Frigidaire Gallery Airflow Restriction or Damper Failure

Refrigerator not cooling in fresh food section but freezer is cold; no error code displayed.

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Safety Warning

This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.

If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.

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Possible Causes

Frost-clogged evaporator coil in freezer, Failed or stuck air damper between freezer and refrigerator, Blocked air vents due to food items, Failed evaporator fan motor

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety first: Unplug the refrigerator before removing panels or working near the evaporator.

Step 1: Check for blocked vents

  • Inspect the rear and side walls of the fresh food compartment for air vents.
  • Move food items away from vents to allow free airflow.

Step 2: Listen for evaporator fan

  • With the freezer door closed and the unit running, listen for a fan running in the freezer.
  • If the fan is silent, test and replace the evaporator fan motor.

Step 3: Inspect for frost buildup

  • Remove the rear freezer panel and check if the evaporator is encased in ice.
  • If heavily frosted, manually defrost (unplug and leave doors open or use a hair dryer carefully) and then test the defrost system (thermostat, heater, control).

Step 4: Check air damper operation

  • Locate the air damper assembly between the freezer and refrigerator.
  • With power on, adjust the refrigerator temperature setting and listen/feel for the damper opening and closing.
  • If the damper does not move or is stuck closed, replace the damper assembly.

When to call a technician: If the evaporator has only partial frost or none, there may be a sealed system issue requiring a licensed technician.

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Repair Difficulty

Medium 3/5

Required Part

Air Damper Assembly
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