GE Freezer is only 38F, please help!

[shinnecock]

My side by side refrigerator is GSS22WGPACC, SN: GF254827,was used for 2 and half years.
Now the refrigerator can keep 30-40F, but the freezer is only 38F near the ice maker. The freezer has 80% freeze food, so at middle of the freezer is about 20F. The control of freezer was set at 9 for two days, refrigerator control is at 5. I can hear fan running in freezer, but I don't know where is the cool air vent.
Before the freezer out off order, the water tank at refrigerator was freeze three times. And food at lower compartment was freeze too. Every time I use low heat air flow to warm the tank. I found the air flow from lower vent at refrigerator is too cold, even I set the control at 1 or 2. Now I put a lot of food in, and use a tape to reduce the the air flow from lower vent at refrigerator,then it can keep 30F. I don't know is there a vent at top of the refrigerator.
Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Dan O.]

[G.E.] side by side refrigerator is GSS22WGPA CC ... the water tank at refrigerator would freeze at times.

That is one of GE's electronically controlled fridge designs, many of which suffered from several design flaws. GE has come out with several different 'kits' to help correct those flaws. Either of the problems the following kits were designed to fix might cause the water reservoir to freeze at times.

LINK > Freezing in the vegetable drawers repair kit

LINK > Revised air damper asm. for uncontrollable fridge compartment temperatures

the freezer is only 38F near the ice maker... at middle of the freezer is about 20F.

That sounds like an air movement problem. It may be possible the evaporator (cooling) coil behind the rear wall of the freezer compartment is not defrosting, resulting in restricted air flow? Maybe the motor is not turning at full speed?? I'm afraid it would really need to be looked into the determine the actual cause of your problem.

That design of refrigerator is pretty complicated to diagnose. You might want to consider calling a service technician familiar with such a product to come and look at it to try to get to the bottom of your problem(s)?

JMO

Dan O.
www.Appliance411.com
The Appliance Information Site
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[Phelps]

It sure does sound like this is some simple case of baffling or something wrong with the fan... that ice is blocking off the pathway to the freezer some, so there just isn't enough air getting into the freezer, or SOMEthing is wrong with the fan/blade.

If this were me, I would stick a thermometer right back where the air blows. I also would access to the fan to check to make sure the blade is not loose on the motor shaft and all the blades are intact, and it is running fast and there is no ice.

If all this looked normal, I would remove the food and put it in the bathtub or sinks and blanket the tightly packed food, or put it in a large cooler if you have one, and thaw this sucker (the freezer part...and also where you see it gets baffled into the refrigerator compartment) out, speeding things along by setting up a hairdryer in the freezer and closing the door on the cord. This way you would start fresh from square one. THEN if it worked properly, let's say, and then did this scenario again in let's say less than a week, I would be suspicious of something like improper defrosting of the unit causing ice blockages, and/or defrost drain tube blockage which is typical. If that backs up, this can screw everything up.

[shinnecock]

Thank you for your helps.
I also think the problem is fan. I can not feel air flow from air vent near the ice maker, so the top part of the freezer is warm as 38F. Cold air just move very slowly.
But I don't know where is the fan and how to access it. May be it is very difficult job.

[Dan O.]

I also think the problem is fan. I can not feel air flow from air vent near the ice maker, so the top part of the freezer is warm as 38F.

You can see the fan motor used on your model at the following link:

LINK > GE GSS22WGPACC Evaporator (freezer) Fan Motor

I don't know where is the fan and how to access it. May be it is very difficult job.

It is in the freezer compartment. I can't tell you how to get at it but you can see an exploded parts view of your fridge model at the following link. Maybe it will give you some ideas?

LINK > GSS22WGPACC Exploded Parts Views

JFYI

Dan O.
www.Appliance411.com
The Appliance Information Site
=D~~~~~~

[shinnecock]

Finally I opened the back panel of inside freezer. What I found? I did not see the fan, only see all tubes are covered by ice. The space is very narrow, so airflow was restricted. I run a small heater in the freezer with lower heat. After cleaned up ice, the freezer works nicely, from 60F downs to 30F only 40 minutes. Three hours late ice maker produced ice. Over night the freezer is -5F and the refrigerator is 30F. Now I watch how about the automatic defrost function.
Thank you for your help.

[Dan O.]

Finally I opened the back panel of inside freezer. What I found? ... all tubes are covered by ice.

Clear "ice" or white, snow-like "frost". It is an important distinction.

The space is very narrow, so airflow was restricted.

Yes, any buildup there can restrict air flow. Without proper air circulation, proper temperature(s) can not be maintained.

I run a small heater in the freezer with lower heat.

Be very careful of melting plastic in the area.

Now I watch how about the automatic defrost function.

You can read about how that is suppose to work on conventional frost free refrigerators at the following link. Your GE is however electronically controlled instead of using a timer or separate ADC.

LINK > How does a frost free refrigerator's defrost system work?

JFYI

Dan O.
www.Appliance411.com
The Appliance Information Site
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