We also had an issue with ice build up in the freezer and it was discovered that there was a leak on the freezer door. That was fixed.
5. We still had the overall cooling issue and the last time we were able to have a repairman come out under warranty, I believe they recharged the system... (not exactly sure that's what they were doing, but i remember them using a tank of fluid and using a torch on some cooper lines).

 

[rickgburton]

...under warranty, I believe they recharged the system...

How long ago was that? I'm 99% positive this is where the problem is. Not knowing what exactly what was done to the sealed system makes it so I can't point you towards anything specific. It sounds like maybe there was a refrigerant leak. Depending on the size of the leak they may have just added refrigerant to bring the pressures up to normal and it's leaked out again. Maybe they repaired the leak and it's still leaking. If they had the system open too long there may be moisture in the system causing a restriction. Any time the sealed system is open there's a risk of another sealed system problem down the road. The only way to diagnose the problem with the sealed system is by connecting a set of refrigerant gauges to the system. However there is a way to tell if the problem is in the sealed system. Set the controls to the factory settings, 5 and 5 or 0*F and 37*F. The refrigerator must be plugged in and running for a minimum 24 hours. Do not unplug the machine and remove the evaporator cover. Check the frost pattern on the evaporator coils. You want to see a very, very light coat of white frost on all the coils top to bottom, no ice or snow. A partial frost pattern indicates a problem in the sealed system.

 

[nlitend1]

Thanks for the reply!
The last repair was about 14-18 months ago. Does that time frame affect the diagnosis?

Unfortunately, they did not leave any papwork so im not sure exactly what was done either. Now that you mention it thogh, i dont think they repaired any holes, but simply added more refrigerant.

I have set the fridge to the factory recommendd settings of 37F and 0F. Once 24hrs is gone by, i remove the back panel in the freezer and look at the evaporator coils there right?

One more thing.... i think i was told this is a dual system. Perhaps dual evaporator? Does that affect anything?

Thanks again,
Ken

 

[rickgburton]

The machine uses a 3 way valve to control the refrigerant flow to the evaporators. The freezer evaporator always has priority over the fresh food evaporator. Don't leave the evaporator covers off or you won't get a good frost pattern. Also, a blocked condensor coil from dust and dirt build-up will cause poor cooling.

For the service tech to add refrigerant to the system he needed to install a service valve. There's two types of service valves. There's the type you braze on the line or process tube. These are the best type but they're more expensive and take longer to install.


The other type is the bullet valve that clamps around the line with 3 screws. These are far more common because they're cheap and install fast. The problem with these valves is they're suppose to be removed and the pierced line brazed over but most techs leave them on and they leak after about a year from the compressor vibration.

 

[nlitend1]

Thanks for the info. I have not removed any covers yet. Are you suggesting i look on the back of the fridge to see which type of service valve they installed?

I believe a techician looked at/possibly replaced that valve during one of the first few visits. It was looked at in conjunction with the control board.

Thanks again,
Ken

 

[rickgburton]

Most all refrigerators don't come with an access valve installed, hence the term "sealed system". So you're saying the refrigerator may have had refrigerant added twice? You can't really replace the service valve because it's a line piercing valve, kind of a one shot deal. The old one can be removed and the hole welded over and then a new one installed. If there's a bullet access valve on your machine and it's been on there for a year, there's a good chance there's a leak there.

 

[nlitend1]

My apologies. I replied in a confusing order. It’s the three way valve that I was referring to them looking at/replacing.

 

[rickgburton]

If they replaced the 3-way valve and then had to come back to add refrigerant it's probably because the repair for the 3-way valve was leaking. How much time between the 3-way valve replacement and when they came back and added refrigerant? Is it about the same amount of time from the last time they added refrigerant to now?

 

[nlitend1]

That's a good point. However, I only remember them bringing the refill tanks once and that was months after they were looking at the 3 way valve, so they must not have replaced the valve. (i.e. they must have only opened the system once) so maybe it was a control module or something else related to the valve.

 

[rickgburton]

OK, got it.

 

[nlitend1]

See below for attached picutures. It looks like it's the 'better' type of service valve? Anything other thoughts based on the photos? I did notice the area of corrosion/dried liquid to the right (in the pictures) of the compressor.

Thanks again,
Ken



I have no idea why all of those pictures are upside down in the post. Let me post a link to them...

https://photos.app.goo.gl/yyfwjDeQNgijW8sd9

 

[rickgburton]

You want to see a very, very light coat of white frost on all the coils top to bottom, ..... A partial frost pattern indicates a problem in the sealed system.

Take a look at the pictures I posted in post #2. That looks like a refrigerant leak for sure.

 

[nlitend1]

Thanks. I agree it does look similar. Some of the pictures you posted mention the possibility of a system restriction or a compressor issue. Are those possibilities in this case? Can I call a repairman and say I have a refrigerant leak? Is fixing this very straightforward for a repairman? Would you estimate it would be under $500 to fix? Am I right in saying they installed the 'better' type of valve that shouldn't leak?

Thank you,
Ken

P. S. Is there another set of coils in the fridge section? I did not see an access door for them.

 

[rickgburton]

A refrigerant leak is one possibility. A system restriction or an inefficient compressor is also a possibility. A refrigerant leak is the most probable cause when you take into consideration the system has been open before and a service valve was installed. None of your pictures showed a service valve so I can't say if it's the better type or not. If you take a picture of it and post it here I'll be happy to take a look at it. I think your machine has a small leak somewhere and when the tech saw it had low pressure he just added refrigerant to bring the pressures back to normal knowing it would leak out again. That's a common practice with service techs. Some R134a refrigerant that comes in the small cans for automotive applications have a stop leak additive. Fine for automotive not so fine for refrigerators. I don't use it. I think it causes more problems. So you now have the original leak and the possibility of another leak at the service valve. Not knowing what was done to the refrigerator makes all this my best guess only. Sealed system diagnosis is something you learn along the way. You need to read gauges to know the high and low side pressures and you need to feel the refrigerant lines at the compressor and at the condensor for the heat given off after the refrigerant is compressed. You also need to listen to the sounds as the refrigerant is being added to the system and boiling off in the evaporator. I've been working on sealed systems for more than 30 years and there's no way I could diagnose a sealed system over the internet. The best I can do is tell you there is a problem with the sealed system and that would be 100% accurate. It's kind of like looking at a picture of your car with a flat tire. I can tell you the tire is flat but that's about it. When you call the repairman, tell him you think it has a leak.

Sealed system repair costs vary from area to area. It also depends on the way a company charges for repairs. Some use a flat rate price and some use an hourly rate. The leak itself can play a role in the cost, is it easy to find, is it in the evaporator, is it even repairable.? I would think the cost would be $500 or less. To remove a service valve and braze the hole, vacuum and recharge the system, I would charge you half of that. If you lived in NYC it might be twice that.

 

[nlitend1]

Thank you. That's very helpful.

I just want to confirm you were able to see all 17 pictures shown here in the link and none of them show a service valve. I thought I found 2 valves. The one farther from the compressor looked like it may be the service valve. Please confirm.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/yyfwjDeQNgijW8sd9

What's interesting is that this refrigerator must have had a leak from the factory because this problem has been there since day one. I hope that doesn't mean the compressor itself was bad from the factory.

 

[rickgburton]

Those are the good valves and the filter/drier was changed, excellent. Sorry I didn't see the pics in the link just the ones in the post.