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I have a GE GTS18EBMFRWW fridge. The evaporator fan shaft is very wobbly causing the fan to strike the rear cover. Does the fan motor need to be replaced?
Re: I have a GE GTS18EBMFRWW fridge. The evaporator fan...
This DIAGRAM shows the fan motor and fan blade as being able to be replaced separately. The shaft is part of the motor so it will probably have to be replaced.
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If your freezer is keeping your food frozen but not keeping the fridge side cold then more then likely you are experiencing a problem with your evaporator fan. If you hear the compressor running then the evaporator fan should also be running. In your freezer section you should hear the sound of a fan running or feel the air coming out of the vents/louvers.
No mater what kind of Refrigerator you have all of them have evaporator fans. These fans are always located in the freezer compartment. You will need a ¼ inch nut driver or socket, a 5/16 nut driver of socket and a Phillips screw driver. Some of the time you will need a hair dryer or heating source to defrost the evaporator coil. If you have an ice maker you may need to take it out of the unit and turn off the water supply in order to get to the fan. You will also want to unplug the unit.
Here are the steps to changing the Evaporator Fan: 1. Unplug the unit 2. Remove all material from the freezer (French freezers you must remove the drawer units) 3. Remove the rear cover or top cover on French freezers Locate the fan 4. Remove the wires (the only wire that need to be put back in the same place is the Ground the other two can go on either terminal) and fan with bracket (usually two screws in the wall casing) 5. Remove the Fan blade (The blade is reusable) 6. Remove the fan motor from the bracket 7. Go to your local hardware store and pick up a new fan motor 8. If coil is frozen (covered in ice use a hair dryer or other heat source to defrost) 9. Reinstall in reverse
Note: If when you reinstall the fan it does not turn the proper direction (blowing air outward then you need to change the direction). There are to screws that hold the shaft in place you will nee to remove the screws and flip the shaft to the other side this will change the direction of the fan spin.
If after following this tip the fridge is still not getting cold please post to FixYa.com that you checked the fan and the fridge side is still not getting cold and we will be happy to assist you in your endeavor. As stated this is the most common problem.
My name is Peter. I am a retired field service refrigeration technician.
When you unplug your unit, then plug it back in you are giving the motor a surge charge with more volts than necessary to run the motor.
A bad evaporator motor will hum. The clicking sound that you hear is the motor fan blade striking something.
You need to check for 2 possible causes:
1.) The back cover in your freezer, that is in front of the evaporator motor and fan is very thin sheet metal and will easily flex. Inspect to ensure that you are not over packing your freezer and pushing against the back cover.
2.) It is common for the evaporator motor fan blade to have interference from icing. Inspect the back cover in front of the evaporator fan for frost and ice. Your freezer goes through a defrost cycle where the unit shuts approximately every 8-10 hours, the defrost heater turns on for about 20 minutes, the unit restarts. This is where they get the term; "Frost Free". If you have frost or ice on the back wall your defrost heater and Bi-Metl need to be replaced.
Due to the limited size of response by the site I can not walk you through the repair procedure for these parts. If necessary submit this repair procedure request to this web site.
Remove dispenser bucket, icemaker,dispenser motor assembly,then remove the duct that covers the fan. The blade can be removed by pulling straight up off the motor shaft. the new blade just pushes dowm on motor shaft.
The freezer is usually cooled by the compressor, the fridge is then cooled by an evaporator fan motor ($30). If this fan seizes or slows down then the fridge warms up (it sometimes starts squealing before this happens). The fan may spin, but it if goes too slowly, then it would blow enough cool air into the fridge, especially if it is opened quite frequently.
If you think it is the evaporator fan motor:
Check to be sure you can get a replacement fan first, they last about 4 - 5 years. Can get from a parts supplier or electric motor company.
UNPLUG fridge. Located usually in top of freezer behind a vented cover plate. Remove cover, remove screws holding fan in, may have to cut wires. Replace with new motor, make sure the fan pushes air into the freezer area and doesn't spin backward drawing air from the freezer area.
Below is a link courtesy of www.repairclinic.com, that shows the evaporator fan blade. This may have come loose from the fan motor shaft and may be striking the fan shroud or rattling on the motor shaft
A loose fan blade cause elevated temps. If the fan blade is loose, replace it, not repair it, to avoid further problems.
You are right it is the freezer fan. In order to replace this fan the rear panel has to be removed. The fan is attached to the rear panel on the inside. The DC brushless motor over time wares out, causing the shaft to wobble, this wobbling causing the fan blade to hit the side of the housing.
If you remove the half moon cap, and two 1/4" screws you can remove the cover and get to the fan. The fan motor shaft is mostly wobbling around making the buzzing sound.
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