Model #MSD2656KEU, this side by side refrigerator had started to freeze items in the fresh food side. It started with the vegetables in the bottom drawers, but soon ice crystals were found in the milk and other drinks. Turning the temperature up as high as it would go didn't seem to have any effect.

The cooling or refrigeration process in most refrigerators takes place in the freezer portion of the unit, while the fresh food side is cooled by circulating air. This circulation is done by one or more fan motors that move air through a series of air passages around the food items in both the freezer and fresh food sections. To keep the fresh food side at a warmer temperature to avoid freezing, a component called a air damper or diffuser is used.


The damper is a mechanical doorway that can open and close to control the flow of cool air from the freezer section. As the fresh food compartment reaches desired temperature, the damper will close keeping the cold air in the freezer at a much lower temperature. As the need for more cooling in the fresh food section increases, the damper will open to begin the circulation process again. Dampers can be mechanical meaning they are directly controlled by the temperature selector, or they may be electronic and controlled by a control board.

When looking at this refrigerator, the frozen salad dressing was sure proof that it was much colder than it should be and nearly as cold as the freezer side. With the door open, I could feel the cold air flowing in through the damper in the upper left portion of the fresh food section. With the temperature this low, I would expect the damper to be closed, but with the cover removed, I could see it was wide open. And it was this open passage that was making it much to cold.

Being an electronic damper, I attempted to see if turning the temperature controls to the off position would cycle the damper door, but when I did, the door remained open. I did, however, hear the motor running to try and close the door which is a good indication there must be a mechanical failure somewhere in the damper. By removing the assembly, I found the plastic pin that should be on the door was broken, allowing the door to move freely from the motor drive arm.

I then installed a new damper assembly in its place and connected the control harness and temperature sensors. When the controls were turned back on, the damper opened to the maximum open position ready to cool. After a few minutes, the temperature in the fresh food section was again cold enough for the damper door to close. With the damper working properly, the produce shouldn't have any freezing problems.



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