Running fridge without an evaporator fan, or with a noisy one?

I was at a friend's house earlier tonight and his fridge was squealling and screaching like a 'coon in a trap. It went on for abpit 30, 90, or 10 seconds and then there would be a quet time for 2 to 10 seconds, and it would start up again.

Some times the pictch changed, like it was a mama 'coon.

Does this sound like a fan or the compressor?

IF it's a fan, which isr better, that is, not as bad , to run the fridge while it makes the noise, or to disconnect what I think I show below is the bad evaporator fan behind the freezer compartment and run it without the fan at all. Will it cool the freezer or fridge without the fan?

What are the odds that running the fridge while it makes this noise will set the whole thing on fire? Or do more damage than just the bad fan? It turns out he had this noise the previous night too, turned the thing off, and forgot there was a problem. Now the chicken in the freezer is soft, the fridge is 48F, and he wants to run the whole thing o get back to the temp it was. Must he turn it off now? Before he goes to sleep? After he puts new batteries in the smoke detector?

He tells me the chicken has gotten harder.

And can I just buy him another evaporator fan before I go over there again, once I get the model number, or do I have to checkfirst iif the fan is really the problem?

TIA

Reply to
<NONONOmisc07
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If he wants to save money by buying online, can we leave it running like this, with no fan or a squealking fan, for several days until the package comes? Which is better?

TIA

Reply to
<NONONOmisc07

It probably only needs a drop of oil on the condenser fan (if there is one).

Reply to
harry

I must confess. When I said a friend's fridge, it was really mine. Maybe I was embarrassed because I did nothing the first 24 hours. I apologize. But since it's mine, I've been able to work on it in the middle of the night.

Since I last posted, I took the rear panel out of thre freezer, so I think letting the fan run won't actually blow any air over the fins.

I'm too lazy to put it back together until I get a new motor, unless icing up will hurt soimething?

The freezer coils are the only ones, right? There is nothing separate for the fridge part?

Thanks for the price and the warnings.

I just picked a vide at random**, without any model number, and it looked exactly like my fridge (exept it didn't seem to have a light in the freezer.) My fridge is 33 years old Are they all alike for decades? Or did I just get lucky?

And the motor/bracket looked just like mine, so I took the part number he gave, and yes, I foudn on on Amazon for 3

**Not worth watching for anyone who doesn't need to do this now:
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Reply to
micky

Thanks. I'll try to use some oil to keep the fan spinning at least until I get another motor.

Reply to
micky

Some times the pictch changed, like it was a mama 'coon. CY: Yep, that's annoying noise.

Does this sound like a fan or the compressor? CY: Could be either. You can tell by the location of the sound.

IF it's a fan, which isr better, that is, not as bad , to run the fridge while it makes the noise, or to disconnect what I think I show below is the bad evaporator fan behind the freezer compartment and run it without the fan at all. Will it cool the freezer or fridge without the fan?

CY:Without evap fan, typically the fridge warms up, and the freezer gets too cold. Sometimes the food melts in the front of the freezer.

What are the odds that running the fridge while it makes this noise will set the whole thing on fire? CY: I've never seen that happen.

Or do more damage than just the bad fan? CY: Might have some food warm up.

It turns out he had this noise the previous night too, turned the thing off, and forgot there was a problem. Now the chicken in the freezer is soft, the fridge is 48F, and he wants to run the whole thing o get back to the temp it was. CY: if the fan is noisy and blowing, it might get to temp, again.

Must he turn it off now? Before he goes to sleep? After he puts new batteries in the smoke detector? CY: Not a big safety problem.

He tells me the chicken has gotten harder. CY: If it's thawed, mgiht not be safe chicken to eat.

And can I just buy him another evaporator fan before I go over there again, once I get the model number, or do I have to checkfirst iif the fan is really the problem?

CY: I'd want to know it's the problem.

TIA

CY: Chris.

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

I see you've got the back of the freezer apart. Try removing the fan, cleaning it with spray can of brake cleaner. Reoil with a couple drops of ND-20 or ND-30.

Then, remit $47.50 for internet consultation.

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

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If he wants to save money by buying online, can we leave it running like this, with no fan or a squealking fan, for several days until the package comes? Which is better?

TIA

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

More likely it needs a new bearing.

Reply to
dadiOH

The one I did looked a little different, but basically the same. A nutdriver set is useful. If there's an ice maker then you probably need to remove it. Mine had a 3 pin Molex connector not individual terminals.

Reply to
sms

Refrig evap fans are rip and replace.

The OP is describing evap fan noise, so Home Guy is clueless, again.

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

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More likely it needs a new bearing.

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

I got mine for $14.00 shipped from ebay, and it included the fan blades. I also bought a washer pump from ebay at a fraction of the price of any other store.

I loathe using ebay anymore, but sometimes for parts you can save a bundle if someone has one sitting on a shelf collecting dust.

Jon

Reply to
Jon Danniken

I ended up, so far, letting the fridge run without the fan for 16 hours and there was frost on the fins but nowhere near filling the gap between the fins.

I let it run 3 more hours, and when I looked again, the frost was gone and water was dripping from the backboard and maybe the fins. So somethiing seems to have made it defrost. It wasn't working for a while yesterday either, but I guess it went on again.

At any rate, I'm waiting for the ebay vendor to say when he shipped. The webpage said it would arrive Saturday or Monday. If Saturday is still a possibility, I'll not put the motor back in and if it's got to be Monday, I will. Hmmm. I can test the motor without putting it in, just with a cord with alligator clips on the end, so maybe I'll remember to do that. . (3 connections on the motor but one is just a ground.)

All in all, I panicked for some reason. I can live without cooking, and I can even cook without the stove (tmicrowave, oaster oven, George Forman grill, gas grill outside) , but I thought I might have to rush out and buy a fridge. Not cold enough here yet to use the outside.

Loads of vendors selling this fan with a bracket that fits, and some with brackets that wouldn't fit, but the pictures are very clear, clear enough if I had one of those fridges. I'm sure what he sends me will fit and be fine.

Thanks to eveyrone.

Reply to
micky

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