Samsung RL33SBSW buzzing – how to open evaporator cover?

[tomr]

Hi all

With brilliant timing, my Samsung fridge/freezer died as we were about to go and celebrate the new year. It’s a RL33SBSW, out of warranty.

The fridge has started to make an intermittent buzzing sound. This seems to come from behind a panel in the bottom (freezer) cabinet. The actual cooling compressor itself is around the back and showing no signs of problems. Four of the fridge’s five lights are also flashing – the manual very helpfully states that this means “the refridgerator is in trouble”, and of course Samsung are out of the office until the 2nd of Jan now.

From reading these forums I think the cause is likely to be a fan behind the cover at the back of the freezer compartment rubbing on some ice. The cover is held on with four philips screws – I switched off and removed these, but the cover didn’t come off easily and I didn’t want to force it.

Does anyone have an idea of what might be wrong – am I right in suspecting a fan problem, or barking up the wrong tree, and if I am correct does anyone know how to get that cover off to hairdryer away the ice?

Thanks in advance, and happy new year!

Tom

[admin]

Re: Samsung RL33SBSW buzzing – how to open evaporator cover?

Hi

2 options here. 1st turn off for 24 hours with both doors left open and it will revert back to working correctly when switched back on.

2nd cover is removed by removing the 4 screws on the back panel and then a few sharp tugs from the bottom and then at the top.

You will probably find that the square duct is iced up ths is normally due to one of the doors not been clossed fully at some point.

use a hair drier and direct up trhe duct at the top left and also the duct on the bottom right unit you feel the heat comming out through the back vents in the fridge and the vent behind the salad drawer.

Bryan

[tomr]

Re: Samsung RL33SBSW buzzing – how to open evaporator cover?

Thanks very much – really appreciate your prompt reply. Will see if I can get the cover off tomorrow morning and give it a blast with the hairdryer – I did give the cover a pull from both the top and bottom earlier, but maybe I just didn’t pull it hard enough.

Edit – just an update. Everything in the fridge froze solid overnight, so we’ve completely emptied it and turned off.

Will leave for 24 hours and keep my fingers crossed. If this does fix the problem, is it likely to happen again a few months down the line?

Thanks again

Tom

[Mike-in-Horwich]

Re: Samsung RL33SBSW buzzing – how to open evaporator cover?

tomr

when you say your fridge is out of warranty do you mean it’s more than 2 years old or more than 5 years old.

Mine carried a 2 yea warranty. However, Samsung have extended this to 5 years re. evaporator cover and a couple of other items, resulting from a Watchdog program identifying a fault in the design of the evap. cover.

If you remove this cover you might invalidate your warranty and Samsun would not then honour their committment to replace such units f.o.c.

Just thought I’d warn you in case this is relevant.

[tomr]

Re: Samsung RL33SBSW buzzing – how to open evaporator cover?

Thanks Mike. Was your fridge an American style fridge (RS20/21 I think) or an upright European-style one?

I’ve read a lot on the web about Samsung extending the warranty for the American-style models, but although the symptoms sound similar there’s no info on whether the extension covers my model (RL33SB, 2.5 years old).

Thanks

Tom

[admin]

Re: Samsung RL33SBSW buzzing – how to open evaporator cover?

Hi Tom

Mine carried a 2 yea warranty. However, Samsung have extended this to 5 years re. evaporator cover and a couple of other items, resulting from a Watchdog program identifying a fault in the design of the evap. cover.

If you remove this cover you might invalidate your warranty and Samsun would not then honour their committment to replace such units f.o.c.

Please ignore this lunatic who it seems would gladly electrocute anyone who doesnt know how or why electricity is a killer.

The RL33 is NOT effected by this evaperator and is a totally different appliance and does NOT have a LIMITED extended 5 year warranty.if you follow the instructions given in my first post it will solve your problem.

Bryan ( FULLY qualified and AUTHORISED samsung engineer )

[tomr]

Re: Samsung RL33SBSW buzzing – how to open evaporator cover?

OK – I’ve read the post about the computer fan in the fridge, so I’ll steer well clear of that argument and just say thanks to both of you for your help 🙂

We turned the fridge off at 9am so it’s now slowly warming up – will power it back up tomorrow morning. If that does fix the problem, do you know if it’s likely to happen again in future?

Tom

[admin]

Re: Samsung RL33SBSW buzzing – how to open evaporator cover?

Hi Tom

The problem is normally caused when the fridge or freezer door hasnt been fully closed by either a basket not fully in or the sensor (right hand side middle shelf cage) in the fridge being blocked by over filling.

Bryan

[tomr]

Re: Samsung RL33SBSW buzzing – how to open evaporator cover?

OK – thanks again for your help.

Tom

[Mike-in-Horwich]

Re: Samsung RL33SBSW buzzing – how to open evaporator cover?

Bryan,

I find your comment offensive. I’m no lunatic. I have every respect for qualified engineers and would not lower myself to denigrate you or your fellow contributors to this public, open forum.

And that is the point, Bryan.

This is a public, open forum. If you chose to understand what I was trying to suggest to tomr it was……..open the evap. cover at the risk of invalidating warranties.

As to electrocuting people……with a 12 volt supply ? Speak to the state correctional facilities in many of the U.S. states Bryan, they could save a fortune on electricity costs. 😆

[bazza500]

Re: Samsung RL33SBSW buzzing – how to open evaporator cover?

Mike-in-Horwich wrote: I’m no lunatic.

I feel a poll coming on… :rotl:

[Mike-in-Horwich]

Re: Samsung RL33SBSW buzzing – how to open evaporator cover?

Original pc fan still working lads. 💡 After just about 2 years.

Samsung could ony warrant their replacement evap. cover for 3 months. Good for them; it broke down after 8.

So, yeah, I suppose I am a lunatic.

Bring on the poll. 😆 Nice one bazza – at least you comment is humorous.

Mike

[tomr]

Re: Samsung RL33SBSW buzzing – how to open evaporator cover?

Hi again

Quick update: we turned the fridge off for 24 hours, switched on and the noise immediately started up again.

I opened up the evaporator cover and found that the fan was fine and spinning freely. On the other hand, the plastic flap in the top left was jammed on a bit of insulation foam.

I pulled this free, and on starting the fridge the noise and flashing lights were gone. The flap slowly rotated a few times, then came to rest in this position:

So I suppose the noise was the motor that drives this flap round . My only concern now is whether the flap is in the right place, or whether it’s been knocked off its axis – does anyone know whether it’s now in the correct position, or should it be closing that hole up?

Many thanks again

Tom

[admin]

Re: Samsung RL33SBSW buzzing – how to open evaporator cover?

Hi Tom

The vent is in the correct position,when the fridge requires cooling it will open and then close once the fridge has reached temprature.The duct motor will turn to check that the motor is ok on first start up.

Bryan

[tomr]

Re: Samsung RL33SBSW buzzing – how to open evaporator cover?

Brilliant. Thanks again for your help – would have been out shopping for a new fridge otherwise (probably not a Samsung..)

Tom

[Author]

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