GE Café Airflow Restriction to Fresh Food Compartment

Freezer cold but fresh food section warm, ice cream is solid but milk spoils quickly.

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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

Stuck or failed fresh food air damper, Blocked air return vents, Evaporator fan not circulating air properly, Frost buildup around damper area

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety first: Unplug the refrigerator before removing interior panels.

This symptom indicates the freezer is cooling but cold air is not reaching the refrigerator section.

  • Check for blocked vents: Move food items away from vents in both the freezer and fresh food compartments.
  • Inspect damper: Locate the air damper (usually at the top rear of the fresh food section). Remove its cover and check if the damper door moves when temperature is adjusted. If stuck closed or iced over, defrost and clean.
  • Verify evaporator fan: Ensure the freezer fan is running; if not, replace the evaporator fan motor.
  • Door seals: Confirm fresh food door gaskets seal properly to prevent warm air infiltration that can cause icing around the damper.
  • Replace damper: If the damper motor does not respond or the door is broken, replace the damper assembly.
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Repair Difficulty

Medium 3/5

Required Part

Fresh Food Air Damper Assembly
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