How to Troubleshoot Cooling and Water Leak Issues in a KitchenAid Refrigerator

Look for these symptoms: a warm refrigerator compartment with a cold freezer, ice on the rear wall, a grinding noise from the back wall, or water in the crisper drawers.

Move perishable food to a cooler since the refrigerator compartment may warm up during the repair.

Keep towels nearby because removing the water filter and lines can spill water.

Remove the top shelves by pulling up on them, and then pulling them out of the refrigerator.

Find the small plastic hook on the inner side of each crisper drawer glide.

Use a screwdriver to push the hook toward the front of the drawer, and then pull up to release the drawer.

Pull the drawer out of the glides after the inner hook is released.

Remove the glass and lift out the entire crisper assembly, which may come out as one piece or as two pieces.

Remove the chef pantry glass.

Pull the large chef pantry drawer out of the refrigerator.

Locate the large cross piece that spans the cabinet, which must come out to access the rear evaporator area.

Remove the glass above the chef pantry area on a three-door model.

Use a flathead screwdriver to remove the wire-harness cover on the chef pantry.

Unplug the wire from the harness so the cross piece can be removed.

Slide the cross piece to the left and make sure the wire trunk is removed so the cross piece can lift out.

Use a 1/4 inch hex-head screwdriver to remove the two long screws from the filter assembly cover.

Open the water housing at the top of the refrigerator and remove the water filter.

Use a screwdriver to pry the plastic facade down off the water housing tabs.

Disconnect the wire harness from the lights so the panel can come out of the refrigerator.

Separate every wire harness between the water tower and the ice maker so nothing is still tethered.

Use needle-nose pliers to push the cap into the valve, and then pull the water line out from the water tower.

Gently pry the ice maker front facade out and disconnect the small wire harness for the heater behind it.

Use a 1/4 inch hex-head screwdriver to remove the two screws holding the ice maker in its housing.

Pull the ice maker housing forward, and then down, to remove it from its mounting clips.

Use a 1/4 inch hex-head screwdriver to remove the two screws holding the evaporator panel on.

Release the air tower cover by separating the small tabs located on the outside edges of the metal shelf brackets.

Use a screwdriver to pry each tab free, and work slowly because it can be tedious.

Pull the air tower cover off to expose the evaporator system and fan area.

Check whether the evaporator fan is running after the evaporator area is exposed.

Enter Diagnostics by pressing and holding the left two buttons on the door interface for three seconds.

Press the fifth button to cycle until you reach option number three for the evaporator fan.

Press the third button once to shift fan modes and see if the fan turns on.

Locate the harness connection that powers the fan and thermostats.

Press the small flap on the connector and pull it apart, using a screwdriver if needed.

Inspect the connector pins for corrosion that could prevent power from reaching the fan.

Clean the connection with a specialty electrical cleaner if corrosion is present.

Replace the fan kit if the fan still doesn’t run after the connection is restored.

Identify the thermistor on the evaporator area, since a failed thermistor can end defrost too early and leave heavy ice buildup.

Remove any thermostat that is clipped to the fan housing by releasing it with needle-nose pliers if present on the model.

Release the fan from its four rubber mounting pegs by stretching the pegs so the fan can drop free.

Use needle-nose pliers to pull the pegs from the bottom so the pegs are stressed, not the fan housing.

Install the replacement fan, thermistor, and thermostat parts as a matched kit for the refrigerator model.

Move the thermistor from the top of the black and copper coils to the flat section of the black evaporator where ice commonly forms.

Thread the white thermistor wire back through the small hole and secure it in the gray thermistor holder.

Mount the fan by threading the four black pegs into their slots and pulling each peg with needle-nose pliers to fully seat it.

Apply the sticky insulation tape to the front of the fan if it is included with the kit.

Inspect the drain line hole below the evaporator area for debris and blockages.

Remove debris from the drain hole using curved needle-nose pliers if needed.

Flush the drain using a bottle of water and a small plastic line to blast out ice and small lodged debris.

Enter Diagnostics on the door interface again.

Select mode number seven in Diagnostics.

Press button number three to switch to the second mode, which forces a basic defrost pattern.

Reinstall the air tower cover, evaporator cover, ice maker, water housing parts, cross piece, drawers, and shelves by reversing the removal steps.

Plug the refrigerator in and monitor cooling performance after reassembly.