Whirlpool ET1FTKXK Top Freezer Refrigerator Logo
Posted on Aug 15, 2010
Answered by a Fixya Expert

Trustworthy Expert Solutions

At Fixya.com, our trusted experts are meticulously vetted and possess extensive experience in their respective fields. Backed by a community of knowledgeable professionals, our platform ensures that the solutions provided are thoroughly researched and validated.

View Our Top Experts

I have a whirlpool top freezer refrigerator model#ET1FTKXKQ11, The freezer is working, refrigerator is not, the fan in the freezer compartment is not coming on. I have unplugged the fridge, disconnected and reconnected all connectors, plugged the fridge back in, and tapped on the fan in the freezer compartment and the fan motor is still not coming on. The compressor and compressor fan motor are working.

1 Answer

Anonymous

Level 3:

An expert who has achieved level 3 by getting 1000 points

All-Star:

An expert that got 10 achievements.

MVP:

An expert that got 5 achievements.

Genius:

An expert who has answered 1,000 questions.

  • Master 1,622 Answers
  • Posted on Aug 15, 2010
Anonymous
Master
Level 3:

An expert who has achieved level 3 by getting 1000 points

All-Star:

An expert that got 10 achievements.

MVP:

An expert that got 5 achievements.

Genius:

An expert who has answered 1,000 questions.

Joined: Aug 08, 2010
Answers
1622
Questions
1
Helped
391617
Points
4742

Hello,

Sounds like you have a defrost problem since the freezer side is working okay . It probably is not blowing cold air into the refrigerator side , so to check the defrost circuit , unplug the refrigerator and inside the refrigerator section at the top about 2" in from each side in the back , there are "D" slots to put a finger in , and pull downward and forward , to remove the control panel cover . Once removed , there is a 1/4" screw on each side holding the adjustment indicator panel on , 1 phillips screw behind both light bulbs , and 1 screw holding the complete panel to the rear wall . After removing these 5 screws , at the top right corner , with about 6-8 wires going to it , is the adaptive defrost board . Sometimes you can see the electronic board and on newer refrig's , a white box will be seen. Inside this box , is the adaptive defrost control . Disconnect the plug going to the board and on the right side of the PLUG , the far right wire is yellow , then another color , then white . Useing a small insulated wire with both ends stripped , insert one end into the yellow wire hole and the other into the white wire hole . This will bypass the adaptive board and send power directly through the defrost bimetal ( thermostat ) AND heater to check if they are good .Plug the refrigerator back in . Now , wait about 3-5 min and look for a red glow at the bottom of the inside freezer panel , which will be the defrost heater or listen for sizzling which will be the frost melting and dripping onto the heater .If NO red glow , watch for a spark while removing the jumper wire you installed , from the plug . If a spark IS seen , then the heater was on and the heater AND bimetal are good . If you see the red glow , hear the sizzling , or see the spark , then the adaptive defrost board should be replaced . If no glow , sizzling or spark , then unplug the refrigerator and reinstall the refrigerator control section .
Remove the food in the freezer section enough so that the 2 screws holding the lower freezer panel on and the freezer panel , can be removed . Remove the panel . If the heater (black element at the bottom of the coils ) wires are visible , trace then to the top of the coils and disconnect . Use an ohm meter to determine if the element is good . If the element IS good , at the top of the coils , is a 1" cylinder with 2 wires , clipped onto the coils . This is the defrost thermostat ( bimetal ) . Replace this part if the element shows good . If the element shows bad , replace the element . NOTE 1 : sometimes the element and the bimetal come wired together and the replacement part comes with a new heater and bimetal already wired togather . This would be the advisable replacement part . However , each part can still be replaced individually . NOTE 2 : If looking at the bimetal and the top plastic " cap " looks cockeyed , replace the bimetal as moisture has gotten inside and disturbed its designed function .


Good luck in solving the problem.......

Add Your Answer

×

Uploading: 0%

my-video-file.mp4

Complete. Click "Add" to insert your video. Add

×

Loading...
Loading...

Related Questions:

0helpful
1answer

My refrigeraer has the freezer on top. the freezer is working fine but the bottom part does not get cold enough. i would like to know if it needs a part or if it ready to discard thank you. my email...

There should be a fan that blows air from the freezer compartment to the refrigerator side. Check to see if you can hear the fan or feel air coming from the vent. Also if the defrost is not working properly ice formation can block the air flow on some models. Also make sure the vent between the 2 compartments isn't blocked.
0helpful
1answer

I have cleaned the coils this morning, but the refrigerator section does not appear to cool. The freezer seems fine. This is model eti18PKXGWI ser no. 042 9086 eemingly c. 10 years old.

Your freezer fan has probably quit. On most refrigerators the freezer is the only compartment actually cooled by the compressor and coils. The refrigerator compartment is feed cold air from the freezer compartment by way of a small fan. If you have you refrigerator turned all the way up and the door open you should here the fan running and be able to feel air moving somewere in the refrigerator compartment.
0helpful
1answer

Whirlpool model gb22dkxgw00 bottom freezer working ok but refrigerator is warm i think the fan is not working but how do you get to it?

Good day,
You access the fan motor after removing the rear panel in the freezer compartment.
Changing the motor is pretty much a nuts and bolts job, but like all bottom freezer models it's somewhat akward to remove the shelves ect. to get to the panel.
Time and patience is your friend here.
0helpful
1answer

FREEZER IS FINE. FRIDGE STILL NOT COOLING

it sounds like your circulation fan is not working. it is located in the freezer compartment in front of the evaporator or very close to it. you should hear running either all the time except in the defrost cycle. on some models the fan will shut down when you open the freezer door and restart when you close it. if the fan is OK you have a problem in your defrost circuit. probably a bad heating element or a bad defrost cutout switch or bad connections in the freezer compartment. sometimes the defrost timer can go bad but not often. I have found in my experience that the problem is usually the other two components I mentioned or bad connections.
0helpful
1answer

Refrigerator and freezer are not cool enough. Cleaned coils,has enough space between walls.etc.

Most likely problem is the internal fan. The fan draws air across the cooling coils and blows it into the freezer and refrigerator compartments. If it malfunctions, there's nothing to move the cold air and both sides of the unit get warm.
1helpful
1answer

Line and air flow box between freezer and frig freezing up, we took apart, defrosted . air comes into frig, but still not cool enough. freezer works great This is a side by side model # ED25PWXAN01

If the fan is running in the freezer compartment, temperatiure is normal, and no frost is building up on the back panel in the freezer panel, then there is a good chance the return air shutes in the fresh food compartment are blocked with ice. The return ducting is just as important as the the supply shute which you melted out. Difficult if not impossible to see.
My recomendation is to empty, unplug and air dry the whole machine preferably with a fan blowing air into the fresh food compartment.
Haste makes waste with this machine. Using heat can cause the plastic shutes to melt and distort.
Should be defrosted in this manner for 24 hours.
Restart and give the machine 24 hours to recover. Common problem with Whirlpool products.
P.S. Check to see if lights go out when closing fridge door. In fact this should be your first step. Jack
0helpful
1answer

Whirlpool Compact Refrigerator w/ top freezer not cold enough in either compartment. Model: ETOWSRXMQO

clean the coil behind the fridge or under the fridge (where ever they are) and make sure both fans are running, the one in the freezer and the one underneath or you may need freon
1helpful
1answer

WATER DRIPS DOWN FROM INSIDE TOP REFRIGERATOR BELOW FREEZER

Not an original solution - but a good one. Remove panels at the back of the freezer compartment to expose the heater unit or heater wire that defrosts the freezer coils and wrap a solid copper wire gently around the heater/ heater wire and place the loose end in the drain. This will conduct heat to the freezer drain and help keep it open. I did see a manufactured part in one of the appliance parts websites but it did not match my unit.
1helpful
1answer
0helpful
2answers

Refrigerator

Sani, see if the evaporator fan is running. That would be the fan in the freezer compartment. It moves the cold air to the bottom. If that is ok, then you may have a defrost problem. Is the freezer panel in back all frosted over? If so, it's probabley a defrost issue. Check these things first and post back...Catriver.
Not finding what you are looking for?

255 views

Ask a Question

Usually answered in minutes!

Top Whirlpool Refrigerators Experts

Mike Cairns
Mike Cairns

Level 3 Expert

3054 Answers

ZJ Limited
ZJ Limited

Level 3 Expert

17989 Answers

Brad Brown

Level 3 Expert

19187 Answers

Are you a Whirlpool Refrigerator Expert? Answer questions, earn points and help others

Answer questions

Manuals & User Guides

Loading...