My freezer stopped cooling

Shahzaib Jamal what exact make and model number is your fridge?

Hi,

The condenser fan doesn't have to run all the time. It is thermostatically controlled to cool the condenser coils only when they get too hot.

If the fan itself is OK and it is running all the time, then there may be another problem e.g. if the refrigerator is a "built in" is there a sufficient gap around it allowing for adequate airflow and the heat to escape?

The condenser fan is the one outside the compartments near the compressor motor and the condenser coils. Do not confuse this fan with the evaporator fan which is located inside the freezer compartment.

It is the evaporator fan inside the freezer compartment that cools down the compartments by dragging the air across the freezing cold evaporator unit and then blowing it throughout the compartments.

If the freezer is not cold enough then your refrigerator compartment would also not be cold enough unless your model has two evaporator units, one in the freezer and one in the refrigerator, each with their own fan.

Is the compressor running?

Can you hear the evaporator fan running? It will run as long as the compressor is running, but will stop when a door (either door) is opened and start again when the door is closed, (the compressor still runs when the door is open).

Listen for it stop and start when you open and close a door.

to test, first, use a multimeter to check if you're getting power to the fan when you think it should be running. It may very well be thermostatically controlled, though typically this only applies for stand-alone condensers in case of very cold weather. At room temperature every unit I've ever worked on has the condenser fan running any time it is cooling. If you are getting power to it, use an amp clamp (good meters have them built in) to verify the fan is indeed trying to move but failing. Only clamp around ONE wire. If you do both the magnetic fields of both combined will ruin your readings! Use the lowest setting (usually up to 10A) to test this little motor. If it is trying, and failing, replace fan motor. They're relatively cheap. But, BE CAREFUL removing the fan blade!!! Do not bend it! A cheap hub or fan puller is what I use. A touch of wd-40, let it set a minute, and it should come right off. Do NOT pull be the plates or you'll have to buy a new one (you can never get them good and straight or to the right angle after bending them).

@brandon_k

I've come across some Samsung refrigerators (RB, RF, RM and RS models) that have what is called an "ambient sensor" that is used to control the condenser fan so that's why I mentioned that perhaps the fan doesn't need to run all the time, just in case the OPs model may have some similar arrangement.

Cheers

@jayeff oh it very well could. Its just pretty uncommon. Really need the make and model number to know for sure. Or for the OP to test if there's voltage to the fan while the compressor is running and the fan isn't. To be honest I've never run across one like that. I find it surprising that they would be like that. Though it WOULD be more energy efficient!