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cnegs44 · Jan 26, 2006, 03:23 PM

I am having the same problem with my Maytag MTB2156GE. I purchased and installed the new fan motor and it still does not work. What could cause the fan to not run while the compressor is running? Is this something I can fix on my own or should I have someone else look into it?

ofted42 · Jan 26, 2006, 06:58 PM

If you have a voltmeter check the leads that connect to the fan. You should be getting 120v AC at those leads. If not then for some reason it's not sending power like it should be. Mine was just the fan, so if there's no current there I would check the connections and make sure there isn't a short or a broken wire somewhere. If that doesn't work I'm out of ideas unfortunately. Good luck.

labman · Jan 26, 2006, 08:03 PM

Did you try the motor wires in the outlet as applguy said on the last page? If the fan runs that way and not in the frig, follow the wires back and see where they come from. I would think the compressor and fan would be on the same relay, but they could be different. Otherwise, wait for applguy.

applguy · Jan 26, 2006, 08:46 PM

When the thermostat is calling for cooler temps (closed contacts) and the defrost timer is in a cooling mode (contacts 1 & 4 closed), the compressor, condenser fan and evaporator fan all should have power. There are no switches, etc. in the circuit. What is the part number of the new fan motor you just installed? Make sure the evaporator is not completely plugged with frost or ice - should have a lightly frosted but complete frost pattern. You will have the same symptom as a dead evap fan. You might also include the serial number in your next post.

cnegs44 · Jan 28, 2006, 02:41 PM

The part number of the motor is 61005935. The full model number of the fridge is MTB2156GES.

I managed to take everything apart, clear out the ice, and replace the motor. At this point the fridge is cold, but the fan never runs.

I also feel like there is a problem with the slider for the fridge temperature. It is not smooth at all. Does this slider have an effect on the timer or electrical functions, or does it just open and close a vent?

I'll open it back up and check for voltage. The first time I just assumed the new fan motor would run.

Thanks for all of the help!

applguy · Jan 28, 2006, 04:14 PM

The fresh food slider arm is attached to a thermostatic damper. When you slide it back and forth, you are adjusting the damer internally, and based on that adjustment, the damper opens and closes the air door automatically. The only way it might affect the electrical function would be if someone had taken the controls down from the ceiling and maybe got some wires entangled in the mechanism. Otherwise, probably not. Depending on the motor connection, there may be a problem there. Some motors had (2) 1/4" male spade connectors that wires just plugged onto them. Others had a quick disconnect plug with small pins inside. I seem to recall a problem with the latter of the two, with moisture getting inside the plug and causing some corrosion. Depending on the age of the unit, this may or may not be the cause. Did the new motor come with 2 blue wires permanently attached to the motor, or was it just a 4 pin plug on the side of the motor?

cnegs44 · Jan 29, 2006, 06:55 PM

I will check the leads for corrosion. The motor looked exactly like the old one. A blue and white wire with a plastic plug at the end. The plastic plug clicked directly into the fridge connection.

cnegs44 · Jan 30, 2006, 03:25 PM

It was the connection. For some reason it was not a tight fit and I had to mess with it. It works fine now. Thanks so much for all of the help!

Frankl1955 · Apr 8, 2006, 06:57 AM

You're the man APPLGUY. I never bought a new fridge in my life , I did A/C repair in the 80s and 90s. I decided to finally get the wife a new fridge and never seemed to remember many broke Maytags. DID I GET A SURPRISE, what a cheap piece of crap our new MAYTAG PLUS turned out to be. That evaporator fan seems to last about 2 years (on our second one). Will that replacement fan you talked about last any longer then that White stool that Panasonic is selling Maytag?

Frankl1955

applguy · Apr 9, 2006, 04:12 PM

When I find a dead Panasonic, I will usually give the owner the choice of the original or the "aftermarket" fan motors. Most of the time, they choose not to use the original, and I've never heard back from any of them. Last week I found one where she chose to use the original (twice the price) last time, and it was dead again in less than six months. Now she chose the other, but she had to pay again. Obviously it's not the norm, and hopefully it won't happen to you again. At least if it does, you'll know what to do anyway. So, I take it you're not too surprised that Maytag became flat broke and is now part of the Whirlpool Corporation? Nor am I. Cheers.

Frankl1955 · Apr 19, 2006, 09:17 AM

Thanks again

Frank

mattm · Jul 25, 2006, 09:38 PM

Just wanted to say thanks to applguy for the info about alternate motors. I Was just about to put a 3rd Panasonic in our PTB2153GEW but got an aftermarket motor from Johnstone via a local electric motor shop. In case anyone else turns up this web page (I found it searching by the Panasonic P/N), the motor I got was made by Gem, box marked GEMLINE EM-245. It was CW rotation but included the very simple instructions on converting it to CCW. Also just in case it helps someone else out in the future, a cross reference I found somewhere also mentioned Gem EM-326 as being CCW, a MARS 90905, and Bomax 501-7295 CCW and 501-7085 CW.

VicMora · Sep 27, 2006, 08:06 PM

Hi, I have the same Maytag model and it got the replacement motor because the original wasn't working. The frig started working really nice, you know, keeping things frozen, and food and water fresh. But now, after about 6 weeks from the replacement, the fan is still working, but the lower section is not getting any cool. Any clue on this?

carrt7 · Sep 30, 2006, 04:44 PM

A new wrinkle on the old story. Maytag MTB1956GE nearly-new fridge gets warm, but freezer compartment still cold. I followed the advice in these columns and found the evaporator fan not running. Unplugged the fan and tested the cable - nice healthy 120v (I have the scars to prove it.) Tested the fan (white panasonic UDQR002MGL) with voltmeter - generates a volt or two of DC when you spin the fan. Tested fan with 120v supply and it ran perfectly! Put it back in the fridge and it ran OK. Screwed the panel back up and it didn't run any more. Crazy!

Finally solved the problem by noticing that when the compressor starts up, the fan blades twitch once slightly, then nothing. Flick the blades and it runs fine - but 4 times out of 5 it won't restart when the compressor restarts. So the motor has almost lost its ability to self-start.

I'm off to buy a Johnstone S58-099 or Bremco 1500-0122 or Bremox 501-7295 or Gem Em-326 or Mars 90905. No more Panasonic for me.

carrt7 · Oct 3, 2006, 09:54 AM

Can't buy Johnstone or Bomax or ANY of those motors in Ontario - "they sell them to manufacturers direct, sir"... however, local electric motor store sold me a Rotom T1-R670 fan motor kit. Fits neatly into the enclosure, mounts easily, and is supplied with two fans, the smaller of which is ideal. Working fine, but two concerns:
- The original Panasonic fan motor says "58 mA" on the case, although web sources say it consumes 0.24A (i.e. 240 mA). The R670 consumes 0.5A - I hope the relays are mechanical and not solid-state!
- The new fan is a bit noisy, although it does circulate the cold air a lot better. I think I can "flash-freeze" things now!
One word of advice: in web searches look for "appliance parts", not "electric motors", otherwise you get offered BIG motors rated in horsepower!

DigglerD · Oct 12, 2006, 09:37 AM

Hey all. I'm having the same problem with my Amana that uses the same Pannasonic motor as desribed above. At first I thought it was the motor but now it seems that the wires to the motor (white, yellow, green) are not sending power. What do I need to look for here? Can I just hotwire the motor or will that cause problems?

carrt7 · Oct 22, 2006, 04:40 PM

The Panasonic motor runs on 120v - supply hydro directly to yours to see if it works. BUT no, you can't usefully hotwire the fan. This would have two drawbacks. First, your fan will run all the time (wastes electricity, noisy, and will wear it out faster). Second, you will find it difficult to stop the fridge getting too cold (or the freezer too warm), because the fan will constantly try to equalize their temperatures. Go on, splurge $18 on a new motor!

Ak70 · Jan 20, 2007, 12:39 PM

applguy, I must say you are the one with the answeres I've been looking for. In Alaska, all I get from Maytag is to contact a service guy. The search returns a message that says "no service within 2000 miles. Please choose another state." And, the Maytag operators are really rude.

I had the same problem. I found the motor before I found this site, and ordered one. A week later, they sent a different motor, which really frustrated me at first. I think it may be a better deal.

My frige is a MFF2557HEW. The motor I took out was #ADL-5846AMEA 12732602. The one they sent was a #12002744.

I put it in a half hour ago. Things seem to be running, but I couldn't check wheather the rotation was correct because the old motor wasn't running. From the part numbers can you verify that the rotation is correct? I am assuming the air flow should go up on a bottom freezer model, but I didn't check the direction before I reassembled the unit. I can take it apart again to check, unless you can tell me it's the correct motor.

Thank you

mymymichl · May 13, 2007, 04:21 PM

applguy, you prove how wrong the sceptics are. I have an older Maytag, but the same fan problem just appeared. I'm on Long island. There's a Johnstone store near me. Thanks to you, I can phone them up with my model number and get some results.

My Maytag is a MTB2156DE -- Are the fans for the newer models interchangeable with the one in my freezer that died?

mvario · May 23, 2007, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by mymymichl

applguy, you prove how wrong the sceptics are. I have an older Maytag, but the same fan problem just appeared. I'm on Long island. There's a Johnstone store near me. Thanks to you, I can phone them up with my model number and get some results.

My Maytag is a MTB2156DE -- Are the fans for the newer models interchangable with the one in my freezer that died?

I'm on Long Island also. Can you tell me where you found the part? I have the same issue with a Magic Chef CTN1911GEW that just had the evaporator fan motor replaced last summer and it seems to have died again. The old part number was UDQR002MB.

Thanks.