OT - Noisy GE fridge evaporator fan

[NHAero]

I've gone the youtube route, etc. Had the tower cover off, no loose fasteners, not iced up, fan not hitting anything. Making a racket, then stops, then starts again. Just ordered a new fan/motor/grommet, but wondered if this has some simple solution besides replacement. Fridge is about 4 years old, basic model, not even an icemaker, top freezer.
Thanks!
Going out for a ride to get away from the d@&n thing!

[weisan]

http://www.jimlangley.net/wrench/keepitquiet.html

[Louis]

Originally Posted by weisan

http://www.jimlangley.net/wrench/keepitquiet.html

I say it's the fridge's seatpost (unless it's the front derailleur clamp).

[dancinkozmo]

[johnmdesigner]

Try posting here;

http://www.fixya.com/

Have had some success getting my questions answered.

[ultraman6970]

The fan is doing what it suppose to be doing, on/off. If the bearings went bad and is noisy, no other solution, replace the fan motor. 4 years is not like a long time but now a days nothing last forever. Better the fan than the whole unit.

It is cooling ok?

[Ken Robb]

I guess you made sure the blades were clean, right? I had a bathroom fan that got noisy due to fluff from towels accumulating on the blades causing an imbalance and vibration.

[jumphigher]

I think we have the same fridge as you, OP. Cost about the same, and is a bare bones model. I will never buy another GE product, it's total garbage. Made a racket from day one, and the freezer section has never sealed properly so the food gets ice crystals over it constantly. Complete POS..

[SlowPokePete]

We have a GE refrigerator that was new when we moved in to our house, the noise we had was silenced by placing a ceramic bowl (like small cereal / ice-cream bowl) so that it presses up against the fan unit...not sure if this is the same as the problem you describe, but I was glad when I figured this one out...

July 21, 2017 by SlowPoke Pete, on Flickr

SPP

[NHAero]

SPP, you get an honorary engineering degree!

First thing I did after making sure the fan wasn't dirty or iced up was make sure the tower cover and panel were not vibrating.

New motor/fan/grommet is on the way...

Originally Posted by SlowPokePete

We have a GE refrigerator that was new when we moved in to our house, the noise we had was silenced by placing a ceramic bowl (like small cereal / ice-cream bowl) so that it presses up against the fan unit...not sure if this is the same as the problem you describe, but I was glad when I figured this one out...

July 21, 2017 by SlowPoke Pete, on Flickr

SPP

[Idris Icabod]

You're probably not going to believe this because it sounds crazy but we had the same issue. GE repair guy came and did a software update and the noise disappeared! I sh1t you not, our fridge needed a software update! Still sounds crazy to say that.

[ultraman6970]

Koreans and their liking of putting high tech to their appliances...

[wallymann]

check out the fan fixing nut.

while the fan is running, stop it with your fingers -- if the noise stops, there's your smoking gun. continue reading...

there should be a stamped-metal hex nut that holds the fan in place on the motor's driveshaft.

make sure it's snug, hold the fan with your hand and just snug down with the properly sized socket -- roughly 1/2".

we had a GE fridge for 17 years and this was our issue. every 2-3 years the nut would loosen a skosh and the rattle would commence. so i'd slide it out from the counter pull off the cover and snug the nut down...silence!

sometimes i'll walk down the cooler aisle at the grocery store and i'll hear that tell-tale rattle from one of the units!

[NHAero]

This is the most basic unit - no LEDs, no touch screen - so I hope no software! The evap fan is held on with a circular metal band that gets expanded over the fan and then the assembly is pushed onto the motor shaft - no nut. Condenser fan may well have a nut.

Thanks all!

[93KgBike]

Vestfrost makes good fridges, badged for a bunch of different companies, across the price spectrum.