Do you have to replace the board upon replacement of the compressor fan?

Condenser Coils are Dirty
If the refrigerator is not cold enough the condenser coils may be dirty. The condenser is like a radiator and must stay clean in order to dissipate the heat which was removed from the inside of the refrigerator. As the coils get dirtier the refrigerator becomes less efficient, which makes it work harder to cool down. If the coils are dirty enough, the unit will never be cold enough and will not be able to cool the inside of the refrigerator to the proper temperature.
Evaporator Fan Motor
If the refrigerator is not cold enough, the evaporator fan motor might have failed. Every refrigerator has a set of coils called an evaporator. The refrigerator may have one or more evaporator fan motor(s) depending on the model and evaporator locations. The evaporator fan motor circulates the cold air from the coils thru the compartment. If there is only one evaporator it is in the freezer side. If the fan is not working, no cold air will get to the refrigerator compartment. The freezer may still get cold.
Condenser Fan Motor
If the refrigerator is not cold enough there might be something caught in the condenser fan motor blade, or the condenser fan motor might be defective. The condenser fan motor draws air over the condenser coils to cool them. The condenser fan motor is located underneath the refrigerator near the back. Pull the refrigerator out from the wall and remove the access panel to access it.
Start Relay
If the refrigerator is not cold enough, the start relay may be defective. The start relay is a small device mounted to the side of the compressor. It provides power to the run winding along with the start winding for a split second at start-up to help get the compressor started. If the start relay is defective the compressor may run intermittently or not at all and the refrigerator will not get cold enough. The start relay should be replaced if defective.
Temperature Control Thermostat
If the refrigerator does not get cold enough the temperature control thermostat might be defective. The thermostat allows power to flow through to the compressor, evaporator fan and condenser fan. If the cooling system fans and compressor are running, but the refrigerator or freezer is not cooling correctly check for an airflow or defrost system problem.
Start Capacitor
If the refrigerator isn't cold enough the compressor might be having difficulty starting. The start capacitor serves as a battery to give the compressor a little boost during start-up. If the start capacitor is burned out the compressor might not be able to start and run as often as it should. Test the start capacitor first with a capacitance meter, they don't fail often. If it's defective, replace it.
Thermistor
If the refrigerator is not cold enough the thermistor might be defective. The thermistor is a sensor which monitors the air temperature. It is connected to the control board. If the thermistor is defective the refrigerator does not cool or may cool continuously.
Temperature Control Board
If the refrigerator is not cold enough the temperature control board might be defective. The temperature control board provides the voltage to the fan motors and compressor. These boards are often misdiagnosed. Check all other components to be certain this is the cause of the problem.
Compressor
If the refrigerator is not cold enough, the compressor might be defective. The compressor is a motor which compresses the refrigerant and circulates the refrigerant through the evaporator and condenser coils. There are several other components which are more likely to be defective if the compressor doesn't work. If the compressor itself is defective a licensed professional will need to replace it.
Main Control Board
If the refrigerator is not cold enough the main control board might be defective. This is not common. Check the defrost system, cooling fans, and cooling controls first.

Condenser Coils are Dirty
If the refrigerator is not cold enough the condenser coils may be dirty. The condenser is like a radiator and must stay clean in order to dissipate the heat which was removed from the inside of the refrigerator. As the coils get dirtier the refrigerator becomes less efficient, which makes it work harder to cool down. If the coils are dirty enough, the unit will never be cold enough and will not be able to cool the inside of the refrigerator to the proper temperature.
Evaporator Fan Motor
If the refrigerator is not cold enough, the evaporator fan motor might have failed. Every refrigerator has a set of coils called an evaporator. The refrigerator may have one or more evaporator fan motor(s) depending on the model and evaporator locations. The evaporator fan motor circulates the cold air from the coils thru the compartment. If there is only one evaporator it is in the freezer side. If the fan is not working, no cold air will get to the refrigerator compartment. The freezer may still get cold.
Condenser Fan Motor
If the refrigerator is not cold enough there might be something caught in the condenser fan motor blade, or the condenser fan motor might be defective. The condenser fan motor draws air over the condenser coils to cool them. The condenser fan motor is located underneath the refrigerator near the back. Pull the refrigerator out from the wall and remove the access panel to access it.
Start Relay
If the refrigerator is not cold enough, the start relay may be defective. The start relay is a small device mounted to the side of the compressor. It provides power to the run winding along with the start winding for a split second at start-up to help get the compressor started. If the start relay is defective the compressor may run intermittently or not at all and the refrigerator will not get cold enough. The start relay should be replaced if defective.
Temperature Control Thermostat
If the refrigerator does not get cold enough the temperature control thermostat might be defective. The thermostat allows power to flow through to the compressor, evaporator fan and condenser fan. If the cooling system fans and compressor are running, but the refrigerator or freezer is not cooling correctly check for an airflow or defrost system problem.
Start Capacitor
If the refrigerator isn't cold enough the compressor might be having difficulty starting. The start capacitor serves as a battery to give the compressor a little boost during start-up. If the start capacitor is burned out the compressor might not be able to start and run as often as it should. Test the start capacitor first with a capacitance meter, they don't fail often. If it's defective, replace it.
Thermistor
If the refrigerator is not cold enough the thermistor might be defective. The thermistor is a sensor which monitors the air temperature. It is connected to the control board. If the thermistor is defective the refrigerator does not cool or may cool continuously.
Temperature Control Board
If the refrigerator is not cold enough the temperature control board might be defective. The temperature control board provides the voltage to the fan motors and compressor. These boards are often misdiagnosed. Check all other components to be certain this is the cause of the problem.
Compressor
If the refrigerator is not cold enough, the compressor might be defective. The compressor is a motor which compresses the refrigerant and circulates the refrigerant through the evaporator and condenser coils. There are several other components which are more likely to be defective if the compressor doesn't work. If the compressor itself is defective a licensed professional will need to replace it.
Main Control Board
If the refrigerator is not cold enough the main control board might be defective. This is not common. Check the defrost system, cooling fans, and cooling controls first.

If the compressor isn't running, the refrigerator or freezer won't cool - period. Hopefully, by now, you've had a repair technician come and troubleshoot the problem.

First off that "condenser fan motor" needs to be replaced. It is not running near the speed it needs to. (I replace those all the time on the job) Here is the replacement to order.Also, based on the information you provided, it sounds like the main control board is sticking in defrost and you will need to replace the main control board on the unit. GE has an updated control board that address's this problem along with some other issues the original control board had.Here is the updated board to order.
All the parts come with a 365 day, any part, any reason return.



Keep me posted!

Good day,
If the freezer is working then there is no issue with the compressor. The cooling is all performed in the freezer with a small amount of freezer air bleed into the fresh food compartment to cool it. All machines are designed this way.

First, check to see if you can hear the fan motor running in the freezer compartment by opening the freezer door while it is running and listening. If you can't hear it, remove the rear panel inspect and replace as needed.
If the fan is O.K. then look on the bottom half of the rear panel in the freezer compartment for a frost buildup. If so, your defrost system has failed.
You will need to remove the back panel and defrost the coils.

The defrost system is made up of 3 components. The main defrost heater, mounted to the bottom of the cooling coil, the defrost thermostat (a small round disk about 1" in diameter) clipped to the top of that same coil and lastly, a defrost control mounted in the roof of the fresh food compartment and can be a timer, electronic defrost control, or a electronic module.
The main heater rarely fails, the last 2 are usually the culprits,
and should be replaced as a pair.

Your problem must be one of the 2 I've listed, unless for some reason the light switch failed in the fresh food section, and the lights stay on all the time.

Below is a good tutorial on defrost systems. Best I can do without a model number and style.

http://www.appliance411.com/faq/howdefrostworks.shtml

Hi. Due to the fact that the fans are not operational, this will confirm that the Main PCB has failed. This is the main power control board. It must be replaced, asap. The general location of this affected board will be just behind an access panel, near the compressor unit, or on the backside, mounted in the middle section of the unit.

Once the Main PCB board is replaced, the unit will return to its normal operating status.

That could be a broad range of possibilities. The defrost timer, adaptive defrost board,compressor start relay, compressor start capacitor or a mother board. Would you happen to have the model number so I can narrow down those possibilities? If you pull away from wall remove cover over the compressor and then unplug. Touch the compressor and let me know if cool, warm or too hot to touch. Thanks, Sea Breeze

So your refrigerator section is cooling fine ? When the compressor motor is running and you open your freezer, is the fan running ? You might need a simple fan replacement - The most costly repairs to a refrigerator is usually the compressor - as long as your compressor is running and you have cooling, the other most common problems are control board faults, evap fans, defrost timers, all of which can be fixed.

Is your freezer iced up when this happened - turning the refrigerator off and unplugging it, try removing the back panel of your freezer and locate the fan - look for anything obstructing the blades - maybe ice or other......otherwise you may need this serviced.

Is it worth it ? It depends - how much did you nitially pay for this ? How long have you had it ? How much are estimated costs for the repair - if the problem is one thing needing replaced and doesn't cost you a lot of money, yes it is worth it.

you need to replace the fan motor as it blows the cold air to the reefer section and that's why its not cooling the freezers cool both side in all units here's a diag and parts list http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/retrieveModelActionHome!retrieve.action;jsessionid=1TlpO2RMjv7jqHUYRtODnQ**.shcapp3005?modelNumber=596.69272991&pop=flush