Help - fridge not working in fridge/freezer

[JanM]

Hi,

I have a hotpoint fffl 2000 fridge freezer.

Yesterday we noticed food was not getting cold in the fridge compartment.

There's not much ice in the freezer compartment so I don't think its a heater issue.

The circulating fan works as its still blowing in the freezer but the air is not
getting to the top fridge through the ducting.

Took most of the internal covers off. Thawed any ice that was present away to make sure there was no blockages in the ducts and they are all ok too.

Reassembled and same result.

No alarms are sounding even though the fridge compartment is too warm.

Any idea what controls the amount of air that gets directed into the fridge compartment on this model?

Temperature sensor issue? cant tell where this is in the fridge.

The air tech columb in the back of the fridge was removed to check for blockages. There is a wire with a molex connector going into this but don't know what it controls and most of it is sealed.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

thanks.

below is an image of the fridge compartment

 

[JanM]

I manually defrosted it all.

The top fridge compartment was all ice free. Took the Air Tech columb out and it was all clear too. Its too warm in the fridge to have any ice anyway I guess.

Then went into the freezer, removed all the drawers, unscrewed and took out the back panel with the fan assembly. The fan was free of ice. There was a small bit of buildup on the metal freezer coils but took care of that with the hair dryer. All the ducts were clear of ice.

Reassembled and still the same.

The fan is working as I can feel it pushing air out the duct holes in the freezer. However I can't feel any flow coming out of the fridge ducting at all.

 

[JanM]

I opened it up and defrosted it with a hair dryer.

I'll try and defrost it for 24 hours then.

cheers for the suggestions so far.

 

[JanM]

ok yeah will try that

 

[JanM]

Jpaul The fridge was the same the moment I switched it on after the first time defrosting. Not a gradual degradation. The bottom of the fridge is 15 degrees constant and the top of the fridge is room temp.

I will look at the thermistor if things do not improve after this other defrosting cycle.
Am I right in thinking its located in the little box with the slits in at the side of the second shelf from bottom?

Now that you point that out tnx i'm thinking this is quite likely as no high temp alarms are sounding so the fridge thinks its at the correct temperature.

Also just wondering if modern appliances still have a Damper door? Just wondering of that is the cause? if its stuck. However when I disassembled most of it I could not see one.

 

[JanM]

You say



Is that the year it was made ?

I have no idea if that was when the model was first introduced but we've had it since new about 4 years.

Yeah will try the thermister if the defrosting does not work.

I was going to order a new fridge freezer but want to try a few things rather then shell out £600 for the sake of a few hours. Thats new graphics card money !!!

 

[JanM]

Hi guys,

So still the same after defrosting. No Ice at all after the defrost.

Anyway did some more digging.

Found a service manual for a similar fridge freezer that has diagnostic check details.

The unit is checking ok via the diagnostics. No error codes when in diagnostic mode.

I found that the baffle door is located at the bottom of the Air tech evolution column. Its fairly easy to unscrew this columb and remove it or partially take it out fully. Just one molex connected wire that opens and closes the electronic baffle door when needed.

In diagnostic mode the baffle opens in the first minute of the check and this is working normally.

However the duct that directs cold air up to this the door is not venting. I can't feel any airflow coming up from this duct. I should be able to feel flow as the fan in the freezer compartment should be forcing air into this duct.

So

Either the duct is blocked (Its short just going from fridge to freezer compartment). Stuck my fingers down it and cant feel any blockage but need to poke a stiff wire through it to make sure.

Or

The fan on the freezer coils is not working.
In the freezer some air is pushing out of the vents so the fan seems to be working ok unless the flow I feel is some sort of convection current. It seems to be a strong-ish flow.

This fan is close to the duct that goes up to the fridge.

I can't figure out why air is not getting up to the fridge.

I am going to have to defrost again, dismantle and start poking wires in the vents and ducts.

 

[JanM]

Defrosted again.

Removed the back panel in the freezer compartment.

Heater working fine.
Sensors checked with multimeter and they are all within normal parimeters.

Went further and removed some foam covering the cooling coils.
Discovered a further vent/duct behind there. This was jammed full of ice.
The drain channel there was blocked so melted ice water could not drain and it just kept
building up inside the duct. As it was foam insulated the 24hour deforst did not work on it.

Melted it away with the hair dryer and cleaned out the draining system with a straw.

I'm hoping thats cured it.

Can't find anything else wrong with it.

Will update tomorrow.