Kenmore Refrigerator Not Cooling [Quick Fix]

This article details how to fix a Kenmore refrigerator that is not cooling, and how to solve other related cooling problems…

Table of Contents

Kenmore Refrigerator Not Cooling after Power Outage – How to Fix

Check the compressor. See if it is running but if you are unsure, use a multimeter to test it for continuity. Set the multimeter to 100 ohms and test it between the three terminals. If there is a reading, the problem is likely that there is not enough power supplied to the compressor or it is not pumping well.

However, before this, check the start relay. Detach it from the side of the compressor and shake it. If you hear a rattling sound, the relay is broken and needs a replacement. This is more likely to be the problem than the compressor.

Kenmore Refrigerator Not Cooling at All – What to Do

If your Kenmore refrigerator is not cooling at all, check these parts of the refrigerator:

1. Condenser Fan

Check the fan blade, which is close to the compressor, for any obstruction. If there is any, remove it and clean the fan. But if there isn’t, spin the blade to see if it turns freely. If it doesn’t, the motor of the fan is bad and should be replaced.

However, if there is no obstruction to the blade and it turns freely, test the motor with a multimeter to check for continuity. Replace it if there is none.

2. Evaporator Fan

Spin the blade of the fan with your hand to see if it spins freely. If it does, check to see if the fan’s motor has an unusual noise coming from it. If there is, then it is bad. But if the blade seems stiff, change the motor because it is bad.

Also, if the motor does not seem to have any life in it at all, you can use a multimeter to check its windings for continuity. If there is no continuity, replace the motor.

3. Condenser Coil

If the condenser coil is dirty, clean it thoroughly. This will help dissipate the heat of the refrigerant so the refrigerator doesn’t work extra hard to reduce heat. This will contribute to keeping the refrigerator cool.

Other parts to check are:

Thermistor – Use a multimeter to test it for continuity. If there is none, it is bad and needs to be replaced.

Start Relay – Test for continuity between the start and run terminals. Without continuity, change it because the compressor won’t perform well without a good start relay.

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Start Capacitor – The compressor is likely not to start without the start capacitor. So to check if it is the problem, test it for continuity with a multimeter. If there is no continuity, replace it and see if the refrigerator starts cooling.

Temperature Control Thermostat – To check the thermostat, turn the dial from the lowest to the highest temperature setting. If you hear a click, the thermostat is good. But if you don’t hear a click, test it with a multimeter. No reading means you need to replace it.

There is a slight chance the problem could be with either the temperature control board, motherboard or compressor. If the problem is with any of them, use the services of a professional refrigerator technician or buy a new refrigerator in the event the compressor is bad.

Note: This works for all models of Kenmore refrigerators, including the mini fridges.

This video explains the process of checking the faulty part causing the cooling problem with your Kenmore refrigerator…

Kenmore Refrigerator Beeping But Not Cooling – Fast Fix

Check to be sure the doors are properly shut and the gaskets are working fine. Also, check to see that nothing is wedging the doors open and the refrigerator is not overstuffed. If the doors are even slightly ajar, it will trigger the door alarm and warm air will seep into the refrigerator. This will reduce its coolness.

To shut the alarm off, shut the doors properly and press the alarm reset button if your refrigerator has one. If it doesn’t, shutting the doors will handle it.

Also, check the temperature setting. If the temperature within the unit rises above the recommended level, the temperature will go off to alert you. And the refrigerator will become warm.

Be sure to set it to the coldest and see what happens. And check the control dial, to be sure it is not broken. Once you set the temperature, give the refrigerator time to adjust to the new settings. It could take up to a day before this happens. But the alarm will keep beeping until the temperature within the unit drops to the right level.

Kenmore Refrigerator Making Clicking Noise but Not Cooling – How to Repair

Check the start relay. It is a tiny object that is attached to the side of the compressor. Detach it and shake it carefully. A rattling from it means it is bad and should be replaced as soon as possible.

If it is bad, the compressor will find it hard to start up. The clicking would be the compressor shutting itself down after trying hard to start.

Check the compressor. The clicking noise you hear is the compressor trying hard to start and failing. The main reason this would happen is that the condenser coil is dirty. It is the tubing close to the compressor so it is easy to gather dirt because it is exposed. Clean it thoroughly so it can work maximally.

A dirty condenser coil means that the compressor will feel an overload and not start. Without the compressor, the refrigerator will not cool.

Kenmore Refrigerator Not Cooling But Freezer Is Fine – How to Fix

Check the following parts of your Kenmore Refrigerator if the freezer is fine but the fridge is not cooling:

1. Evaporator Fan

Turn the blade of the fan and see if there is any resistance. If there is, the motor is bad and needs replacing. And if you hear a noise from the motor that shouldn’t be there, change the motor. Furthermore, test the motor for continuity with a multimeter. If there is none, replace it.

Without the evaporator fan, there will be no cold air to cool the evaporator coils or to circulate in the refrigerator. This will cause it to become warm.

2. Air Damper

Check the air damper, which is usually between the fresh food and freezer compartments, to be sure it is not stuck closed. If it is, change it because there will no release of cool air into the refrigerator. And even if it is partially open, replace it.

3. Evaporator Coils

Open the back panel of the freezer and check the coils. If they are frozen, you will have to thaw them. This will help air to flow into the refrigerator. Afterwards, check the defrost system to see which of the components is defective. Then, fix it. If you don’t do this, the coils will become frozen again at a later date.

Also, check these other parts, though they are usually not the problem:

Defrost Timer – Move the dial slowly into the defrost cycle. The defrost heater should turn on while the compressor should turn off. But if this doesn’t happen after 30 minutes, the timer is bad and should be replaced.

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Thermistor – Test it with a multimeter. Its resistance should change along with the temperature of the refrigerator. If this doesn’t happen or you read no continuity, change the thermistor.

Defrost Control Board – Check the heater and thermostat. If they are working fine yet the refrigerator is getting warm, the defrost control board is bad and needs changing.

With a defective defrost control board, the defrost cycle will not run. Then, frost will cover the evaporator coils, making the refrigerator work extra to remove the heat that should have been removed by the coils.

You can also check the temperature control board and the main control board but they are not likely to be faulty.

Check out these other articles on refrigerators not cooling for other brands…

Kenmore Freezer Not Cooling – Fixed

If you find that your Kenmore freezer is not cooling, it indicates a serious problem with the cooling system. The first step is to check the door gasket and condenser coils. If the gasket is weak or dirty, it compromises the cooling capacity by allowing cold air to escape. And the coils can cause overheating and restrict how well the compressor runs if they are dirty.

So, clean the gasket with warm water and a soft cloth. Allow it to dry, and monitor how well it seals the door afterward. If the problem persists, close the door on a dollar bill and try pulling it out. Replace the gasket if you can easily pull the dollar bill out.

Also, clean the condenser coils with a vacuum cleaner or brush. Because they are in an easily overlooked location, the coils quickly gather debris that insulates them, making it difficult to transfer heat out of the system. This may cause a freezing or poor cooling problem. Therefore, clean the coils and repeat the cleaning process once or twice a year.

Ensure the freezer is not overstocked. You should always keep your freezer half full; an empty or too-full freezer has trouble with cold air circulation. When empty, there is nothing to absorb the cold air, and when full, there is no space for the air to flow. So, you may find some parts colder than others. Reduce the freezer content if applicable or lower the temperature to see if there is an improvement after 24 hours.

If nothing else seems to work, contact the Kenmore Service Center for further assistance. The problem may stem from the compressor or start relay attached to it, and you will need professional assistance to fix these problems.

Kenmore Refrigerator Compressor Running But Not Cooling – Fast Fix

If the compressor of your Kenmore refrigerator is running but the refrigerator is not cooling, check the condenser fan. Remove any obstruction on the blade if there is any. Check the motor by spinning the blade. If it is stiff, the motor is bad and need to be replaced.

It is this fan that pulls air over the compressor to cool it. If it doesn’t work well, the compressor will still run but the refrigerator won’t cool.

A faulty condenser fan will also explain why a compressor is hot and a refrigerator is not cooling.

Another reason this will happen is frozen evaporator coils. Frozen coils mean there will be no cool air in the refrigerator, even though the compressor is running. Thaw them by unplugging the refrigerator for a few hours.

Additionally, check the evaporator fan. If the motor is dead, the fan won’t run and the coils won’t cool. There will be no cool air in the refrigerator, either, even with the compressor running. It is usually behind the freezer section, near the evaporator coils.

Check the motor by spinning the blade and watching for any stiffness. If the fan is blowing yet you don’t feel any cool air, the motor is bad and needs changing.

Learn how to troubleshoot issues with the compressor of your Kenmore refrigerator from this video…

Kenmore Refrigerator Fan Running But Not Cooling

If the fan, either the condenser fan or evaporator fan, is running yet the refrigerator is not cooling, check the fan motors. If they are fine, then check the condenser coil or the evaporator coils.

Frozen evaporator coils mean the unit will not cool even though the fan is running. And a dirty condenser coil means the refrigerator will work harder to reduce heat, making it grow warmer.

Important Note

Take precautionary measures every time you want to repair your refrigerator. Turn off the unit or unplug it from its power source.

In addition, call the service center of Kenmore for help if the repairs become too difficult or complicated.

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