The short answer
When the ART refrigerators runs without cooling, the part owners suspect first — the compressor — is the part that fails last on this platform. On these models a frosted evaporator is the first thing this page would have you rule out. None of the causes below needs a technician to rule out — only the repair might.
What you observe on these models
- The freezer still works and the fresh-food side does not — A split like that points at air movement rather than at cooling.
- The appliance never cycles off — It runs on and on without ever reaching the setting.
- Ice production has fallen off at the same time — A maker needs the freezer at harvest temperature, so the two complaints share a cause.
- NEAR MISS — only the ice maker has stopped — Start with the ice page for this family; the cooling may be fine.
Causes, most likely first on this family
- Airflow blocked by frost on the evaporator — Ice on the evaporator does not stop the appliance, it starves it: the cabinet warms slowly while every noise the appliance makes stays normal, which is why owners call late. First, because it accounts for every observable above without needing a second fault. One design carries every cabinet size in this family, so it holds across the line.
- Door gasket leaking warm, humid air — Gaskets take a set after a door has stood open or a bin has been overstuffed against the liner, and the leak is often only at one corner. It ranks second — the fault the first check leaves standing.
- Return-air vents blocked by the load — A cabinet packed to the back wall blocks the return path, so the air that did get cold never comes back to be cooled again. Third: a real cause on these cabinets, but a less frequent one.
- Start relay or compressor overload — The relay is a cheap part standing in front of an expensive one, which is why it is worth ruling in before anyone condemns a compressor. Last, which is exactly why the checks above are worth spending first.
- Body: The departure here is airflow, up: one design stretched across several cabinet sizes asks most of the air path in the biggest of them, so airflow faults lead on this family.
Check in this order, and why
- Take the freezer rear panel off and look at the evaporator face for a solid sheet rather than a light dusting of frost. — First, because it settles the top of the ranking before anything else is touched.
- Close the door on a strip of paper at several points round the frame and see whether it pulls out with no drag. — Next, once the check above has come back clean.
- Clear the rear and upper vents in both compartments and give the appliance a full day before judging it. — Last, so that nothing further is spent until the cheaper checks are exhausted.
Disconnect before you open it up
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel; a capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Never bypass a door switch to keep a part running while you look at it. Keep the doors shut meanwhile and move perishables to a cooler: a refrigerator holds food safely at 40 °F (4 °C) or below, a freezer at 0 °F (−18 °C) or below.
Models in the ART family
Reference| Model number | Family key |
|---|---|
| ART104TFD*0* | amana:refrigerator:art |
| ART106TFD*0* | amana:refrigerator:art |
| ART308FFD* | amana:refrigerator:art |
| ART316TFD*0* | amana:refrigerator:art |
| ART318FFD* | amana:refrigerator:art |
| ART348FFF*** | amana:refrigerator:art |
When to call a technician
Stop and call when the checks above come back clean, because what is left is the defrost circuit and the sealed system. Call sooner if the compressor starts and stops every few minutes, because that shortens its life.
The other faults covered for this family
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
