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View Full Version : Amana BBI20TE fridge too cold


gregord
Oct 14, 2012, 04:32 PM
Hi,
We just had the evap fan changed on our Amana Bottom freezer fridge. That definitely fixed the problem where the fridge section was too warm however now it's WAY too cold and everything is freezing. We've turned down the freezer control until it's just above the OFF position and turned the bafffle control on the fridge all the way down. The compressor does cycle on and off but everything is still freezing. Does this sound like a thermostat problem? Anyone know where the thermostat is on that model?

Thanks,
Greg

drtom4444
Oct 15, 2012, 08:33 AM
If this is your unit: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/8010163/Maytag%20Refrigerators/Maytag_Amana_Bottom_Mount_refrig.pdf
Then what you have is a bad thermistor. These are the values: (page 10)
Temperature____ Resistance
77°F ___________10,000 ohms or 10 ___ K-ohms
70°F ___________11,904 ohms or 11.9 __ "
36°F ___________29,500 ohms or 29.5__ "
32°F ___________35,811 ohms or 35.8__ "
0°F ____________86,300 ohms or 86.3__ "

Get a good digital volt/ohm meter and locate the thermistors. You will have to unwire the thermistors by unplugging them or whatever you need to do. Between 36° and 77° it is 476 ohms per degree F and between 0° and 36° it is 1578 ohms per degree. So at 32° you will have 35811 ohms resistance. The way you test this is to take crushed ice and water in a glass to get 32°. Take a glass and fill it up with crushed ice and pour in cold water, stir it, and you will have a 32° water/ice mixture. If you do not read 35.8 k-ohms then the thermistor is bad. When you get the meter make sure you buy some alligator clips that screw onto the leads. Here is a manual: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/8010163/How%20to%20use%20Test%20Equipment%20Service%20Manu al.pdf
This is a book on how to use a meter.

gregord
Oct 15, 2012, 09:37 AM
Hey DrTom4444,

Thank you for your answer. Unless I missed it it does not seem like my model is there although it seems similar. I am familiar with using a meter but can you confirm the thermistor is in the evaporator section as well? I was thinking that since it happened right after they replaced the evaporator fan motor, perhaps they dislodged the thermostat capillary tube from the evaporator coils but I have not opened it up to check. Does that make sense?

Thanks,
Greg

drtom4444
Oct 15, 2012, 09:58 AM
There are thermistors all over that refrigerator. Just use your eyes and look for them. You should have one in the evaporator that terminates the defrost cycle and one somewhere else in the freezer, and one in the fresh food section. Take a good look at the job they did on the evaporator fan. It is beyond me why it took a mechanic to do that simple replacement and then the refrigerator started failing. There are some very bad mechanics out there, though, and anything is possible. If you learn to use a meter you will be able to fix anything, and it's very easy to use a meter. Just learn to value accuracy. Radio Shack has a good digital meter that costs $44.99 or you can get one with a K-type temperature probe for $94.99, but I would buy a separate temperature meter that comes in a pocket style for much less. If you intend to fix your own appliances you need a good meter. The best choice is their clamp-on meter that runs about $65.00, which I think I will buy myself since finding it online. It does it all.