How to Fix a Kitchenaid Refrigerator Not Cooling

If your Kitchenaid refrigerator has stopped cooling, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we discuss all of the major causes of this happening and what you need to do to get your fridge working again.

This guide covers all major Kitchenaid refrigerator models, including:

4KFRF19MTW00

4KSRF22DTW00

4KSRF36DTX1

4KSRF36DTX2

4KSRF42DTX2

4KSRS22QAA01

KBFS20EVMS13

KBFS22EWMS9

KFCS22EVMS4

KFCS22EVMS8

KRFC300ESS01

KRFC302ESS00

KRMF706ESS00

KRMF706ESS01

KRSC503ESS00

KRSF505ESS00

KSC24C8EYY02

KSCS25FKSS02

KSCS25INSS00

KSCS25INSS01

KSF26C4XYY03

Give the condenser coils a clean

The most likely reason your Kitchenaid refrigerator is not cooling is also the easiest to fix. At the back of your fridge are condenser coils that help keep your fridge cool. Unfortunately, the coils attract lots of dust or sometimes they can even freeze over, which stops them from working.

Here’s how to check, and if necessary, clean the condenser coils:

1. Turn the power off to your refrigerator and then pull it out from the wall so you can access the condenser coils.
2. Locate the condenser coils (you may need to remove a panel that covers them to do so).
3. If the condenser coils are covered in ice, leave your fridge turned off to allow them to defrost. If they are covered in dust, give them a thorough clean.
4. Once the coils are nice and clean or the ice has been removed, turn your fridge back on and check if the problem has been solved. If your fridge still doesn’t cool, you’ll need to check the condenser fan.

Make sure the condenser fan is working

The condenser fan blows air over the condenser coils to help them from freezing, which in turn helps the fridge cool down to the correct temperature. If it becomes defective and cannot operate correctly, your Kitchenaid fridge might stop cooling.

Here’s how to check, and if necessary, fix a faulty condenser fan:

1. Turn the power off and pull your fridge out from the wall so you access the condenser fan.
2. Locate the condenser fan (consult your user manual if you’re not sure where it is).
3. Once you’ve found the fan, take the cover off and then try to turn the fan around manually 360 degrees. If the fan cannot move around, check nothing is obstructing it.
4. Next, test the fan motor with a multimeter to ensure it has continuity. If the motor is defective, it will need to be replaced. If the fan can freely move around and it passes the multimeter test, this means it is working and you can move on to checking the evaporator fan.
5. If you replace the condenser fan, you’ll then need to check if your fridge now cools properly. If not, check the evaporator fan.

Make sure the evaporator fan is working

The evaporator fan in your refrigerator helps to circulate air from the freezer unit into the refrigerator to help keep the fridge cooled down. If the fan or the motor that powers the fan stops working, your Kitchenaid fridge might not cool correctly.

Here’s how to check, and if necessary, fix a faulty evaporator fan:

1. Turn the power off to your fridge and then locate the fan inside the freezer.
2. Take the cover off the fan and check if you’re able to turn it manually around without it being obstructed.
3. If anything is obstructing the fan, remove the object.
4. Next, use your multimeter to check the evaporator fan motor to see if it has continuity. If it passes the test, it’s not the cause of the problem so you can move on to checking the start relay. If it doesn’t have continuity, replace it and then check if the problem has been solved. If not, check the start relay. 

Make sure the start relay is working

The start relay operates in conjunction with the start winding to help the compressor in your fridge work correctly. When it stops working, your fridge might not be able to stay cool. 

Here’s how to check, and if necessary, fix a faulty start relay:

1. Make sure the power to the fridge is switched off.
2. Locate the start relay (consult your user manual if you’re not sure where it is).
3. Use the multimeter to check the start relay for continuity.
4. If it fails the test, replace the start relay. If it passes the test, move on to checking the temperature control thermostat.
5. After you replace the start relay, check if your fridge now cools. If it still doesn’t work properly, check the temperature control thermostat.

Make sure the temperature control thermostat is working

The temperature control thermostat sends voltage to the evaporator fan motor, the condenser fan motor, and the compressor when required. If the thermostat stops working, other components in your fridge might fail too. 

Here’s how to check, and if necessary, fix the temperature control thermostat:

1. Make sure the power is switched off to your fridge.
2. Locate the temperature control thermostat (if you’re not sure where it is, consult your user manual).
3. Check if you can manually move the thermostat from its lowest setting to its highest setting. If you can move it, make sure you can hear a clicking sound when it moves up into the highest setting. If you hear the clicking sound, move on to checking the start capacitor.
4. If you cannot hear a clicking sound, the next step is to test the thermostat with your multimeter to see if it has continuity. If the thermostat fails the test, replace it. If it passes the test, move on to checking the start capacitor. 
5. After the new thermostat is installed, check if your fridge now cools properly. If not, check the start capacitor.

Make sure the start capacitor is working

The start capacitor is responsible for helping the compressor in your fridge to start, so if it stops working, your fridge will not be able to stay cool. 

You can check the start capacitor by following these steps:

1. Make sure the power to the fridge is switched off.
2. Locate the start capacitor (consult your user manual if you’re not sure where it is).
3. Use the multimeter to check the start capacitor for continuity.
4. If it fails the test, replace the start capacitor. If it passes the test, move on to checking the thermistor.
5. After you replace the start capacitor, check if your fridge now cools. If it still doesn’t work properly, check the thermistor.

Make sure the thermistor is working

The thermistor tracks the temperature in your fridge and then relays that information to the control board, so it knows which components need to turn on or off. If it stops working your fridge will not be able to stay cool.

You can check the thermistor and fix it if required by:

1. Make sure the power to the fridge is switched off.
2. Locate the thermistor (consult your user manual if you’re not sure where it is).
3. Use the multimeter to check the thermistor for continuity.
4. If it fails the test, replace the thermistor. If it passes the test, move on to checking the compressor.
5. After you replace the thermistor, check if your fridge now cools. If it still doesn’t work properly, check the compressor.

Make sure the compressor is working

The compressor compresses the refrigerant and then makes sure it is properly distributed throughout the fridge. If it becomes faulty, your fridge might not stay cool.

You can check the compressor, and replace it if required, by:

1. Make sure the power to the fridge is switched off.
2. Locate the compressor at the back of your fridge.
3. Use the multimeter to check the compressor for an open circuit. You need to place the probes onto the pins that you can find on the side of the compressor.
4. If it fails the test, replace the compressor or you might be better off buying a new fridge depending on the replacement cost. If it passes the test, you may need to replace the main control board (see below).

• If you do replace the compressor, check if your fridge now cools. If it still doesn’t work properly, you’ll need to consider replacing the main control board (see below).

Replace the main control board

The final step you can consider taking is to replace the main control board. The board is difficult to test so your best option is to just replace it and see if that makes your Kitchenaid fridge cool properly. However, given the high replacement cost, you might decide it’s better to just buy a new fridge.