I have Maytag plus side by side fridge. The freezer part stopped working, everything is defrosted and water was all over. I can hear the air blowing but it's not cold. What can I check before I call repairman. Can't afford new fridge. Thank you Michaela

If you hear a click every few minutes and a buzz / click then nothing, it would sound as if your compressor is gone, the water problem is the defrost drain pipe is blocked

Is the freezer itself getting cold.To blow cold air.the freezer should get cold/friezed.the cold air blows from freezer to fridge side.first the freezer side gets cold, then when the freezer side gets enough cool to its set cooling temperature, at that time the defrost cycle starts.In defrost cycle the fan in the freezer starts running and the cool air from freezer starts going to fridge side.There is a ventilation passage between fridge and freezer from where this cool air passes.---------------- If in your case, the freezer is getting proper cold, but its not blowing cold air from freezer to fridge, then possibility is that, there is a blockage in ventilations.But if ventilation its clear, then its defrost problem.First try manual defrost reset procedure. The procedure is as follows: ---- First unplug the unit from main power outlet. Then empty whole unit completely. Then keep both the doors open. Wait for 24 hours. All the ice collected on the coils and in the freezer section will get melted. Clean the water from the sections. Then Connect the power cord of the unit to main power outlet after 24 hours/.Then set the temperature to normal in both fridge and freezer section. It will take near to 4 hours to get run in its proper cooling cycle. Then check, if the problem returns again. Then its defrost board problem. ------------------------- BUT if in your case, the freezer section itself is not getting cold, then the problem is compressor related.The compressor is the part which cools the freezer frost.In the compressor, there is a refrigerant to cool the freezer.If the compressor gets weak or the refrigerant gets low, then it will not cool the freezer, if the freezer is not cool then it will blow warm air from freezer to fridge, in defrost cycle.In that case, the compressor is faulty and its the cause of problem.------------ So you will have to first check , that is your freezer getting cold or not.as per that you can start the troubleshooting.------------------

You can get required parts from from online sites like: --- www.repairclinic.com or from searspartsdirect online site. --------- This should help.Thanks.Helpmech.

Hello,

Insufficient cooling is a fridge repair job that you can do without the help of a professional. Often the fridge has a frost-free failure, or the compressor is faulty but there are many other reasons for a fridge not cooling properly.
Step 1 - Find the Problem

Your first job is to locate the source of the problem. Consider each of the following:

* Gaskets - Make sure the gaskets/seals are not torn and are sealing properly.
* Evaporator fan - Make sure it is working. If it is now working you may have a problem with the fan motor. Check for power to the motor and also examine the fan switches around the door (not all fridges have these switches).
* Air damper - Sometimes the air damper will not open up to allow the cold air from the freezer part to blow into the fridge section.
* Condenser coils - Check to see that the condenser coils don't have a dust build-up and that the condenser motor is working.
* Compressor - Make sure your compressor is working with on and off clicking noises.

Step 2 - Frost-Free Failure

This is the most common cooling problem in fridges. Expose the evaporator coils by accessing the panel in the freezer section. The coils in the freezer section can sometimes get clogged up with frost. This can stop the evaporator fan motor from blowing cold air around, or cause the fan to hit it and stop, or become noisy. The defrost timer can be a bit tricky to find but it is usually located behind the back bottom corners of the fridge, although they can sometimes be found in the ceiling of the fresh food section, or behind the cold control cover.
Step 3 - Find the Timer

When you find the timer, turn the wheel-like screw slowly with a screwdriver until the fridge shuts off. The refrigerator is now defrosting. If you find that the fridge starts now, you will need to replace the defrost thermostat and the defrost timer.
Step 4 - Volt Test

If the heaters do not come on, use a volt meter to ohm test the defrost heater or volt test for 120 volts to the heater. You can bypass the defrost thermostat if you haven't got power to the defrost heater to check if the defrost heater will come on. To bypass the thermostat, join the two wires together. Replace the defrost thermostat and the defrost timer if the heater comes on now.

If there is a ticking or squealing noise in the defrost timer, or it seems hot to touch, replace it.

Many fridges have and inline fuse on both sides of the defrost heater. You will need to replace the whole heater if one of those fuses blows. Check these fuses with a volt meter if the defrost heater doesn't work.

A quick check if you have a cooling problem is to inspect the evaporator coils. If there is a build up of white snow on the coils, this indicates a frost free problem; if there is balled ice on part of the coils with the rest bare, this indicates a system problem, like a problem with the pumping compressor.
Take care in solving the problem....

Either, the defrost timmer has had it, or the freezer defrost element has failed, the element is the most common cause of this type of problem. You have ice build-up in the freezer cores because it cant defrost, all frostfree units rely on cold air from the freezer to blow into the fridge, if the freezer cores become blocked, air can not pass to the fridge side. I bet you, if you left the unit off for 2 days to defrost totally,,,,with the doors open...then plugged it back in, it would work like new for 2 weeks.
Timmer or defrost element needs to be replaced...do not fall for the trick that the fridge mech. has to take it away, you tell him that this is the problem and you will save yourself ALOT of cash.

Dont forget to vote for the solution...regards Russ

The defrost drain hole in the freezer side is frozen closed.
Turn off the fridge.Remove the bottom bin and look on the back wall of the freezer for the drain pan. It will have a block of ice in it. Use a hair dryer to defrost the pan AND the drain hole inside the pan,until you can pour a cup of water through the drain hole.

Hello there:
first make sure that the back of the unit is clear of any dirt or obstructions
also make sure that the food is not stacked up so high that the air cannot circulate also you may want to check the temperature setting if the unit does not respond to a lower setting your refrigerant level may be low or than you will have to have the temperature controle thermistor serviced or replaced

hi there,

check the blower fan inside evaporator,there is fuse on the back side of your refrigerator for cooling fan,check on this using multi tester if busted replace fuse.

if the freezer is cold and the fridge is not then it can be several things. The freezer could have a bunrt out defrost heater, defrost timer faulty, fan not working in the freezer??. all of these things will stop your fridge getting cold, but your freezer will still be around minus 9 deg c. you wont get any air into the fridge as the coil in the freezer is prob all iced over. Dont worry about the heat on the door frame as it is only the anti sweat heater

Check the vents of your fridge side if present, if no air then may be your blower not working or some ice formation that blocks the air(try defrosting). Check also your vents for obstruction or overloaded with stocks.

fridge has timer to adjust for defrosting, but the not working working you to manual defrost the unit to avoid ice formation inside the fridge.