How to troubleshoot Samsung - Frigidaire and Whirlpool refrigerator error codes

Samsung Refrigerator Troubleshooting Guide For Models RFG29PHDBP RFG29PHDPN RFG29PHDRS and RFG29PHDWP
Samsung refrigerator troubleshooting guide for models RFG29PHDBP, RFG29PHDPN, RFG29PHDRS,RFG29PHDWP. This Samsung refrigerator troubleshooting guide contains electrical schematics and instructions for setting the fridge in different modes via the control display/panel.  This information includes: self diagnosis mode, sales mode, forced mode, forced freeze, ice maker troubleshooting, specific error codes, compressor and system operation testing, LED light identification on main board, main board pin identification, temperature, resistance, and voltage charts for Samsung refrigerators.
 
Samsung refrigerator Models Covered for Troubleshooting: RFG29PHDBP RFG29PHDPN RFG29PHDRS RFG29PHDWP.
Self Diagnosis: Press both buttons
(Energy Saver – Lighting) simultaneously (No sound when both buttons are pressed at the same time) till the display quits blinking and beeps, 8 – 12 seconds, then release and read Fault Codes. This will also cancel the Fault Mode created by self – diagnosis at power up.
Forced Mode: Press both buttons (Energy Saver – Fridge) simultaneously (No sound when both buttons are pressed at the same time) till it beeps and goes blank, 8 – 12 seconds.
Sales Mode  No Compressor Operation Press Energy Saver & Freezer temp buttons simultaneously for 3 sec (you will hear a “Ding Dong”) to remove or put into Sales Mode. When in the Sales Mode the Display will show “OF” “OF” Removing power will not cancel this mode.
Brushless DC Fan motors are used to save energy. The fans operate at two speeds. Fan speed information is read by the Main PCB. If the fan speed exceeds 600 RPM or the speed is too slow, or stopped the fan drive circuit is disabled, After 10 seconds the circuit tries again with 3 seconds of DC voltage If the fan continues this activity for 5 cycles, 10 seconds off 3 seconds on, the fan drive circuit is disabled for 10 minutes.

TO TEST THE FAN CIRCUIT VOLTAGE:
Power off and back on to check the DC voltage to the motor, wait from 10 to 60 seconds for the fan voltage to kick in, and then check fan voltage, the average reading is 9 VDC. If you get 3 seconds of voltage every 10 seconds for the 5 fan power up cycles, then the Main PCB is good.
NOTE: You may need to put unit in FORCED FREEZE mode to activate the fans/compressor. If the fan blade is blocked by ice, then defrost and check the motor again, after removing power from the unit. If the evaporator is ice blocked and thus blocking the air flow, the fan will over RPM and is stopped. Remove ice and check the motor again. If everything is clear around the fan blade then the motor would be at fault. Continuous fan errors will be displayed on the front panel display.
NOTE: The door switches control the evaporator fan motors. Have them closed to test the motors. Delay time 10 – 60 seconds.
Heat Release Ice production explanation:
38 minutes after the water fill is complete, the control board will check the temperature of the eject Thermistor, on the Ice Maker Head, if the Thermistor reads a temperature lower than 18.5 degrees for more than 5 seconds, then the ice production process is completed. The Ice maker will harvest if the ice bucket is not sensed as full. If a Fault Mode is detected with the Ice Maker operation, the Ice Maker stops working for 3 hours. Which means, the Ice Maker checks the operation every 3 hours until it works properly.
Heat Release I/M Test Mode:
Press and hold the ICE TEST S/W for at least 1.5 sec, the harvest function will start. If the ice maker Thermistor is below 0 degrees the Ice maker heater turns on for about 2 minutes. If the temperature exceeds 0 degrees, Ice maker heater turns on for 30 seconds. After the Ice maker heater turns on for 30 seconds, the heater turns off and then Ice maker harvest motor turns on.  The motor will rotate in right direction for about 3 minutes, after this, water supply valve is turned on, then the valve is turned off, the test mode is completed. If the above operation is not carried out within 6 minutes, it will go into a fault mode.
FREEZER TEMPERATURE CONTROL BY THE ICE MAKER
Interior Temperature of the freezer will be set to – 14 degrees Fahrenheit until the ice bucket is full. When the ice bucket is full, the freezer will maintain original set temperature. Also,
whenever the ice is used, the freezer will again set to – 14 degrees Fahrenheit. Selecting “Ice Off” will allow the freezer to be controlled by the set temperature. If water is not hooked up, the freezer will always be at – 14 unless “Ice Off” is selected
Compressor & System Operation Testing
The Time Divided Multi – cycle (TDM) System (Stepper Valve) is used to switch refrigerant flow.  This improves temperature control and energy efficiency. If it fails in the all evaporator mode, it should work properly, using slightly more energy. If it fails in the Freezer evaporator only mode, there will be a Fridge no cool Force on the Fridge with the “Power Cool” option. Monitor the Fridge evaporator(s) temp by using the Defrost Sensor(s). If the temp doesn’t decrease, then suspect the Main PCB is not supplying signal to switch the diverter valve.
Whirlpool side-by-side refrigerator error codes
There are many different model numbers of Whirlpool refrigerators (side-by-side, bottom freezers, french doors) with digital displays so when you see an error code write down what is flashing or displaying. Don’t pull the power from the fridge if it shows an error code. If you pull the power plug it will erase the fault code. NOTE: Most of the error codes below are for
Whirlpool side-by-side models.
Whirlpool Refrigerator Error Code: Flashing 6 on the fridge display
Condition: The 6th Sense technology is activated – If you put warm food in the refrigerator or leave the door open, the 6th Sense technology kicks on to return the refrigerator to the set temperature. The flashing 6 should go away once it gets back to the right temperature.
Part or Parts: Allow fridge to get back to temp on its own (no parts required)
Whirlpool Refrigerator Error Code: 6 on the fridge display
Condition: Computer error
Check: Remove power for 5 minutes
Part or Parts: If code returns replace mother board
Whirlpool Refrigerator Error Code: d on the fridge display
Condition: Air damper is stuck
Check: Unplug the refrigerator and the air damper that controls air flow from the freezer
compartment to the refrigerator compartment for damage. If the air damper is broken, replace it.
Part or Parts: Air damper
Whirlpool Refrigerator Error Code: C on the fridge display
Condition: Refrigerator compartment thermistor (temperature sensor) failure
Check: Unplug the refrigerator and reconnect the refrigerator thermistor wire harness if loose.
Replace the wire harness if damaged. If the wire harness is okay, replace the refrigerator compartment thermistor.
Part or Parts: Refrigerator compartment thermistor
Whirlpool Refrigerator Error Code: C on the freezers display
Condition: Freezer compartment thermistor failure Unplug the refrigerator and reconnect the freezer thermistor wire harness if loose.
Check: Replace the wire harness if damaged. If the wire harness is okay, replace the freezer compartment thermistor.
Part or Parts: Freezer compartment thermistor
Whirlpool Refrigerator Error Code: CF on the freezers display
Condition: Communication failure between main control board and user interface control
Check: Unplug the refrigerator and check the wire harness connections on the user interface control and the main control board. Reconnect any loose wires. If the wire harness connections are okay, replace the user interface control. If the problem persists, replace the main control board.
Part or Parts: User interface control, Main control board
Whirlpool Refrigerator Error Code: 18F degrees temperature reading on the freezers display
Condition: Over-temperature condition
Check: Make sure that the refrigerator power cord is plugged into the electrical outlet securely.  The over-temperature condition is usually caused by a power failure.
Frigidaire refrigerator error code.
New style Frigidaire have built in diagnostic systems. If your refrigerator finds, sees, or detects a fault or error in the system, it will show an error or fault code. The error code will display where the usual numbers are on the display screen. When an error code is displayed, your Frigidaire refrigerator is telling you a specific fault. If the error or fault is not fixable by you, it will require a repair technician. There are many different model numbers of Frigidaire refrigerators (side-by-side and French doors) with digital displays so when you see an error code write down what is flashing or displaying. Don’t pull the power from the fridge if it shows an error code. If you pull the power plug it will erase the fault code.
Frigidaire Refrigerator Error Code = SY CE
Condition = Communications error at power up
Repair or Check = Check wiring between control board and user interface
Parts Needed = Control board or User interface
Frigidaire Refrigerator Error Code = 4
Condition = Fridge and the control board goes through cycles but does not detect a damper connection
Repair or Check = Check air damper
Parts Needed = Air damper
Frigidaire Refrigerator Error Code = 5Y EF
Condition = Evaporator fan circuit failure
Repair or Check = Check wiring between evaporator fan and control board
Parts Needed = Evaporator fan or control board
Frigidaire Refrigerator Error Code = EF
Condition = Evaporator fan circuit failure
Repair or Check = Check wiring between evaporator fan and control board
Parts Needed = Evaporator fan or control board
Frigidaire Refrigerator Error Code = dF
Condition = No defrost circuit
Repair or Check = Check wiring between defrost circuit and control board
Parts Needed = Main control board or Wiring harness

Frigidaire Refrigerator Error Code = SH
Condition = Freezer sensor shorted in freezer display
Repair or Check = Check wiring between thermistor and board. If correct, replace thermistor
Parts Needed = Thermistor (temp sensor)
Frigidaire Refrigerator Error Code = 5y CF
Condition = Communications failure at power up
Repair or Check = Check wiring between control board and user interface
Parts Needed = Control board or user interface

Frigidaire Refrigerator Error Code = OP
Condition = Fresh food sensor open in fresh food (refrigerator) display
Repair or Check = Check wiring between thermistor and board. If correct, replace thermistor
Parts Needed = Thermistor (temp sensor)
Frigidaire Refrigerator Error Code = SH
Condition = Fresh food sensor shorted in fresh food (refrigerator) display
Repair or Check = Check wiring between thermistor and board. If correct, replace thermistor
Parts Needed = Thermistor (temp sensor)
Frigidaire Refrigerator Error Code = SY EF
Condition = Evaporator fan circuit failure
Repair or Check = Check wiring between evaporator fan and control board
Parts Needed = Evaporator fan or control board.
Frigidaire Refrigerator Error Code = SY CF
Condition = Communications failure at power up
Repair or Check = Check wiring between control board and user interface
Parts Needed = Control board or user interface
The display shows “Sb” or “5b” while in Sabbath mode.
SB Sabbath Mode
The Sabbath Mode is a feature that disables portions of the fridge and its controls in accordance with observance of the Sabbath and religious holidays within the Orthodox Jewish community.  Sabbath Mode is turned ON and OFF by pressing and holding “∨” on freezer temp and “∧” on refrigerator temp for five seconds.
In the Sabbath Mode, the High Temp alarm is active for health reasons. If a high temperature alarm is activated during this time, due to a door left ajar, the alarm will sound for about 10 minutes. The alarm will then silence on its own and a red high temperature icon will display. The high temp icon will continue to display, even if the door is closed, until the Sabbath mode is exited and the icon reset. The refrigerator will function normally once the door is closed, without any violation of the Sabbath/Holidays.
When troubleshooting error codes, unplug the refrigerator and use caution.