Viking Refrigerator Freezer Compartment Issues

1. Condenser Coils

If the coils are inside the walls of the freezer, then you don’t need to clean them. But if they are easily accessible behind or under the freezer, check to see if they are dirty. Clean them thoroughly if they are and repeat the cleaning process every 6 months.

Dirty coils mean the freezer will carry the heat from the refrigerant because the coils will not be able to dissipate efficiently.

2. Start Relay

Check the continuity of the start relay with a multimeter between the run and start terminal sockets. If there is no continuity, replace the start relay. In addition to this, if the start relay has a burnt smell, replace it.

The compressor is likely not to run if the start relay is bad. And the freezer cannot cool, let alone freeze, if the compressor does not run.

3. Temperature Control Thermostat

When you turn the thermostat to the highest temperature setting, you should hear a sound like a click. This tells you that the thermostat is working fine. If, however, you don’t hear this click, then be aware that the thermostat is likely defective. To be sure, test it for continuity with a multimeter. If you don’t find continuity in the multimeter, replace the thermostat.

Without the thermostat, the refrigerant system will not run. And consequently, the freezer will not get cold or freeze.

4. Evaporator Fan Motor

Check the motor of the fan by opening the door of the freezer and activating the door switch. Usually, doing this will get the evaporator fan running again even if the door is open because if you open the door of the freezer, the fan automatically stops running.

However, if you activate the switch and the fan does not run, then the motor is faulty. It needs to be replaced.

The freezer cannot get cold or freeze if the evaporator fan doesn’t run. And the fan cannot run if the motor is faulty.

5. Condenser Fan Motor

If the blades of the fan don’t turn freely when you try to turn them with your hand, then the bearings of the motor of the fan have worn so the motor should be replaced.

But if the blades turn freely and no external object is keeping them from turning yet the motor is not running, test it for continuity with a multimeter. If there is no continuity, replace the motor of the fan.

6. Evaporator Coils

The evaporator or cooling coils are responsible for releasing cold air so that the evaporator fan can blow it into the freezer. So if they have frost on them, they will not be able to perform optimally. Consequently, there will likely be no cold air in the freezer.

Check for frost on them. Defrost the frost with a safe heat source or by defrosting the freezer manually. And if the coils are dirty, clean them thoroughly.

It is important to note here that for frost to build on the evaporator coils, one or more components of the defrost system has failed.

Test the defrost heater with a multimeter to see if there is continuity. Replace the heater if there is none.

If the heater is working fine, then check the defrost timer. Turn it with a flathead screwdriver counter-clockwise and wait to see if the heater comes on. If the heater comes on, then the timer is defective and should be replaced.

You can also check the defrost thermostat to see if it is defective. If it is, it cannot allow the defrost heater to come on when it senses that the cooling coils are cold enough to be warmed by the heater.

We would like to point out here that these corrective steps apply to all types and models of Viking freezers.

If your Viking freezer is not freezing and you want to perform a diagnostic or repair work on it, unplug it from the wall outlet. You can also switch the circuit breaker for the freezer off if you cannot easily reach the wall outlet. This is the first safety step in electronic repair work.