My refrigerator is a double door and top portion is not cooling yet it reads 38 degrees. Why is it not cooling?

Get a thermometer for both fridge and freezer to ensure temps are correct. Freezer should be around 0F and fridge around 37-38. If temps are correct but display is reading that much differently, control is most likely bad.

probably a thermostat for the freezer
have a fridge technician check it out

Did you check the door gasket see if it is gunked up or air is leaking on that side? Have you felt around the door see if cold air escape? If air is escape means you will get icing or frost.

One thing you can do is make sure condenser coils have plenty of area around them (nothing lying against refrigerator) to prevent air flow. If possible vacuum and clean condenser coils and make sure freezer door is completely closed.

Get/buy an external thermometer for both the refer and freezer to double check your settings. Refer around 38 to 40 F and freezer usually around 0F

Hello,

By keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold, it unnecessarily wastes electricity. The recommended temperature is 37 to 40 degrees for the fresh food compartment of the refrigerator. The recommended temperature for the freezer compartment is 5 degrees. If you have a separate freezer for long-term food storage, it should kept at 0 to -5 degrees.

The following steps below is how to set the temperature of your refrigerator.

The first thing you must know is that your refrigerator should be set at 37-38 degrees. Anything at 40 or higher and you are risking food born illness (food poisoning) or spoiling your food.

Step 2
Place your magnetic thermometer in the refrigerator.

Step 3
Set your dial on your refrigerator to the second lowest setting. (If your refrigerator is already equipped with a digital thermostat, simply set it for 37 or 38 degrees and do not move on to the next step)

Step 4
After 2 hours, check your thermometer reading. If your reading is 38 degrees, there is no need to go higher and you are ready to put your groceries in. Be sure not to open and close your refrigerator during these two hours or your temperature reading will be incorrect.

If your reading is higher than 38 degrees, move your dial up to the next coldest setting and repeat the steps every two hours until you reach the correct temperature for your refrigerator.

Step 5
Once you have reached the correct refrigeration temperature for your refrigerator, place the magnetic thermometer in the refrigerator permanently and watch for changes.

Typically, your refrigerator temperature will need to be adjusted with the seasons, a higher setting in the summer and a lower setting in the winter.

Hope this helpout and take care.

Hi,
There are a few reasons why the refrigerator part will not cool...here are a couple of tips that will help you to figure out why the refrigerantor is not cooling...

Refrigerator not Cooling or Fridge not Cooling
http://www.fixya.com/support/r3662945-refrigerator_not_cooling_or_fridge_not

How to Defrost Refrigerator Defrost Timer Problem
http://www.fixya.com/support/r3771673-defrost_refrigerator_defrost_timer

heatman101

turn your unit up to 40 degrees, by the time the upper portion hits 38 degrees the bottom is close to 6 degrees colder than the upper, by physics cold air is heavier and falls, plus w/o a fan down there it will freeze quicker,just like a cold night outside with no wind to speak of,try this once,also you may want to shuffle the food around the refrig box and try different levels, iI know that the veggies belong in the lower crisper drawer usually though

Check to see if there is any ice built up on the back wall of the freezer. If so thaw the ice and take the back wall out of the freezer. next check to see if the fan is running in the freezer (evaporator fan) This fan is what circulates the air from the freezer to the fridge. If it does run then you have a defrost problem (if ice is on the coils and back wall). Then replace defrost timer, heater, and thermostat.

Keep a thermometer handy. (adjust temperature control knob accordingly)
Periodically monitor temperatures inside your cooler. (adjust as necessary)
Keep the refrigerator door closed as much as possible to avoid temperature fluctuations

The temperature of the refrigerator compartment is
controlled by adjusting/setting the thermostat control
knob, located on the ceiling of the refrigerator
cabinet.
To start the refrigerator, and achieve maximum
cooling quickly;
• Turn the temperature control knob (using a coin
or screwdriver) clockwise to the furthest
(maximum) setting on the darker blue section of
the graduated control dial.
• Allow the refrigerator to run at this setting for 3~4
hours.
• When maximum cooling is achieved, turn back
the temperature control knob setting to the 2:00
o'clock position on the graduated blue control
dial.
• Correct cooling temperature is a key factor to
consider in storing and dispensing draught beer.
• Optimum temperature for serving draught beer is
between 34ºF ~ 38ºF.(1ºC ~ 3ºC)
• To maintain temperatures ranging between
34ºF ~ 38ºF.(1ºC ~ 3ºC) We recommend the
thermostat knob be positioned at the "2:00
o'clock" setting on the graduated blue control dial.
• To turn off the refrigerator, (no cooling) rotate the
control knob to the "0" position.