Is your Amana refrigerator not cooling? Then you’re in the right place. This guide will tell you exactly what you need to do to find the cause of the problem and fix it.

The most common reason a refrigerator stops cooling is dirty condenser coils. Thankfully, to fix this problem all you need to do is give them a good clean. However, if cleaning the coils doesn’t fix the problem, you’ll need to use a multimeter to check numerous components within the fridge. If you don’t have a multimeter or you aren’t experienced working with electronics, you’ll need to call a technician to carry out those tests.

This guide covers all major models of Amana refrigerators, including:

12E

12F

12G

12H

12J

12JI

AFD2535DEB

AFD2535DES

AFD2535DEW

AFD2535FES

AFI2538AES

ARB2217CW

ARB9059CS

ASD2522WRB01

ASD2522WRB04

ASD2522WRS01

ASD2522WRW01

BX22S5W

SCD25TW

SXD22S2W

SXD26VW

Step 1 – Clean the condenser coils

As mentioned above, the best place to start is to clean the condenser coils. The coils can sometimes get dirty or freeze over, which causes the refrigerator to have to work overtime to cool your refrigerator. Sometimes this results in the fridge not being able to cool down enough.

To clean the condenser coils:

1. Pull the refrigerator out from the wall.
2. Turn the power off to the fridge.
3. If your Amana refrigerator has a lower back panel, remove it.
4. Check the condenser coils to see if they are dirty, covered in ice, or both.
5. If required, give them a clean and/or let the ice defrost off the coils.
6. Once the coils are nice and clean and free of frost, turn your fridge back on, and check if the refrigerator cools properly. If not, move on to step 2.

Step 2 – Check the condenser fan

If cleaning the condenser coils didn’t solve the problem, the next step is to check the condenser fan and the motor that powers it. The purpose of the fan is to blow air over the condenser coils to cool them down and stop them from frosting over. If it stops working, your fridge cannot cool down. 

You can check the condenser fan by following these steps:

1. Switch the refrigerator power off again.
2. Find the condenser fan. If you’re not sure where it is, check the manual.
3. Remove the fan cover and then attempt to turn the fan around 360 degrees.
4. If the fan cannot rotate the full 360 degrees, this indicates it is defective and needs to be replaced.
5. If the fan can rotate the full 360 degrees, the next step is to test the fan motor with a multimeter. If the test shows no continuity in the motor, replace the fan unit. If the motor does have continuity, move on to step 3.
6. Once a replacement fan has been installed, check if your fridge now works correctly. If not, move on to step 3.

Step 3 – Check the evaporator fan

Your Amana refrigerator will also have an evaporator fan; in fact, sometimes they have multiple ones. The purpose of this fan is to circulate air from the freezer compartment to the fridge compartment.

You can check the evaporator fan by following these steps:

1. Before checking the fan, open the freezer door and locate the fan at the back of the freezer compartment. While the freezer is running, check if you can hear any loud noises coming from it.
2. If you can’t hear any loud noises coming from the fan, turn your fridge off, take the cover off the fan, and try to turn it around 360 degrees.
3. If the fan cannot move around 360 degrees, check the fan motor with a multimeter.
4. If the fan motor has continuity, it’s working correctly, and you can move on to step 4. However, if the test shows no continuity, replace the evaporator fan unit.
5. After the replacement fan has been installed, turn the fridge back on and check if it is now cooling. If not, move on to step 4.

Step 4 – Check the start relay

The next step is to check the start relay. This part of your refrigerator works with the start winding to ensure the compressor can operate. If the start relay breaks, your refrigerator may not cool properly.

You can check the start relay by following these steps:

1. Ensure the power is turned off, and then locate the start relay (it’s connected to the compressor unit).
2. Once located, use a multimeter to test the start relay.
3. If the test shows the start relay has continuity, it’s working correctly, and you can move on to step 5. If it doesn’t have continuity, replace it.
4. Once the replacement start relay has been installed, turn your fridge back on, and check if the problem has been solved. If not, move on to step 5.

Step 5 – Check the temperature control thermostat

The temperature control thermostat is responsible for directing voltage to the evaporator fan motor, the compressor, and the condenser fan motor. When it becomes defective, your fridge will not be able to cool. 

You can check the temperature control thermostat by following these steps:

1. Turn the power off if it isn’t already.
2. Find the thermostat. If you’re not sure where it is, consult the manual.
3. Once found, try to manually move the thermostat from the lowest setting to the highest setting and listen for a clicking sound. If you hear a clicking sound, the thermostat is working correctly, and you can move on to step 6. If you can’t hear a click sound, you will need to test the thermostat with your multimeter.
4. If the test shows no continuity, the thermostat is faulty and will need to be replaced. If it shows that the thermostat does have continuity, move on to step 6.
5. Once the new thermostat is installed, turn your fridge back on, and check if it now works correctly. If not, move on to step 6.

Step 6 – Check the start capacitor

The start capacitor in your fridge helps the compressor to start up. If it fails to work, your fridge will not be able to cool properly. 

You can check the start capacitor by following these steps:

1. Turn the power off if it isn’t already.
2. Find the start capacitor (consult the manual if necessary), and then test it with your multimeter.
3. If the test shows no continuity, the start capacitor is faulty and will need to be replaced. If it shows that the start capacitor does have continuity, move on to step 7.
4. Once the new start capacitor is installed, turn your fridge back on, and check if it now works correctly. If not, move on to step 7.

Step 7 – Check the thermistor

The thermistor in your fridge monitors the temperature and then informs the control board so that it knows what other components that it needs to turn on or off to keep your fridge at the right temperature.

You can check the thermistor by following these steps:

1. Make sure the power is still turned off, and then locate the thermistor (consult the manual if required).
2. Once located, use your multimeter to test the thermistor.
3. The test needs to show that when the temperature changes, the residence changes too.
4. If the thermistor passes the test, move on to step 8. If it doesn’t pass the test, replace it.
5. Once the new thermistor has been successfully installed, turn your fridge back on and test if it now works properly. If not, move on to step 8.

Step 8 – Check the compressor

The compressor is the main component responsible for cooling your refrigerator. It compresses the refrigerant and then distributes it through the evaporator and condenser coils to keep your fridge at the right temperature.

You can check the compressor by following these steps:

1. Make sure the power is still switched off, and then locate the compressor at the back of the fridge.
2. Test the compressor with your multimeter. You need to place the probes on the pins that are on the side of the compressor unit. 
3. If the test shows an open circuit, the compressor will need to be replaced. Don’t attempt this repair unless you have the knowledge and ability to do so, as it’s a very complicated repair. If the compressor passes the multimeter test, you can move on to step 8.
4. Once the new compressor is successfully installed, turn your fridge back on, and check if the problem has been solved; if not, move on to step 9.

Step 9 – Replace the main control board

The last option you have is to replace the main control board. Testing the board is not possible, so you have to replace it and then check if the problem has been solved. You might, however, decide you’re better off at this point simply buying a new fridge.