Just bought a used Fridgidare refrigerator-freezer model #FRT18G4AWA
which gets down to 0 degrees in freezer but still about 65 degrees in
frig. Frozen condensation on back wall of freezer. I pulled off the
cover to the cooling coils and found that the evaporator fan motor was
quite corroded and frozen up. There was a good bit of other rust and
corrosion on the back side of the cover. There also is rust on the
wire shelving in the freezer compartment. The unit was built 6/2003
and reportedly hadn't been used much lately. The seller thought it
worked but had never really used it after obtaining it in a house
purchase other than as an adjunctive garage meat freezer for awhile.

Questions:

What is the liklihood that the sole fix necessary here is to replace
the evaporator motor in view of the fact that it appears to be
somewhat of a long standing situation what with the corrosion and
all. In other words is there a good chance some other problem with
the frig actually caused the fan to corrode and die. If so what would
do that?

What is the liklihood that if replacing the motor is the complete fix
that the rest of the unit might have been unduly stressed since it is
quite possible that it had been running for a long period of time with
no evaporator fan. It would likely have been running continuously
since the thermostat appears to be in the frig. Or is it somewhat if
it works it works. I don't know much about these things.

I am haven't had much experience with apppliances but I am fairly
mechanical. My way of testing here would be to test the motor circuit
as best I could as the freezer tried to cool then put in a new motor
if things looked OK with the circuit. I am on good terms with the
seller and trying to work out a solution but if it is going to get
expensive or might be futile for the long run we are both willing to
trash it and the deal.

Scott wrote:
Just bought a used Fridgidare refrigerator-freezer model #FRT18G4AWA
which gets down to 0 degrees in freezer but still about 65 degrees in
frig. Frozen condensation on back wall of freezer. I pulled off the
cover to the cooling coils and found that the evaporator fan motor was
quite corroded and frozen up. There was a good bit of other rust and
corrosion on the back side of the cover. There also is rust on the
wire shelving in the freezer compartment. The unit was built 6/2003
and reportedly hadn't been used much lately. The seller thought it
worked but had never really used it after obtaining it in a house
purchase other than as an adjunctive garage meat freezer for awhile.

Questions:

What is the liklihood that the sole fix necessary here is to replace
the evaporator motor in view of the fact that it appears to be
somewhat of a long standing situation what with the corrosion and
all. In other words is there a good chance some other problem with
the frig actually caused the fan to corrode and die. If so what would
do that?

What is the liklihood that if replacing the motor is the complete fix
that the rest of the unit might have been unduly stressed since it is
quite possible that it had been running for a long period of time with
no evaporator fan. It would likely have been running continuously
since the thermostat appears to be in the frig. Or is it somewhat if
it works it works. I don't know much about these things.

I am haven't had much experience with apppliances but I am fairly
mechanical. My way of testing here would be to test the motor circuit
as best I could as the freezer tried to cool then put in a new motor
if things looked OK with the circuit. I am on good terms with the
seller and trying to work out a solution but if it is going to get
expensive or might be futile for the long run we are both willing to
trash it and the deal.


If by evaporator motor you mean the motor inside the refrigerator that
circulates the air between the freezer and refrigerator compartment, I
would bet that will solve your problem. The coils are used for both
compartments and depend upon that motor to move cold air into the
refrigerator. That explains why the temperature is OK in the freezer
but not in the frig.

On Aug 17, 1:11 pm, Ken wrote:
Scott wrote:
Just bought a used Fridgidare refrigerator-freezer model #FRT18G4AWA
which gets down to 0 degrees in freezer but still about 65 degrees in
frig. Frozen condensation on back wall of freezer. I pulled off the
cover to the cooling coils and found that the evaporator fan motor was
quite corroded and frozen up. There was a good bit of other rust and
corrosion on the back side of the cover. There also is rust on the
wire shelving in the freezer compartment. The unit was built 6/2003
and reportedly hadn't been used much lately. The seller thought it
worked but had never really used it after obtaining it in a house
purchase other than as an adjunctive garage meat freezer for awhile.

Questions:

What is the liklihood that the sole fix necessary here is to replace
the evaporator motor in view of the fact that it appears to be
somewhat of a long standing situation what with the corrosion and
all. In other words is there a good chance some other problem with
the frig actually caused the fan to corrode and die. If so what would
do that?

What is the liklihood that if replacing the motor is the complete fix
that the rest of the unit might have been unduly stressed since it is
quite possible that it had been running for a long period of time with
no evaporator fan. It would likely have been running continuously
since the thermostat appears to be in the frig. Or is it somewhat if
it works it works. I don't know much about these things.

I am haven't had much experience with apppliances but I am fairly
mechanical. My way of testing here would be to test the motor circuit
as best I could as the freezer tried to cool then put in a new motor
if things looked OK with the circuit. I am on good terms with the
seller and trying to work out a solution but if it is going to get
expensive or might be futile for the long run we are both willing to
trash it and the deal.

If by evaporator motor you mean the motor inside the refrigerator that
circulates the air between the freezer and refrigerator compartment, I
would bet that will solve your problem. The coils are used for both
compartments and depend upon that motor to move cold air into the
refrigerator. That explains why the temperature is OK in the freezer
but not in the frig.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Agree. Might even get by with a heavy shot of oil on the fan
bearings.

Most likely the rust was from being too much moisture/frost in the
freezer when it was turned off and not allowed to dry out.

"Rich256" wrote in message
Agree. Might even get by with a heavy shot of oil on the fan
bearings.

Most likely the rust was from being too much moisture/frost in the
freezer when it was turned off and not allowed to dry out.


Agree also, but the lube is only a temporary fix if it does work. It may
buy you a day, a week, a month. Worth a shot but replace the motor ASAP if
it gets you going.

On Aug 17, 5:28 pm, "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
"Rich256" wrote in message
Agree. Might even get by with a heavy shot of oil on the fan
bearings.

Most likely the rust was from being too much moisture/frost in the
freezer when it was turned off and not allowed to dry out.

Agree also, but the lube is only a temporary fix if it does work. It may
buy you a day, a week, a month. Worth a shot but replace the motor ASAP if
it gets you going.

Brings back a memory of a similar problem. Fan motor had quit.
When I pulled out the motor I found it had a wick to the bearings.
Looked to me like the wick piece had been added for the refrigerator
usage. Wetted down the wick with oil and the motor worked for a few
more years.