Side by side inside wall is very hot to the touch refrige frigidaire that is 3 years old. when you open the door the center column is hot!

check that the compressor is working by feeling for motor vibrations at the compressor, hot compressor unit or hot fins or back wall of the fridge
if there is not heat then the compressor is not working
call a technician as it could be a start/run capacitor failed or compressor seized
get a quote as some compressor replacements cost as much as a new fridge
check that the utility power is getting to the fridge/freezer

Condenser coils dissipating heat.

IIRC your refrigerator has an electronic control in the front face of the freezer door. Both sides have 3 buttons in a vertical column. On the left side (standing facing the closed door) the center button is labeled "freeze". Each time you push it the number of horizontal green bars changes. The bars increase in count to the top/maximum, then start over at the bottom with a single bar. This is your freezer setting indicator (the fridge works the same way). The more bars the colder the setting is. Note that if you set the freezer bars too high (IE set the freezer too cold) then the "waterway" heater will come on and stay on to prevent the waterway inside the door itself from freezing up. This heater is wired such that when it comes on so does the "home-bar" (which touches both of the doors when closed) heater, which will also stay on.

when you open the freezer door do you hear the fan blowing,could have a bad evap fan motor,also remove the second bin from the bottom and touch the back wall,if there's snow or frost there you have a defrost problem,could have a bad adaptive defrost board in the fridge section or a bad heater,defrost thermostat,take off the back wall inside the freezer,melt out all the ice with hair dryer,check the heater with a meter and t-stat,you should change out the thermostat anyway,you can cut the wires close to the t-stat,connect the wires so you bypass the t-stat,if the heater doesn't come on change out the adaptive defrost board,i think you click the lite switches 5 times to make it go into defrost,if it doesn't it's probably the board,look at the tech sheet behind the bottom kick plate,hope this helps

check that the fan in the freezer is running,it circulates the cold air,if it isclose freezer door,open refrig. door lookto the upper left you will see where the cold air enters the refrig compartment and should fill air coming thruough vent this is a motorized unit and they sometimes fail,also check the return air hole located at bottomof refrig.sometimes get blocked by plastic bags etc

freezer is working overtime . these symptoms generally indicate excessive outside air coming into freezer. make sure doorgasket is completely sealed all the way around door.

Normal operation to reduce outside condensation.
Could get up to 120 degrees.

there are a few places to look for most frigidaire side by sides the model and serial number are on a tag either on the right hand inside wall of the refrig section or on the ceiling in the refrig section. on some older models though the tag may be behind the crisper drawers at the bottom. hope that helps. peyton

Hi wjjlaw,
ngafm at your service,

Is the hot side th open side or against the wall or cabinet side?

Have you touched this side before in he two years you have this appliance? Or is it that you just noticed it?

And if you can keep your hand on that spot for a long time it is not so hot only warm? If it is not burning your had it is probably just the characteristic of that fridge!
Check if the freezer part is full to the top and packed full.
Freezers can not be so full that you cover the cold air vents usually found in th rear of the freezer.


My advice is only a trained tech can remedy this problem, this time!
If I were there I'm sure I could nail it down!

You need hands on service!
Bless You ,
ngafm,
Please give me a good rating before you sign off.
Thank you.

The refrig side does not have a fan. only the freezer. Is that fan working??? you will hear it when the unit is running (and not in defrost) The clicking you hear is the Damper (a motorized door allowing more or less air to the refrig) opening or closing. Is there frost buildup on the back wall of the freezer??