I have a whirlpool side by side refrigerator for last 4 years. Its working fine but the it suddenly starting making loud noise from behind. I opened it and cleaned it, it seems like to me the noise is coming from the fan not the compressor. The fan doesn't seem to be hitting anything. Please advise what could be wrong in this case.

Hi

The sound from your refrigerator can be caused due to various reasons,please check this link bellow to troubleshoot your problem:-

http://www.repairclinic.com/Refrigerator-Troubleshooting?red=Refrigerator-Repair-Help#itsnoisy

Please get back to us if you have further query else please accept the suggestion.

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It is either your condensor fan motor(most likely)or your compressor. Good luck!

Yes ,, if the fridge outlet is behind the fridge and therefore not accessible for use by counter top appliances .. then yes change it to a regular outlet.
The cause is probably the compressor, getting a bit noisy..electrical noise I mean.

Good day,
Open the freezer door, and see if you can hear the fan motor, that is located behind the rear panel.
If it's the source of the noise, then you will have to remove the rear panel to access the fan motor.
If not, go to the back bottom of the machine, remove the back cover and see if the cooling fan motor that cools the condenser and compressor s working properly.
If it's alright, then it will probably be a problem with the compressor itself.
STOP !! The compressor has one year left on it's warranty.
Call your selling dealer for warranty service. This is an expensive repair and altering the machine can void the factory warranty.

Thank you for using FixYa

If the noise was coming from the compressor when it was cutting off or starting, it was the internal mounts of the compressor and the compressor will have to be replaced. If the noise was a fan, it may have stopped. One is in the freezer behind the rear cover and one is underneath where the compressor is behind the cardboard cover.

check and see if compressor is running it is in the rear behind the cardboard cover if it is super hot then you need to get a tech out to look at it and it may still be under warranty

The problem is a buildup of ice on the plastic housing (the curved plastic bit) in the back of the freezer under the fixed shelf where the icetub goes. The fan behind this plastic housing is hitting the ice when the defrost comes on.

Unplug the fridge, unpack the freezer, remove the four screws in the back, take off the sheetmetal backing and let the fridge thaw. You can remove the plastic piece after a while and get the ice off (be careful not to remove the styrofoam insulation by going too quickly).

Reassemble and you're back in business, for a few months. I'm never buying Samsung again myself.

Sounds like the freezer fan is rubbing some wires or possible some foam insulation around the fan. I would look into the freezer compartment fan and go from there. The fan Will Shut off when you open the doors. Let me know how you make out and if you need anymore help.

Thanks,
Bill

Had the identical symptoms with my Whirlpool Gold GS6SHEXNB00 side-by-side refrigerator. Had a technician come on site, indicated it was the "circuit board/ timer" (Whirlpool part # 1394052). Board is accessible from behind fridge (lower left side in a white plastic housing to left of compressor).

Swapped the board out (noticed a scorched circuit on the old circuit board). Lightbulbs now work, temperature readouts also good to go.

Does the sound occur when the compressor is starting or shutting down? and only lasts for a couple of seconds? I had one do the exact same thing. Sometimes it would also wake me up at night. If so, I'm afraid he is right. On the bright side, it worked fine for years. I gave it to a girlfriend when I purchased a bigger one and it is still working today. The only thing you can do is change the compressor, which is probably not $$ practical.