Monday, March 21, 2011

Original main control board

Here's a picture of the orignal main control board that came out. 



Sticker reads:
WKKT Model No: 0158-01-02
UL Model No:R101
GEA Part No 200D4852G010
5204DG

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Text of GE letter advising technicians of main board recall

General Electric
November 7, 2006
Dear GE Customer Care Servicers,
GE Consumer & Industrial places a very high priority on product quality and customer satisfaction
and thus continuously assesses our product reliability. Recent analysis has discovered a potential
problem with the main circuit board on a limited number of refrigerator models, which could lead
to lower than anticipated life expectancy on that component. Therefore, if the main circuit
board fails, GE Consumer & Industrial will replace this part free of charge to the consumer until
further notice.
Models Covered: see attachment
The models affected are side­by­side plastic liner, side­by­side metal liner, bottom freezer two
door and bottom freezer French door. The models were produced between May 2005 and August
2006 (HH -- RL serial range) and are included in this program. See enclosed list.
Potential Additional Covered Parts:
Specific parts involving the failure of the main board are included in this program. These parts
are limited to the following:
­Evaporator Fan failure, only if accompanied by a Main Board failure
­Dispenser Board failure, only if accompanied by a Main Board failure
The main board part number in cases in WR55X10552. Please use your normal warranty MA00 job
code for this repair. If you encounter an evaporator fan or dispenser board failure due to the
above main board, please include on your invoice and use the normal MA00 job code. It is critical
that you verify the proper functioning of the unit including the evaporator fan motor and
dispenser board before leaving the home to avoid a repeat call.
Units may be in or out of the standard 1­year product warranty and both instances are covered
under this concession program.
If you previously completed this repair and charged the consumer, please send a copy of the
service invoice to General Electric Consumer Relations, PO Box 10736, Norfolk, VA 23513 or fax a
copy to 1­877­299­0725 so that we may issue a refund to the consumer.
Sincerely,
Richard Zutterman
GE Consumer & Industrial
Appliances
Richard Zutterman
National Service Manager
Consumer Home Services
Appliance Park, AP6­239
Louisville, KY 40225
USA
T 502­452­3168
F 502­452­7940
Richard.Zutterman@ge.com

Begin page 2
Plastic Liner Models
Serial # ZH ­ RL
Dec 05 ­ Aug 06
Metal Liner
Serial # MH2 ­ AL2
Jul 05 ­ Jan 06
DSF25MG PSI23NS BSS25JFR
Bottom Mount
Full Door
Serial # TH0 ­ ML0
Oct 05 ­ Jul 06
DSS25MG PSI23SG BSS25JSR GBS20
DSS25MS PSS23MG DSS25JFP GBS22
GSL25LG PSS23MS GSH22JFR GDL20
GSS23LG PSS23NG GSH22JSR GDS20
GSS23LS PSS23NS GSH22UFR PDF22
GSS25LG PSS23SG GSH25JFR PDS20
GSS25LS PSS26MG GSH25JSR PDS22
GSS25MS PSS26MS GSH25UFR PDW22
GSW25LS PSS26NG GSL22JFR SDL20
PCF23MG PSS26NH GSL25IFR
PCF23NG PSS26NS GSL25JFR
PCF23NH PSS26SG GSS20DBP
PCT23SG PSS26SH GSS20IBP
PCT23SH PSS27NG GSS20IEP
PIT23SG PSS27NS GSS22IBP
PSC23MG PSS27SG GSS22IFR
PSC23MS PSS29NG GSS22JER
PSC23NG PSS29NH GSS25IFR
PSC23NH PSS29NS GSS25JER
PSC23NS PSS29SG HSM25GFR
Bottom Mount
French Door
Serial # HH0 ­ ML0
May 05 ­ Jul 06
PSC23SG PSS29SH HSS25GFP PFS22
PSC23SH PST26NG SSH25KFR
PSF23MG PST26SG
PSF23NG PST26SH
PSF26MG PST27SG
PSF26NG PST29NH
PSF26NH PSW26MS
PSF29NG PSW26SG
PSF29NH PWT26SG
PSH29NH SSL27RG
PSI23MG ZFSB26D
PSI23NG

GE Profile Refrigerator Repair

This post is written to assist those who are trying to understand why their GE Profile Refrigerator is malfunctioning.


The problem was as follows. We have a GE Profile fridge, Model PSC23NGSA (from 2005) with the vertical side by side doors. ("French doors".) Neither the fridge or the freezer was staying cool. The fridge was making a clicking sound. Opening the doors, the display on the front was flashing "HRS".


We did some basic troubleshooting. Put the food into coolers to try and save it as well as clear the vents. We unplugged and plugged the fridge back in. We made sure it was not in demo mode. The thermostat had been replaced in the past so that rules that out.


Doing some web searches showed that this has happened to others as well. The failing part is the main board.  The exact part number for the replacement main board is WR55X10942.


The original board was recalled by GE on November 7, 2006. There was a letter that was sent out to technicians about this but not to customers. 


We called GE at 1-800-386-1215, option 3. We stated what the refrigerator was doing. We brought up the recall and stated we wanted this part.

Installing it was fairly straightforward for me. Below are the steps I used. Your experience may be different.


Tools required: socket wrench, 1/4 inch socket, needle nose pliers, light


Steps to replace board:
  • Unplug fridge from wall outlet
  • Move it to where you can get at cover plate
  • Remove cover plate using the socket wrench.  You'll see something like the picture.
  • Make a diagram or take pictures of which connectors went to what locations on the board
  • Unplug connectors. You may have to use the pliers.
  • Remove old board. It rests on these plastic standoffs
  • Put in new board
  • Plug in connectors into new board.
  • Move fridge back in to place
  • Plug into wall outlet


I found a parts diagram online. If you've ever swapped a motherboard in a computer, you can definitely do this. The instructions will walk you through it. If you have the model with the freezer on the bottom, one would cut some wires before installing. The instructions go over that as well. After you are done installing the board, it will take about 2 to 3 hours for the fridge to return to normal. This even in an empty fridge.


Overall, frustrating, but resolved now. Hopefully this will help someone else out there.