Have an Amana Side by side refrig/freezer (model ACD2234HRS) that has a loose refrig door handle. How do you get access to tighten the door handle screws?

Hello Graham;

My name is Peter. I am a retired field service refrigeration technician.

Some freezers have pre-marked holes for reversing the door. Inspect the opposite side of where your door hinges are. Also inspect the opposite side of where your door handle is to see if there are pre-marked holes.
The trick of reversing the door is the door alignment. Have someone hold up one side while you tighten the door hinges. You may have to loosen the hinges and repeat this process to get good alignment.

If there are no pre-existing holes you may try to drill them your self, but you must be exact in the location of the holes. Make sure you can move the door handle.

If your temperature control is on the door do not attempt this, the wiring harness is too short.

There are usually some hex head screws on the upper and lower sides of the handles make sure they are tight.

I had this same problem with one of my refrigerators. Most refrigerators that do not have a screw you can access will clip on to the door. Be careful because this may not be one you can do, but you should at least try. All I did was pull up firmly on the handle and it shifted up and the mounting hardware for the handle had 2 screws in it. I tightened the screws back down and clipped the handle back on. I am not an appliance pro, I am only speaking thru my own experience. Please be careful when you do this. If you feel it is too risky, then wait for a response from a pro.

It looks like the silver handle is pushed onto the black plastic insert, which must be removed from the handle, fixed to the door and then the handle reattached.

you can actually bend the door into shape if you can see that it is warped. If the freezer hing is on that corner then you can loosen the screw on that side and push the door into place and re-tighten the screws. You need a big screwdriver and a big person to get it done. you can test the repair with a dollar bill. Slip it in and close the door. It should take a little pull to pull it out. Go all around the door like that. anywhere it slides out easily you will have an air leak..

tilt unit backwards,and under hinge side you will see a bracket,undo bolts and transfer to opposite side leaving loose,slide door down ,then on top of door transfer plug to opposite side(if needed)slide door back up and refit bottom hinges/tighten bolts.
handle is just a matter of prising plastic cover of and unscrewing,then refitting to other side.
once you tip it backward its pretty obvious really.

bottom of handle is a screw hidden behind a square little sticker thing. use a small screwdriver to pry it out. take out screw and then push handle upwards and it will come off a clip which you can now tighten. then snap top secti0on of handle back onto clip and then lower screw secures it.

Pop out the screw hole covers and tighten the screws.

Hi, look inside freezer and see if there is a frost build up on the rear wall. Also listen to see if the evapotator fan motor is running.
Please let me know so I can assist you further.

Vic

yes , on most freezers the door inner panel liner needs to be removed , that will sometimes require the removal of the door gasket that may be old to the point where it to needs replacing. then finally you can get to the back side of the door and snug up the screws that hold the handle from the back. usually fine thread screws. be sure to apply loc tite and snug up good , we don't want to do this again any time soon. you can take a chance and try pulling out the handle and cutting the screws and then drill the hole in the handle out to where you see a hole in the side of the handle from the front, then counter sink the hole and use a drill screw or a small toggle bolt to resecure the handle . no real wires or refigeration tubes in the door, so its an option. good luck