4 Easy Steps to Replace Freezer Fan Motor on Whirlpool Refrigerator

4 Easy Steps to Replace Freezer Fan Motor on Whirlpool Refrigerator

Encountering a malfunctioning freezer fan motor in your Whirlpool fridge is usually a daunting expertise, significantly in periods of excessive temperatures. Nonetheless, tackling this restore job may be extra manageable than you would possibly suppose, even for these with restricted DIY expertise. This complete information will give you clear and concise directions on easy methods to effectively substitute the freezer fan motor in your Whirlpool fridge, guaranteeing your meals stays contemporary and your equipment operates seamlessly.

Earlier than embarking on this restore, it’s essential to make sure your security by unplugging the fridge from its energy supply. Collect the mandatory instruments, together with a screwdriver, a nut driver, and probably a pair of pliers. Moreover, it is strongly recommended to don security gloves to guard your palms through the course of. After getting ready your workspace and gathered the mandatory supplies, you possibly can proceed with the restore with confidence.

To start the restore, find the freezer fan motor meeting, which is usually located on the rear of the freezer compartment. As soon as recognized, disconnect {the electrical} connectors hooked up to the motor. Use the screwdriver or nut driver to take away the mounting screws or bolts securing the motor in place. Fastidiously detach the motor from the meeting and examine the wiring for any seen harm. If any harm is detected, it’s advisable to interchange the wiring harness as nicely. Lastly, set up the brand new freezer fan motor by reversing the disassembly steps, guaranteeing a safe match. Reconnect {the electrical} connectors and restore energy to the fridge. Your Whirlpool fridge ought to now be working with a completely purposeful freezer fan motor, successfully preserving the freshness of your frozen items.

Figuring out the Malfunctioning Motor

The freezer fan motor is liable for circulating chilly air all through the freezer compartment, guaranteeing that meals stays frozen. When the motor fails, the freezer will not be capable of keep a chilly temperature, and meals might start to thaw. There are a number of indicators that will point out a malfunctioning freezer fan motor:

Signal Trigger
Frost or ice buildup on the freezer coils A malfunctioning fan motor may cause a buildup of frost or ice on the freezer coils, which may limit airflow and scale back cooling effectivity.
Heat air within the freezer compartment A defective fan motor might not flow into chilly air correctly, leading to heat air within the freezer compartment, which may trigger meals to thaw.
Uncommon noises from the freezer A malfunctioning fan motor might produce uncommon noises, reminiscent of grinding, squealing, or buzzing, which may point out that the motor is failing or has failed.
Lowered cooling capability If the fan motor shouldn’t be functioning correctly, the freezer might not be capable of keep a chilly temperature, leading to lowered cooling capability and the potential for meals spoilage.

To verify the malfunctioning motor, you possibly can unplug the fridge, take away the rear panel of the freezer compartment, and find the fan motor. Examine the motor for any bodily harm or unfastened connections. You can too strive manually rotating the fan blades to see in the event that they transfer freely. If the fan blades are caught or tough to rotate, it’s probably that the motor has failed and must be changed.

Gathering Important Instruments and Supplies

Changing a freezer fan motor on a Whirlpool fridge requires the next instruments and supplies:

Important Instruments

  • Phillips screwdriver
  • Flathead screwdriver
  • Nut driver or wrench (dimension varies relying on the mannequin)
  • Wire strippers and crimpers
  • Electrical tape

Important Supplies

Materials Amount
New freezer fan motor 1
Substitute capacitor (if required) 1
Lead-free solder (if required) 1

Further Supplies

  • Security glasses
  • Work gloves
  • Store towel or rag
  • Crescent wrench or adjustable wrench (for eradicating the evaporator fan motor)

Word: It’s extremely beneficial to seek advice from the particular mannequin’s service handbook for correct half numbers and detailed directions on easy methods to substitute the freezer fan motor.

Disconnecting the Energy Supply

Security ought to at all times be your utmost precedence when engaged on {an electrical} equipment. Earlier than starting any repairs, it is crucial to disconnect the facility provide to the fridge to forestall any potential hazards. This is a step-by-step information on easy methods to safely disconnect the facility:

1. Find the Energy Twine: Establish the facility wire that’s plugged into {an electrical} outlet on the fridge.

2. Unplug the Energy Twine: Firmly grasp the plug of the facility wire and pull it straight out of {the electrical} outlet. Don’t yank or pull on the wire itself.

3. Confirm Disconnection: Be sure that the facility wire is totally disconnected by wiggling the plug. If it strikes freely, the fridge is efficiently disconnected from the facility supply.

4. Safe the Twine: To forestall the facility wire from by accident getting plugged again in, safe it away from {the electrical} outlet. You should use a zipper tie or tape to maintain it firmly in place.

Security Suggestions
– At all times unplug the fridge earlier than performing any repairs.
– By no means work on an equipment that’s nonetheless linked to the facility supply.
– If you’re uncertain about any step, seek the advice of a professional technician.

Eradicating the Freezer Entry Panel

**Step 1: Unplug the Fridge**

Earlier than you start engaged on the fridge, it’s important to unplug it from the facility supply to forestall electrical shock.

**Step 2: Find Freezer Entry Panel**

Establish the freezer entry panel, which is usually a small, rectangular panel situated on the again or backside of the freezer compartment. It could be held in place by screws or clips.

**Step 3: Take away Panel Screws**

Utilizing a screwdriver, rigorously take away the screws or launch the clips that safe the freezer entry panel. Remember to hold observe of the screws or clips so you possibly can reinstall them later.

**Step 4: Take away Entry Panel**

Gently pull on the freezer entry panel to detach it from the fridge. It could be barely cosy, so use a delicate, prying movement to keep away from damaging the panel or the fridge.

Software Use
Screwdriver Take away panel screws
Prying software (non-obligatory) Gently pry entry panel free

Finding and Isolating the Fan Motor

1. Unplug the fridge: Earlier than beginning any work, unplug the fridge to keep away from electrical shock.

2. Find the freezer compartment: Open the freezer door and determine the freezer compartment. The fan motor is usually situated behind the freezer, behind the evaporator coils.

3. Take away the entry panel: Search for an entry panel on the again of the freezer. This panel is normally held in place by screws or clips. Take away the panel to show the fan motor.

4. Disconnect the wiring: Find the wiring linked to the fan motor. Fastidiously disconnect the wires, making be aware of which wire goes the place for reassembly.

5. Take away the fan motor: The fan motor is usually mounted in place with screws or clips. Fastidiously take away the screws or clips and carry out the fan motor.

Word: In some Whirlpool fridge fashions, the fan motor is situated behind the evaporator coils. To entry the fan motor, you’ll need to take away the evaporator coils. This course of may be extra complicated and should require the help of a professional restore technician.

Detaching the Electrical Connections

After getting situated the freezer fan motor, it’s time to detach {the electrical} connections. It is a essential step that requires cautious dealing with to forestall any harm to the motor or the fridge itself.

Here’s a step-by-step information to detaching {the electrical} connections:

1. Establish {the electrical} connectors: Find {the electrical} connectors which are hooked up to the freezer fan motor. These connectors usually have plastic housings and may be simply recognized by their wires.
2. Put on protecting gear: It’s endorsed to put on security glasses and gloves to guard your self from any electrical hazards.
3. Unplug the refrigeration: Earlier than touching {the electrical} connections, you’ll want to unplug the fridge from the facility outlet.
4. Pull the connectors aside: Gently pull {the electrical} connectors aside from one another. Don’t pull on the wires, as this might harm them.
5. Examine the connectors: Take a second to examine {the electrical} connectors for any harm or corrosion. If there may be any seen harm, you must substitute the connectors earlier than continuing.
6. Disconnect the wires: Fastidiously disconnect the wires from {the electrical} connectors. Word the place of every wire so to simply reconnect them later.

Wire Colour Location on Motor
Black Terminal 1 (Widespread)
White Terminal 2 (Run)
Crimson Terminal 3 (Begin)

7. Safe the wires: Use electrical tape or zip ties to safe the disconnected wires to forestall them from shorting out. It will hold them organized and out of the best way through the set up of the brand new motor.

Putting in the New Fan Motor

**Step 7: Reassemble the Freezer Compartment**

Now that the brand new fan motor is put in, you must reassemble the freezer compartment. Comply with these steps rigorously to keep away from any harm to the elements:

  1. Place the freezer liner again into the freezer compartment, ensuring it’s correctly aligned.
  2. Reinstall the freezer door by inserting the underside hinges into the slots on the backside of the freezer after which lifting the door as much as interact the highest hinges.
  3. Substitute the freezer door gasket by urgent it firmly into place across the perimeter of the door.
  4. Tighten any screws or bolts that have been loosened throughout disassembly.
  5. Plug the fridge again into the facility outlet.
  6. Set the temperature controls to the specified settings.
  7. Monitor the freezer temperature over the subsequent few hours to make sure that the brand new fan motor is functioning correctly.

Reconnecting Electrical Wiring

1. Find {the electrical} wiring harness that connects the freezer fan motor to the fridge’s electrical system.

2. Unplug the wiring harness from the motor.

3. Pull the outdated motor out of its mounting bracket.

4. Insert the brand new motor into the mounting bracket and safe it with the bolts.

5. Plug the wiring harness into the motor.

6. Make it possible for the wires are securely linked and that there are not any unfastened connections.

7. Reconnect {the electrical} energy to the fridge.

8. Check the brand new freezer fan motor by opening the freezer door and listening for the sound of the fan operating. If the fan shouldn’t be operating, test {the electrical} connections once more and be sure that the motor is correctly seated within the mounting bracket.

Instruments and Supplies for Reconnecting Electrical Wiring
Screwdriver
Electrical tape
Wire nuts
Pliers

Reinstalling the Freezer Entry Panel

As soon as the freezer fan motor has been changed, it is time to reinstall the freezer entry panel. This course of is comparatively easy and may be accomplished in a couple of minutes.

1. Align the tabs on the freezer entry panel with the slots on the freezer cupboard.

2. Push the freezer entry panel into place till it snaps into place.

3. Safe the freezer entry panel with the screws that have been eliminated earlier.

4. Plug the fridge again into the facility outlet.

5. Flip the fridge on and permit it to run for a couple of minutes.

6. Test to be sure that the freezer fan is operating correctly.

Troubleshooting

If the freezer fan shouldn’t be operating correctly, there are some things that you may test.

Potential Trigger Resolution
The freezer fan motor shouldn’t be linked correctly. Make it possible for the freezer fan motor is correctly linked to the facility supply.
The freezer fan motor is flawed. Substitute the freezer fan motor.
The freezer management board is flawed. Substitute the freezer management board.

Restoring Energy and Verifying Operate

After getting changed the freezer fan motor, it is very important restore energy and confirm that the brand new motor is functioning correctly.

To revive energy, merely plug the fridge again into the outlet.

To confirm operate, open the freezer door and test in case you can really feel chilly air blowing from the vents. You can too place a thermometer within the freezer and test the temperature. The temperature ought to be under 0 levels Fahrenheit.

Further Suggestions

  1. If you’re undecided easy methods to substitute the freezer fan motor, seek the advice of a professional equipment restore technician.
  2. Remember to unplug the fridge earlier than performing any repairs.
  3. Substitute the freezer fan motor with a mannequin that’s appropriate along with your fridge.
  4. If the brand new freezer fan motor doesn’t work, test the facility provide and the wiring connections.
  5. Commonly clear the freezer coils and vents to forestall the freezer fan motor from overheating.
Symptom Potential Trigger Resolution
Freezer shouldn’t be chilly sufficient Freezer fan motor shouldn’t be working Substitute the freezer fan motor
Freezer is making a loud noise Freezer fan motor is worn out Substitute the freezer fan motor
Freezer is frosting over Freezer fan motor shouldn’t be circulating air correctly Substitute the freezer fan motor

How To Substitute Freezer Fan Motor On Whirlpool Fridge

A freezer fan motor is liable for circulating chilly air all through the freezer compartment of a fridge. If the freezer fan motor fails, the freezer will be unable to take care of a chilly sufficient temperature, and meals will spoil. Changing a freezer fan motor is a comparatively easy restore that may be accomplished in about half-hour.

To interchange the freezer fan motor on a Whirlpool fridge, you’ll need the next instruments:

  • Phillips head screwdriver
  • Flat head screwdriver
  • New freezer fan motor

After getting gathered your instruments, observe these steps:

  1. Unplug the fridge from the facility outlet.
  2. Take away the meals from the freezer compartment.
  3. Find the freezer fan motor. It’s normally situated behind the freezer compartment, behind the evaporator coils.
  4. Take away the screws that maintain the freezer fan motor in place.
  5. Disconnect {the electrical} wires from the freezer fan motor.
  6. Take away the outdated freezer fan motor.
  7. Set up the brand new freezer fan motor.
  8. Join {the electrical} wires to the brand new freezer fan motor.
  9. Safe the brand new freezer fan motor in place with the screws.
  10. Substitute the meals within the freezer compartment.
  11. Plug the fridge again into the facility outlet.

Individuals Additionally Ask About How To Substitute Freezer Fan Motor On Whirlpool Fridge

How do I know if my freezer fan motor is bad?

There are a couple of indicators that will point out that your freezer fan motor is dangerous. These embrace:

  • The freezer shouldn’t be chilly sufficient.
  • Meals within the freezer is spoiling.
  • The freezer fan is making a noise.

How much does it cost to replace a freezer fan motor?

The price of changing a freezer fan motor will range relying on the make and mannequin of your fridge. Nonetheless, you possibly can count on to pay between $50 and $150 for the half and labor.

Can I replace the freezer fan motor myself?

Sure, you possibly can substitute the freezer fan motor your self. Nonetheless, it is very important be aware that it is a probably harmful restore, and you must solely try it if you’re comfy working with electrical energy.