Ikea Thermostat / Temperature Sensor or Control Fault

Refrigerator runs constantly and is too cold, freezing items in the fresh food compartment.

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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-closed mechanical thermostat (on basic models), Faulty fresh food NTC sensor, Main control board not cycling compressor off, Air damper stuck open between freezer and fridge

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety: Unplug the refrigerator before accessing sensors, dampers, or control boards.

Steps:

  • 1. Verify settings: Ensure the temperature setting is not on the coldest level. Adjust to a mid-range setting and monitor for 24 hours.
  • 2. Check air damper: Locate the air damper between freezer and fridge (often behind a grille in the fresh food compartment). Listen for it opening/closing. If stuck open, cold air will flood the fridge. Replace the damper assembly if it does not move.
  • 3. Test sensor/thermostat: For electronic models, test the fresh food NTC sensor (see F1 fault). For mechanical thermostats, check if the contacts open when the knob is turned to warm/off; replace if stuck closed.
  • 4. Control board: If sensors and damper are good but the compressor never cycles off, the main control board may be defective and require replacement.

Tip: Use a fridge thermometer to verify actual temperatures rather than relying solely on the display.

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Repair Difficulty

Medium 3/5

Required Part

Air Damper Assembly
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