Refrigerator runs constantly and is too cold; food freezing in fresh food section.
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.
Possible Causes
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Unplug the refrigerator before removing interior panels or the control board cover.
Steps:
- Verify settings: Confirm the temperature setpoints are not set too low on the display.
- Check thermistor: Test the refrigerator compartment thermistor resistance and compare to spec. A shorted sensor can make the control think it is warm, causing overcooling.
- Inspect air damper: Locate the air damper (usually between freezer and fresh food compartments). Ensure it opens and closes and is not stuck fully open with ice or debris.
- Control board: If the compressor and fans never shut off even when temperatures are below setpoint and sensors are good, the main control relay may be stuck.
Corrective action: Replace a faulty thermistor or air damper assembly as needed. If those are good, replace the main control board to restore proper cycling.
Repair Difficulty
Required Part
We may earn a commission from links on this page.