GE Freezer OK but refrigerator not cooling

It is actually quite common that the GE freezer continues to operate properly while the fridge portion stops cooling enough to keep the food cold. However, there are a number of reasons that can be the root cause so you’ll want to check them all.

Evaporator Fan Motor Dead

One common cause of the warm and cold freezer is the failure of the evaporator fan motor. The fan draws air over the evaporator coils and circulates them through the freezer and refrigerator. If the fan fails then the freezer might seem cold enough but the refrigerator is warm. To check it, see if you can hear the fan moving at any time. If not then there might be an issue.

Damper Control Assembly

It is also possible that the damper control might be stuck closed or broken. The air damper control is essentially a small door that opens and closes to let more or less cold air into the refrigerator compartment. A good amount of cold air needs to flow into the refrigerator as the door is open. It is possible that the evaporator door is frosted closed and now allowing enough air. Try cleaning it out and ensuring that air is getting into the refrigerator.

Temperature Control Board

If the refrigerator is warm but the freezer is cold then it could be an issue with the temperature control board. This temperature control board determines when the fan motors and compressor power on and off. If those components are not working then the temperature control board might need to be replaced.

Main Control Board

GE refrigerators are notorious for main control boards going bad. You can tell just by the number of them that are sold (and reviewed) on amazon. Granted, if the main control board is bad then generally neither the freezer or the refrigerator are cooling but this is always something that should be checked if none of the other items are bad.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
8 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
kenneth ehrcke

i have a PDF22MCRAWW refrig that the refrig section is too warm (60 degrees) the freezer is fine. i have replaced the temp sensor, evaperator fan motor already. i dont want to spend good money after bad, so where do i go from here?

Marvin Guzman

Were you able to fix this issue. I’m having the same problem with my refrigerator. Freezer working perfectly and refrig is about 55 deg.

Thanks,

kenneth ehrcke

by the way, it usually takes about 2 weeks in b-tween part replacement for it to act up again

Chris

Thanks for the info!

KFK

check the thermistor. Mine has gone bad twice.

Robert

My freezer is 12 degrees and the refrigerator is 58 degrees. The evaporator fan is not working at all and there is a light blinking on the control board for Z1. I’m not sure what the blinking light means. GE won’t tell me, they want to send a repairman to service it. Any idea what that light means?

GE Model: GSE25GSHJCSS
Control Board Part # WR55X31697

Willie Ferrell

I’ve had this same issue with the lower part of my French doors fridge freezing and top not cooling properly. The problem is that your evaporator fan is not working properly (cooling too much by constant spinning 24hrs.) GE is aware if this manufacturing defect and will replace it free if you contact GE and make a service appointment.

Last edited 3 years ago by Willie Ferrell
Rob

What number do you call and does that repair cost much or better off getting a new refrigerator