Samsung RS20CCMS American style fridge freezer problem

[JayGee]

I would welcome any help/advice regarding a problem with a 3 year old Samsung RS20CCMS Fridge Freezer. I have had this problem since late November 2007.

Every 2-3 weeks, the fridge temperature on the display panel starts flashing and the fridge air feels slightly warmer than usual. I then unpack everything from the freezer side and remove the evaporator cover – and find that the evaporator is almost fully covered with an ice block (although the defrost coil is always free of ice). I can defrost this using a hair dryer, put everything back together again and the fridge freezer works again for another 2-3 weeks.

I have the following additional information:

1. If I press and hold the light switch with the freezer door open, I can hear the freezer fan working.

2. I can use the control panel to perform a manual defrost – the defrost element (located below the evaporator coil) gets warm, so it appears to be working correctly.

3. I can use the control panel to enter the diagnostic mode. Until today, there was never any error displayed. As of today, the lower right element of the freezer digit is lit – if this is the same as the RS21

see:
http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/modules.p … ge&pid=209

then I believe that it is LED 10, which appears to be Freezer Defrost Sensor Error.

4. I have spoken to a refrigeration engineer who specialises in Samsung repairs. He advises me that I am experiencing a common fault (and design flaw) with the RS20 model, related to condensation from the refrigerator side entering the freezer side. This was addressed by introducing the RS21 and that this fault on the RS20 is not repairable.

So, my questions are:

a. Is it worth ordering and replacing the freezer defrost sensor, or could this be a “red herring” from the diagnostics? Or are there any other troubleshooting suggestions (i.e. check/replace evaporator cover or other sensors/fuses?). One of my problems is that I have had to learn all of the above troubleshooting through the internet as I can’t find a maintenance/service manual for this model anywhere.

b. Should I just bite the bullet and bin this unit and replace it?

c. Although money is always an issue, if it is best to replace the unit, what should I get? I am prepared to spend more money if it can buy me peace of mind for more than just 3 years. Are Maytags or Siemens units worth the significant premium? Any advice of specific american style models that are worth the money?

I’ve just become fed up because I didn’t expect I would buy a fridge freezer that only lasts 3 years and it almost seems as if the unit isn’t fit for purpose. I know I can always buy extended warranties but I am more interested in reliability than having a warranty to fix something once it has broken down – any help or advice is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

[admin]

Re: Samsung RS20CCMS American style fridge freezer problem

Hi

The fault will most likely be the defrost sensor.

This model does NOT have a design flaw and is one of the most reliable of all the frost free side by sides.

As for condesation going into the freezer from the fridge then yes that would happen but never to the extent that this is.

Bryan

[JayGee]

Thank you for your reply Bryan.
I’ll order a replacement defrost sensor and replace it in that case and let you know the outcome.
Jay

[Ralphy]

JayGee wrote:Thank you for your reply Bryan.
I’ll order a replacement defrost sensor and replace it in that case and let you know the outcome.
Jay

Jay

Can you let me know if this has worked, as I have the same problem with mine.

Thanks
Ralph

[expertcat]

you shoukld also check the thermal fuse.

[helo_75]

oops, the post i was having a go at was deleted, so ive deleted my sarcastic response

😆

[simonsgl1]

Re: Samsung RS20CCMS American style fridge freezer problem

I forgot to metion that if you remove the lower cover in the freezer compartment, you will find that if you have the dodgy matrix type of defrost unit, it will be a square of bendy pipes below the main freezer element and will be totally engulfed in ice.

You are right in quoting “not fit for the purpose” as this what Trading Standards told me too.

Please note that your fridge is exactly the same age as mine and the problem started at almost exactly the same time!

In defence of the Comet engineers, they did everything in their power and abilities to help me and although they were confident they could eventually fix my fridge, they decided I had suffered enough and told me they were going to authorise a new one. The shop manager also was very very helpful although he did try to get me to part with another £100 for the nearest replacement model (RSH1NHMH) until I reminded him of Comets legal obligation to supply like-for-like.
Cheers,
Simon

[helo_75]

like a dog with a bone……….

[simonsgl1]

Re: Samsung RS20CCMS American style fridge freezer problem

Well obviously my last post was pulled for some reason! It would be nice to know why as the reason for the post was because if someone less determined than myself should be in the unfortunate situation that I was with my fridge freezer, they would be faced with an ENORMOUS pile of call-out charges and end up having to buy a new fridge in the end anyway.
My experience was a result of lack of communication between manufacturer and engineers and a denial that a design fault existed which was proved to be not the case.
My posting was based on 100{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} fact and relied on no opinions or guesses. So I guess thats that!
Simon.

[kwatt]

Re: Samsung RS20CCMS American style fridge freezer problem

simonsgl1 wrote:Well obviously my last post was pulled for some reason!

It was deleted by me as you had duplicated it to another thread, you‘d just copied an pasted and that’s not helpful. There was also a note as to why and some commentary from myself.

K.

[helo_75]

Re: Samsung RS20CCMS American style fridge freezer problem

simonsgl1 wrote:Well obviously my last post was pulled for some reason! It would be nice to know why as the reason for the post was because if someone less determined than myself should be in the unfortunate situation that I was with my fridge freezer, they would be faced with an ENORMOUS pile of call-out charges and end up having to buy a new fridge in the end anyway.
My experience was a result of lack of communication between manufacturer and engineers and a denial that a design fault existed which was proved to be not the case.
My posting was based on 100{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} fact and relied on no opinions or guesses. So I guess thats that!
Simon.

with the greatest of respect, we only have what you say as being gospel, so please bear in mind that ‘we’ the engineers cant always take things on face value

if you want facts, some of the things you quoted were somewhat precarious, to say the least

[helo_75]

AND if theres somesort of design fault, with all these ‘problems’ , why the hell did u inflict another one on yourself?

im pretty sure if i had a gun with 2 bullets, and id shot myself, and it hurt, im quite certain i wouldnt shoot myself again :rolls:

honestly

[simonsgl1]

Re: Samsung RS20CCMS American style fridge freezer problem

Fair enuf Kwatt, but I didnt realise posting the same reply to two very similar probs was against the rules so I apologise for that! Didnt see and still cant find the comment you said you made about that by the way.

Helo 75,
The reason I have inflicted another Samsung on myself is purely due to the fact that the design fault has been sorted and I have accepted a newer considerably updated model. Also I am what would be considered a “Samsung fan” after a long relationship with the company’s products… even though their aftersales service leaves something to be desired!
The descision was also made following reports from the MANY engineers who visited me (and several others who I spoke to including one of my own customers who is a very experienced engineer) that Samsung fridges are generally known to be amongst the most reliable units available. I respect their advice and experience.
This is borne out by the relatively low cost of extended warranties available on the items. (unless there is another factor, such as cheap parts, involved in this of course).
If I gave the wrong impression that I am an anti-engineer know-it-all, please be informed that my information and facts were based on the research and efforts of the most qualified and experienced engineers who helped me. The comment about Samsungs lack of support was the opinion of ALL the engineers who visited me, which I also experienced personally.
The first few engineers made a wrong diagnosis of the problem based solely on past experiences. We cant all be the best of the best and everyone can learn something from someone who has had a prob like I had.
I am in the “repair tech” business of a different kind and I always take on board advice from my customers who have experienced something I havent in my 20 years of professional experience. It pays off!

Secondly, I’m not really sure why you consider some of the points I raised as being dubious. I would welcome your critiscisms so as to give me the opportunity to reply to them. I make a point of basing anything I post to the web on absolute fact or reliable source as I do not ever wish to mislead anyone.
Please be aware that my experience was not based on a problem that was solved with a phone call and a visit by an engineer, it has been going on for six months and seven engineer visits plus a lot of internet research based on this ONE single model. And A LOT of research and chasing around by the guys at Comets workshop.
Cheers,
Simon.

[Loubylou]

Re: Samsung RS20CCMS American style fridge freezer problem

Hi,

I am having this problem with a secondhand RS20CCMS fridge freezer I bought recently.

What was the outcome of changing the defrost sensor? Did it work?

Thanks,

Louise.

[admin]

Re: Samsung RS20CCMS American style fridge freezer problem

Hi Loubylou

The problem could be with either a blocked drain or the bottom heater failure or insulation failure round the drain channel which will cause the drain to become frozen and then overspill into the freezer compartment

Bryan

[Author]

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