Diagnosing thermistor problems in your Samsung top-mount refrigerator
If the fresh food section of your refrigerator isn’t cooling properly, you could have a problem with the appliance’s thermistor or temperature sensor. The electronic control board monitors the thermistor and controls the refrigerator temperature based on thermistor signals. A broken thermistor could send the wrong information to the control board, resulting in a refrigerator temperature that’s too cold or not cold enough.
Follow the steps in this Sears PartsDirect video to check the thermistor to see if it’s working correctly. The video also shows how to check the wires that connect the thermistor to the electronic control board to make sure the problem isn’t with the wiring or the control board.
Parts that can fail in your Samsung top-mount refrigerator
- Condenser fan. The condenser fan is in the machine compartment of the refrigerator next to the compressor. It moves air across the condenser coils to help cool the hot refrigerant coming out of the compressor. The refrigerant is cooled before it moves through the expansion device and into the evaporator.
- Defrost bi-metal thermostat. The defrost bi-metal thermostat is a safety device attached to the evaporator coil. The defrost bi-metal thermostat shuts off the refrigerator defrost heater if the heater gets hot enough to damage the evaporator.
- Electronic control board. The refrigerator electronic control board controls the major electro-mechanical components in your refrigerator. When the electronic control board senses the compressor needs to run to cool the refrigerator, it sends voltage to the compressor and fans. It then receives input from temperature sensors to monitor the temperatures inside the refrigerator and freezer sections. With this information, the electronic control board controls the defrost cycle.
- Door gasket. The door gasket seals the gap between the door and cabinet to prevent warm air from leaking into the compartment.