Damper
Diagnostics
When you’re considering the damper as a problem, it’s critical to diagnose it first. When you’re on a unit with a damper, you will often find a test in the diagnostic mode that will open and close it, and often the evap fan will be on. You activate the test, feel if the air is present, then stops.
It’s always best to get eyes on the damper itself to ensure full funtionality.
Another issue I have seen a few times is when the seal around the damper fails, and allows cold air around it. This will cause items in the fridge section to over cool.
Troubleshooting
If you’re having an issue where the unit is overcooling or is undercooling in the fridge section, but the freezer temps are fine, you’re generally looking at one of a few things:
- The damper is not opening or closing.
- The thermistor or temperature device is out of spec.
- The control system is not interpreting the data, or is not sending the voltage to operate the damper.
You can generally zero in on where your issue is by a process of elimination.
- If the damper works in diagnostics – it fully opens and closes – then the damper is likely NOT the issue.
- If the damper does not work in diagnostics:
- Is the control source sending the proper voltage?
- Is the damper receving the proper voltage?