Maytag Freezer Not Freezing [How To Fix]

This article details the ways to fix a Maytag freezer that is not freezing and other freezing problems in a Maytag freezer or refrigerator.

Table of Contents

Maytag Refrigerator Not Cooling or Freezing – Solutions

Here are ways to solve the problem of a Maytag refrigerator not cooling or freezing:

1. Check the Condenser Fan Motor

To check the motor of the condenser fan, try and spin the blades of the fan with your hand. If the blades spin well, then the motor is probably not bad. But if the blades have a hard time turning, the motor is like;y bad. To be sure, test the motor of the fan to see if there is continuity. If there is no continuity, replace the fan motor.

The refrigerator will not be able to cool or even freeze if the fan is not working properly. This is because the fan is responsible for cooling the condenser coils and the compressor.

2. Check the Condenser Coils

Take a look at the condenser coils behind the refrigerator to see if they are dirty. Clean and dust them thoroughly. Make sure to clean them at least every 6 months. This is because the refrigerator will be unable to stay cold if the coils are dirty, as they will not dissipate heat efficiently.

3. Check the Evaporator Fan Motor

To check the fan motor, try to turn the blades with your hand. If you find that the blades are stiff, the motor is bad and should be replaced. And if the motor is noisier than usual, replace it as soon as possible. However, if the fan motor is not working at all, test its windings with a multimeter in order to check if it has continuity. If there is no continuity, replace it.

The evaporator fan is responsible for circulating cool air in the refrigerator after passing it over the coils. If the motor of the fan is defective, there will be no cold air in the refrigerator so it won’t cool at all.

4. Check the Temperature Control Thermostat

Turn the thermostat from the lowest point to the highest point and listen to hear a click. If you hear it, the thermostat is likely good. But if you don’t hear the click from the thermostat, test it for continuity. If at any temperature setting, the thermostat doesn’t have continuity, replace it.

It is likely the refrigerant system will not run if the temperature control thermostat is not working. This is because it is responsible for directing voltage to the fan motors and compressor. If these refrigerator parts don’t run, the refrigerant system won’t run. And if the refrigerant system doesn’t run, the refrigerator won’t get cold at all.

5. Check the Thermistor

With a multimeter, test the thermistor. You should find its resistance changing with the refrigerator temperature if the thermistor is in good working condition. But if this doesn’t happen and there is no continuity, replace the thermistor as soon as possible.

The thermistor keeps an eye on the temperature of the air around and in the refrigerator. Then, it sends results to the control board so that the board can regulate power to the evaporator fan and the compressor according to what is needed. If the thermistor doesn’t function well, the fan and compressor will not run when they are needed. So, the refrigerator will not cool, let alone freeze.

6. Check the Start Capacitor

Using a multimeter, test the continuity of the start capacitor. If there is no continuity, replace the capacitor.

The compressor is likely not to start at all if the start capacitor is faulty. And if the compressor doesn’t start, the refrigerator won’t run so it won’t cool.

7. Check the Start Relay

Take a multimeter and test the start relay between its start and run terminals. Do this after detaching it from the side of the compressor. If there is no continuity found between the terminals, replace the start relay.

The start relay helps the compressor run. So if the relay is bad, the compressor is likely not to run. And if the compressor doesn’t run, the refrigerator will not cool.

In the event none of the parts mentioned above is the cause of the cooling and freezing problem, then check the main control board, the temperature control board or the compressor. One or more of these 3 parts could be faulty, leading to the refrigerator’s inability to cool.
But you may need the services of a qualified refrigerator technician to accurately check these parts and fix them. And if the problem is with the sealed system, you know it is time to buy a new refrigerator.

Do note that these steps apply to every model and style of Maytag refrigerators such as side-by-side, french door, bottom freezer and top-freezer refrigerators.

This video shows how to fix a Maytag refrigerator that is not cooling or freezing, using a side-by-side model…

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Maytag Freezer Not Freezing – What to Do

If you find that your Maytag freezer is not freezing, check the following parts:

1. Start Relay

There is a high chance the compressor of the freezer will not run if the start relay is faulty or not working at all. And the freezer needs the compressor to run in order to cool and freeze eventually.

So, detach the relay from the side of the compressor and test it for continuity between the start and run terminal sockets. If there is no continuity or the relay smells as if it is burnt, replace it as soon as possible.

2. Evaporator Fan Motor

The freezer will not cool or freeze if the evaporator fan is unable to circulate cold air in it. And if the fan motor is bad, the fan will not work at all.

Activate the switch of the door of the freezer by hand. You do this because once the door of the freezer is open, the evaporator fan will not run. So to check its functionality, activating the door switch will get it running again even when the door is open.

But if the fan doesn’t run after you activate the switch, then you know that the fan motor is faulty and should be replaced.

3. Evaporator Coils

Frosted coils will not be able to spread cold air within the freezer. That way, the freezer will not cool or freeze at all. To see if the coils are frosted over, open the freezer door and remove the inside back panel to view the coils. Frost on them means it is time to defrost the freezer manually.

So remove all the contents of the freezer and store the perishable ones in another freezer. You can also wrap them in newspapers and store them in a cooler. Then, unplug the freezer and leave it unplugged for at least one day. This should defrost every part of the freezer, including the evaporator coils.

However, if your freezer is the type that defrosts automatically, you should check the defrost components to see if they have faults. Replace faulty ones.

You can contact a refrigerator repair agent to take a look at the parts, determine which are defective and replace them.

4. Condenser Coils

If you can see the coils under or behind the freezer, then check if they are dirty. Dirty condenser coils will not be able to adequately release heat from the refrigerant as it goes through them. Consequently, the heat will go to the freezer and reduce its capacity to cool.

Therefore, clean and dust the coils so that they can function optimally. This way, the freezer will be able to retain its cooling capacity.

5. Temperature Control Thermostat

The fan motors and the compressor get voltage from the thermostat. If they don’t get the needed voltage, the refrigerant system is likely not run as the freezer needs it to run. So, the freezer will not get cold or freeze.

Turn the thermostat from low to high. You should hear a click when you get to the highest point of the temperature setting. If you don’t hear the click from the thermostat, test it with a multimeter to see if there is continuity. If there is no continuity, replace the thermostat.

6. Condenser Fan Motor

A poorly working condenser fan motor will make the condenser fan unable to pull air over the condenser coils. The unit may cool if the fan doesn’t function well but it will not freeze.

Turn the blades of the fan with your hand to see if they turn freely. If they don’t, then know that the bearings of the fan motor are worn out so the motor should be replaced. However, if the blades turn freely and nothing is keeping them from turning, test the motor to check for continuity. If there is no continuity, replace the condenser fan motor.

The user control and display board or the main control board could be defective and cause the freezer not to freeze. The same is true for the compressor. But this rarely happens. So don’t replace any of these parts before being absolutely sure they are defective.

However, if there is nothing wrong with any of the parts, then there could be a leak in the sealed system of the freezer. This is especially true if just one of the freezer’s shelves is cooling or a part of the cooling coils has some frost on it. Only a certified refrigerator repair agent can certify this. And if this is the case, the only solution is to replace the freezer.

It is important to note here that these repair steps work for all types of Maytag freezers, including the upright freezer, bottom freezer, top freezer, chest freezer and stand-up freezer.

Reminder

If your Maytag freezer is not freezer or your Maytag refrigerator is not cooling or freezing, unplug the unit before starting any diagnostic or repair work. This is the priority step for fixing electrical appliances especially refrigerators and freezers.

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