WRV986FDEM01 Can one of the evaporator coils be manually isolated ?

[captobvious]

Model Number

WRV986FDEM01

Brand

Whirlpool

Age

1-5 years

I am having exactly the same issue as the below link.

FIXED - WRV986FDEM01 Freezer Not Cold Enough

We've had our WRV986FDEM01 French Door Fridge since April 2016. In the past month, we noticed our ice cream was super soft while the freezer remained cold. It was set to -3. We've since moved it to all temps from 0 through -5 F for at least 24 hours with no change. Two digital thermometers that...

www.applianceblog.com

I understand that it is likely an issue with the sealed system.
I have an appt scheduled but due to the holidays it is over a week away.

My question..
This model has the 2 evaporators. Is there a way to manually isolate to direct the coolant to just the fridge evap?

My issues.
No ice making
Noticed freezer items starting to thaw.
Temp reading in freezer is around 41-42.
Temp reading in fridge is around 44.
Ran all diagnostics, everything checks ok.
Baseball size ice block on top right of freezer evap coils. The rest of the coils do not get cold.
Fridge coils appear to work fine with even frosting.

I am guessing my fridge is not cooling, because the control board is mostly sending the coolant to the freezer evap.
is there a way to rig it so that the coolant is only sent to the fridge?
I would think, by doing this, it would rule out compressor or other areas of the sealed system, and allow me to get the fridge down to the proper temp.
This would allow me to fully utilize the fridge until the service tech comes (more than a week out)

 

[Jake]

Like I mentioned in that thread:

FIXED - WRV986FDEM01 Freezer Not Cold Enough

We've had our WRV986FDEM01 French Door Fridge since April 2016. In the past month, we noticed our ice cream was super soft while the freezer remained cold. It was set to -3. We've since moved it to all temps from 0 through -5 F for at least 24 hours with no change. Two digital thermometers that...

www.applianceblog.com

I'm glad you found you have the sealed system warranty on your model.

I can't answer any of those questions, as I've never done anything like that before on any dual evaporator models.

This how it works:
If the refrigerator compartment is calling for cooling the control determines if the refrigerator evaporator coil temperature has been above a predetermined temperature (approximately 35°F) for 15 minutes. This is to assure the evaporator coil is
defrosted.
- If the evaporator coil is below the predetermined temperature the refrigerator fan turns on to circulate air over the evaporator coil to defrost it. The fan will operate until the evaporator coil is above the predetermined temperature for 15 minutes.
- If the evaporator coil is above the predetermined temperature but for less than 15 minutes the refrigerator fan turns on to circulate air over the evaporator coil to defrost it. This continues until the 15 minute time is met.
• When the evaporator coil is above the predetermined temperature for 15 minutes or more the 3 way valve moves to the closed position. At the same time the compressor, condenser fan, refrigerator evaporator fan turn on.
• With the 3 way valve still in the closed position the compressor evacuates the refrigerant from the low side of the system and pumps it into the high side of the refrigerant system.
• After a predetermined time (approximately 2 minutes) the 3 way valve changes position allowing refrigerant to flow from the high side, through a capillary tube, and into the refrigerator evaporator coil allowing cooling of the refrigerator compartment.
The refrigerator evaporator fan also turns on and circulates air across the evaporator coil. Heat is removed from the air and recirculated back to the compartment.
• When the refrigerator temperature cools below the control setting it will either:
- Turn the compressor, condenser fan, and evaporator fan off and switch the 3 way valve to the open position.
- Or, if the temperature in the freezer compartment is above the control setting or is within a predetermined amount from the cut in temperature the 3 way valve changes position allowing refrigerant to flow from the high side, through a capillary
tube, and into the freezer evaporator coil allowing the cooling of the freezer compartment. The freezer evaporator fan also turns on and circulates air across the evaporator coil. Heat is removed from the air and recirculated back to the
compartment.

It could be a 3-way problem, a control board problem or refrigerant sealed system restriction problem, but its best to let the Whirlpool tech. come out to investigate it first.

Let us know what they find.