The refrigerator is reliant on its evaporator fan and compressor working efficiently.
If things don’t work, the refrigerator’s cooling will become dysfunctional causing the food inside to become a mess.
This is why it’s important to act when one of these components starts misfiring or doesn’t work as they are expected to.
A common issue people face is when the refrigerator evaporator fan starts and stops.
If a refrigerator evaporator fan starts and stops, this means one of the wires is loose or the fan itself is starting to fade. To fix the issue, the average evaporator fan has 4-5 wires, test all of them to see if one is loose. If not, unplug the fridge, wait 2 hours, and try again. The last solution is to replace the fan.
For the most part, newer fridges deal with loose wiring. This can happen when the appliance was being moved to a different location or was adjusted within the kitchen. It’s rare, but it can happen.
With older refrigerators, you are likely looking at a dying evaporator fan. Each part has a shelf life and the same goes for a resilient evaporator fan. It will always be in use, so it is going to die eventually.
Your best option is to replace it if that is the case and the fridge should be back to normal.
This guide will explain your options if the refrigerator evaporator fan starts and stops.
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How To Fix Refrigerator Evaporator Fan That Starts And Stops
1. Locate The Evaporator Fan
The evaporator fan is your problem spot, so that’s where you need to look first.
The evaporator fan sits behind the freezer wall and should be accessible through that part of the fridge.
When looking at the evaporator fan, your eyes need to go to the wiring that is then connected to the main circuit board.
The wiring is often the issue for the evaporator fan starting and stopping on its own.
In general, each model is different in how the fan is set up.
However, you should expect to see approximately 4-5 wires running into the evaporator fan.
This is where you will need to start your inspection.
2. Check The Wiring
The wiring is important as that is where the power is coming from when it is time to power the evaporator fan in your fridge.
If there are issues with the wires, you are going to end up with a malfunctioning evaporator fan that will only get worse with time.
This is why you have to act now.
You are going to look at the wires running into the fan and inspect them one by one. This will ensure you get a better read on what is going on.
Test all of them and make sure they are not loose, damaged, or burned.
If they are, this is where the problem lies. It’s common for this to happen with a newer fridge that is moved into the room from somewhere else. During the move, wiring can loosen.
3. Unplug The Fridge
Let’s assume the wires are okay.
What are you going to do now?
You will want to start by unplugging the fridge and letting it sit for at least two hours. This is to reset the fridge and all of its components.
Sometimes, a fridge has been sitting for too long and just needs a reset. It is similar to how a computer works.
4. Replace The Fan (If Necessary)
If nothing else works, this means the evaporator fan is now damaged and has to be replaced as soon as possible.
The fan is only going to worsen from this point and that is a major problem for you.
Find a replacement part before others get damaged. You should be able to take the fan and find a compatible version that is a seamless fit.
Final Thoughts
These are the steps on how to fix a refrigerator evaporator fan that starts and stops.
To fix a refrigerator evaporator fan starts and stops, begin by checking the wires running into the fan. When loose or damaged, this can cause the fan to malfunction. If this doesn’t work, unplug the fridge, let it sit for two hours, and try again. The last option is to replace the fan.
It is not ideal to replace a fan as it will cost you a significant amount but sometimes there is no other option.
Older fridges have this issue arise from time to time. Some people replace their appliances while others don’t mind replacing the part.
However, it is in your best interest to go through the steps listed here to see if the fan can be salvaged.
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