Help: New Frigidaire Refrigerator Not Cooling Well - w/Pics

[GemStater]

...I know the first response will be to call Frigidaire. I did that. Already went through the warranty process. Frigidaire/Electrolux elected to give me a complete refund and told me to keep the refrigerator. Now I'm just trying to figure out if it's a design flaw or something that I can reasonably fix myself? It's a long sorted story I'm willing to discus but for now, just the specifics...

Make: Frigidaire
Model: FRSG2115AV
Purchase date: 1/1/2025
Purchased from: The Home Depot

Issue: When the refrigerator is set at the lowest set-point of 35 degrees (F), it consistently measures above 40 degrees (F), typically within the range of 42-44 degrees. This even when left overnight. The concern here is proper food preservation with meat and dairy products. For example, the FDA states proper food preservation is 40 degrees (F) or less. The Frigidaire website states that a side-by-side refrigerator should be set to 37 degrees (F). In either case, the refrigerator rarely if ever sees these temperatures. And when opening the doors during meal prep, it takes what seems like a long time to pull the temps back down to the 44 range. For a new refrigerator, this doesn't sit well with me. I'll post three(3) picture(s) below of what I'm seeing...

Below: temperatures taken with my Type-K Thermocouple Thermometer with an advertised accuracy of 2.2 degrees or 0.75%. T1 = Top shelf. T2 = Bottom shelf. Both are running at around 44 degrees (F). Probes have been in the refrigerator for a couple hours.

Below: T1. Here you can see the Type-K digital thermometer in relation to the mechanical Pecula gauge. The picture above shows 44 Degrees (F) at the same time the Pecula mechanical shows around 38 Degrees (F). Also note the little red plastic cup placed at the back of the shelf, it's completely iced over. Some say these temps are within the realm of "normal" operation but all other reference refrigerators I've owned or still own cool better than this. If this was your "new" refrigerator, what would you do with it. Side note: We do have a colder secondary refrigerator that we are keeping meat and dairy in. Our saving grace but not the most convenient.

 

[burbguy82]

Check the coils, make sure they are clean and air can flow through nicely.

If it is not that, it is likely a compressor issue or system leak.

 

[GemStater]

Check the coils, make sure they are clean and air can flow through nicely.

If it is not that, it is likely a compressor issue or system leak.

I did try an overnight doors-open standing defrost. No change. Another important note not mentioned above, the Freezer side works well.

 

[walterjay]

These new ones are a crap shoot. I went through three Frigidaire units not that long ago. All under warranty. Tech came out and said they could not be repaired. It was ridiculous. $3,500. unit.

 

[GemStater]

These new ones are a crap shoot. I went through three Frigidaire units not that long ago. All under warranty. Tech came out and said they could not be repaired. It was ridiculous. $3,500. unit.

That's interesting. Do you recall the reasons the new units were condemned? Also, did they let you keep the units or did they take them back?

 

[walterjay]

That's interesting. Do you recall the reasons the new units were condemned? Also, did they let you keep the units or did they take them back?

They just would not cool. Adding refrigerant did nothing. They removed the bad ones. This was right around C-19

 

[GemStater]

It's just the pits. Things are made harder in our situation because we need a counter-depth refrigerator. And then this go around I wanted one with no ice maker because our last Frigidaire lasted 10-years. It was part of the ice maker that did it in.

 

[jhellwig]

Thought mine junked around Thanksgiving. Just put too much hot stuff in it and they take forever to cool down. Took a couple of days to cool the fridge completely off. They work best if you keep them full and don't open them.

 

[97prizm]

...I know the first response will be to call Frigidaire. I did that. Already went through the warranty process. Frigidaire/Electrolux elected to give me a complete refund and told me to keep the refrigerator. Now I'm just trying to figure out if it's a design flaw or something that I can reasonably fix myself? It's a long sorted story I'm willing to discus but for now, just the specifics...

Make: Frigidaire
Model: FRSG2115AV
Purchase date: 1/1/2025
Purchased from: The Home Depot

Issue: When the refrigerator is set at the lowest set-point of 35 degrees (F), it consistently measures above 40 degrees (F), typically within the range of 42-44 degrees. This even when left overnight. The concern here is proper food preservation with meat and dairy products. For example, the FDA states proper food preservation is 40 degrees (F) or less. The Frigidaire website states that a side-by-side refrigerator should be set to 37 degrees (F). In either case, the refrigerator rarely if ever sees these temperatures. And when opening the doors during meal prep, it takes what seems like a long time to pull the temps back down to the 44 range. For a new refrigerator, this doesn't sit well with me. I'll post three(3) picture(s) below of what I'm seeing...

Below: temperatures taken with my Type-K Thermocouple Thermometer with an advertised accuracy of 2.2 degrees or 0.75%. T1 = Top shelf. T2 = Bottom shelf. Both are running at around 44 degrees (F). Probes have been in the refrigerator for a couple hours.

Below: T1. Here you can see the Type-K digital thermometer in relation to the mechanical Pecula gauge. The picture above shows 44 Degrees (F) at the same time the Pecula mechanical shows around 38 Degrees (F). Also note the little red plastic cup placed at the back of the shelf, it's completely iced over. Some say these temps are within the realm of "normal" operation but all other reference refrigerators I've owned or still own cool better than this. If this was your "new" refrigerator, what would you do with it. Side note: We do have a colder secondary refrigerator that we are keeping meat and dairy in. Our saving grace but not the most convenient.

I bought a Kenmore at Lowe's last year In September or so, and definitely got the three year warranty which according to the appliance associate you get half back at the end. It's been flawless The orginal fridge that my parents purchased new in 1991 fell apart. The Kenmore was $900 off during their special so I ordered it. It was delivered with a quarter sized dent. I told them to take it back. The second came with the regular stainless steel finish instead of the dark stainless finish. From repair places it sounds like it's the compressor or fan. You shouldn't have it frozen in the back and almost 40ish in the front.

 

[Starbright]

The thermistor resistance may be off, meaning the control board is sensing a lower temperature than actual. Or a connector for that thermistor may be bad, adding resistance. One thing to try is pulling the connector for that thermistor on the control board and reseating it. Also pulling the thermistor and checking the resistance when it is in ice water (32 degrees) to see if the resistance is correct. Likely the service techs have done this, but just in case they haven't this is one place to look. There should be a tech sheet under the fridge that shows the wiring diagram and the color codes for the fresh food temp sensor so you can find the connector on the main board. Like white/grey wire. This was a problem with my fridge.

 

[thescreensavers]

Frigidaire ain't what it used to be, I have a freezer from them. It functions fine but the the wire shelfs are too small and fall, I've had to rig them up so they don't calapse.

 

[GemStater]

The thermistor resistance may be off, meaning the control board is sensing a lower temperature than actual. Or a connector for that thermistor may be bad, adding resistance. One thing to try is pulling the connector for that thermistor on the control board and reseating it. Also pulling the thermistor and checking the resistance when it is in ice water (32 degrees) to see if the resistance is correct. Likely the service techs have done this, but just in case they haven't this is one place to look. There should be a tech sheet under the fridge that shows the wiring diagram and the color codes for the fresh food temp sensor so you can find the connector on the main board. Like white/grey wire. This was a problem with my fridge.

Thanks. The temp sensor is one of the things I've wondered about. Interesting you refer to the service tech. The service tech that came to my house didn't check anything. Didn't take anything apart. Didn't even verify the temperature with his own temp messuring device. He simply guessed that I may have a bad evaporator fan or damper motor and that was his official diagnosis. Kind of makes me wonder how many of these "bad" refrigerators are condemned based on poor or nonexistent troubleshooting skills? It's hard to get good help these days.

 

[GemStater]

Posted below, the Service Data Sheet I found tucked in the back refrigerator. It's interesting to note that the discontinued model FRSG1915AV shares the same wiring schematic with my unit, model FRSG2115AV. And this is interesting because the service tech told me that my model was so new that parts for it are currently unavailable. So if the 2115 and the 1915 share the same wiring schematic, would they not share many of the same parts? Don't know? I can't find a release date for the 1915 but I did find THIS product review on YouTube from three years ago. So I assume this basic design build has been on the market for at least that long and the only thing "new" about my unit is a cosmetic refresh.

So besides my 2115 being a counter-depth, which we need, it also lacks an ice maker which is what I also wanted. No ice maker. No water lines. Just a simple basic refrigerator. The other thing that turned me on to this model of Frigidaire is YouTube channel: Bens Appliances and Junk, where in THIS video, Ben cites the Frigidaire FRSG1915AV as having among the simplest wiring schematics for refrigerators on the market today.

I think now I can start searching for issues and possible solutions posted about model FRSG1915AV, and that might likely apply to my model.

Anyway, here is the Service Data Sheet as promised...

 

[Starbright]

I would also check the door seal. If it's leaking a little bit of air it could cause your symptoms. Unlikely since it's new, but a simple test with a dollar bill against the seal when the door is closed - is it too easy to pull out.

It could also be what the tech said. Damper motor or fan could cause your problem. That would mean not enough cold air is getting pushed into the fridge.

 

[GemStater]

The thermistor resistance may be off, meaning the control board is sensing a lower temperature than actual. Or a connector for that thermistor may be bad, adding resistance. One thing to try is pulling the connector for that thermistor on the control board and reseating it. Also pulling the thermistor and checking the resistance when it is in ice water (32 degrees) to see if the resistance is correct. Likely the service techs have done this, but just in case they haven't this is one place to look. There should be a tech sheet under the fridge that shows the wiring diagram and the color codes for the fresh food temp sensor so you can find the connector on the main board. Like white/grey wire. This was a problem with my fridge.

Okay, I've dug up some info on the temp sensor but still not sure how to locate the temp sensor. It would appear it is the gray wire sensor on the schematic. Also found the exploded view of the FRSG1915AV posted below. The temp sensor is Number. #93 But where to look for it??

 

[GemStater]

This may be the temp sensor in question. Number #93 = Electrolux P/N #5304525383. Again, where is it?

 

[Starbright]

93 might be the freezer sensor?. Looks like the sensors are on the wall. There should be air vents in a channel that carries the air. The sensor would be in the airflow.

 

[Chris142]

Put it in your garage for soda and beer storage!

 

[Starbright]

Caution - on my french door top/bottom fridge it's in the fresh food air channel. Don't know about yours.

 

[Cujet]

As mentioned above, sounds like the temp probe is out of calibration. Try heating it and see if the temp comes down. Also of note, modern fridges are extremely slow to cool. Often taking days and requiring some internal mass to cool. Gallons of water will work.

The other option is to calibrate it. Maybe via software. But more likely, by adding a resistor in Parallel with the thermistor. Try a 100K resistor across the wires. This should bring the temp down 9ºF.

Edit: A resistor in parallel with the thermistor will cause it to read a higher temperature than before. The hope is that the fridge is otherwise functional and this will cause the fridge to cool itself to the normal range.