GE Side by Side Refrigerator Howls

[tben]

Hi Jeff,

I've continued to research this howling noise issue on various appliance repair sites on the web and everyone continues to point to the evaporator fan motor as the source of the problem. Although, I noticed a post on another message thread on this site saying that it might also be the control board:

http://a-1appliance.com/forum/viewtopic ... 49a17f6405

The most recent post on that thread indicated that a GE repairman told him that this is a known problem for GE side-by-side refrigerators. I'm guessing this is a very recent problem because the models that most people seem to be complaining about are within 1-2 years old, like mine (purchased in Oct 2004).

My question for you is, does it seem possible that GE could have manufactured a huge batch of evaporator fan motors (for recent model side-by-side refrigerators) that are defective and eventually generate this howling noise?

Because I'm wondering if I go to the trouble to replace this part in my fridge, will it just get noisy again in a year or two? How do I know if the new evaporator fan motor is any different than the one that's already in my current refrigerator?

Any thoughts/advice you have on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[jeff1]

Hi,

does it seem possible that GE could have manufactured a huge batch of evaporator fan motors (for recent model side-by-side refrigerators) that are defective and eventually generate this howling noise?

GE doesn't make the part, it would be outsourced to a vendor whom likely made this motor is large quatities for GE and other manufactures.

Because I'm wondering if I go to the trouble to replace this part in my fridge, will it just get noisy again in a year or two? How do I know if the new evaporator fan motor is any different than the one that's already in my current refrigerator?

What model# is yours? Most that we have looked up lately are subbed over to a different part# which usually means a vendor/quality/update change in the part.

jeff.

[tben]

My model # is PSS26NGPBCC.

I'm pretty sure these are my replacement part numbers:

Evaporator fan blade - WR60X10208
Evaporator fan motor - WR60X10185

Have either of these been updated/changed?

[jeff1]

My model # is PSS26NGPBCC

Motor, DC freezer (evaporator) fan
(The manufacturer has replaced part number WR60X10099 with this item, part number WR60X10185.)

Blade evap fan asm
(The manufacturer has replaced part number WR60X10075 with this item, part number WR60X10208.)

Evaporator fan blade - WR60X10208
Evaporator fan motor - WR60X10185

Those are the updated part#'s.

jeff.

[flaminio]

Last night I was awoken by a very loud grinding noise coming from the freezer of my side-by-side GE. It sounded like a snowblower or wood chipper. At first I thought maybe the ice maker jammed, but I pull that out and turned it off and it still made the noise whenever the door closed. It appears to be the circulation fan is jammed or something. I fussed with it a little trying to figure it out (at 2:30 in the morning) and it seem to start running again, but was running louder than normal.

I don't have the model number at hand, but looking for ideas/fixes. I don't know the age as it came with the house two years ago.

Any thoughts?

[jeff1]

G'day,

I don't have the model number at hand

Post it when you can.

very loud grinding noise coming from the freezer of my side-by-side GE. It sounded like a snowblower or wood chipper. At first I thought maybe the ice maker jammed, but I pull that out and turned it off and it still made the noise whenever the door closed.

Bad evaporator fan motor, loose evaporator fan motor blade, broken evaporator fan motor blade, ice on the evaporator fan blade ( maybe from the icemaker fill line? ), wire or such touching the evaporator fan motor blade...you may not really know until someone has a peek.

jeff.

[Leyna]

I owned a 2-yrs old GE Profile and noticed for the last few months,
there is a howling/whistling noise. It's kind of annoying. The fan
was just replaced. I am wondering if this is GE Design issue, can
I return the fridge if I still have extended warranty - thx

[jeff1]

Hi,

I owned a 2-yrs old GE Profile

?Owned? You no longer have the refrigerator?

there is a howling/whistling noise. It's kind of annoying. The fan
was just replaced.

The new fan helped?

I am wondering if this is GE Design issue, can
I return the fridge if I still have extended warranty

Probably not, but you would have to read your extended warranty paperwork to see what it says for repair or replacement.

jeff.

[Leyna]

Thanks Jeff for responding to my post.
Unfortunately, I still owe the fridge and
after replacing the fan, the problem still exists.

I request for another tech visit, I am concern
that they would tell me that it's a design feature.

Regards,

[jeff1]

This repair will address fan/motor noise such as
humming, loud whirling, blade hitting ice and rattling
or roaring sounds.

Side-by-Side models with metal liners:
1. Follow procedure for reducing
freezer compartment moisture involving
installing the latest version of the main control
board, and a new evaporator cover.
2. Install new Freezer fan assembly
25' use WR60X10100
20'/22' use WR60X10101
Side-by-Side models with plastic liners:
1. Install new freezer fan assembly WR60X10102.
Electronic Top-Freezer Refrigerators:
1. Install moisture kit WR49X10044 (For serial range
FA through TA only).
All units produced outside of this serial range had
the moisture kit installed during production.
2. Install new freezer fan assembly WR60X10097.

Above is a copy.

*****

after replacing the fan, the problem still exists

I found the above a while back....to bad the new fan motor didn't help

I request for another tech visit

If you get a chance, please let us know what he or she says.

jeff.

[firemonkey]

I have a 22CF GE Side X Side that does it too

It howls like the north pole all night long. Miserable in an open floor plan home!

Today, I spoke to a GE serviceman, while at a little league game. He knew exactly the noise i was talking about, and says it is caused by the control board. There were several models affected by this, and GE is covering the board replacement for a few of them.

The control board regulates the fan speed, and the noise is caused by the board setting the fan speed (incorrectly) to just the right pitch.

If your model is not covered, the board is an easy swap, and is accessed from the rear; you dont even have to empty the freezer. He did say that in addition to swapping the board you may need to clip one the two thermistor wires on one of the connectors to the board, so you will want to get clear instructions for your model if you are making this swap yourself.

[jeff1]

Good info

Thankx!

jeff.

[reigels]

Looking at new models of GE side by sides in a showroom today I noticed that they have done away with the two metal brackets suporting the icemaker from behind and are now attaching the icemaker to the left side of the freezer. Can't help but wonder if the shape and position of the brackets causes the howling, and removing them is the cheap GE fix? Same old ice maker with the attachment points at the rear, just screwed into the side.

For those with howling freezers: how is your ice maker mounted?

[tben]

Hi Jeff,

I just wanted to share my experience with you and everyone else who's been following this thread or accidentally comes across it while researching this problem. My quest for a solution to my GE side-by-side refrigerator (PSS26NGPBCC) howling noise ended today with a visit from a GE service/repair representative.

Luckily, my fridge was howling right on cue when he arrived so he was able to actually hear it in person. He agreed that the main control board was faulty which could cause the fan to run at the wrong speed and generate the annoying howling noise. He commented that this noise would definitely drive him nuts!

Unfortunately, the replacement of this part was not covered for my model year, although the previous poster is correct, it will be covered for some more recent models manufactured between May 05 - Aug 06. Mine is from late 2004 and it just missed the cut off for being covered. He said the newer batch has boards that are causing even worse problems than noise issues, which is why they are being covered by GE.

He quoted me a price for replacing it, and although I could have done it cheaper if I ordered the part and replaced it myself, I let him go ahead and take care of it. He was already here with the part in hand and I was essentially just over the whole thing. And so now, I'm writing this post with a SILENT refrigerator running in the other room. The sense of relief I feel after months of listening to that annoying howling sound coming from my kitchen is virtually priceless!

Anyway, I hope this information might help others experiencing the same problem. And Jeff, I wanted to let you know the outcome in case you run into anyone experiencing this problem who owns a more recent model with this control board in it (WR55X10552). Although I'm sure it's still possible for the evaporator fan motor to cause a similar problem in older models, those with a newer model like mine should probably at least consider the main control board before just replacing the evaporator fan motor.

Thanks for your help Jeff, and good luck to everyone.

[jeff1]

Thankx for the info and news!

jeff.