The answer first
The Arctic Wind refrigerator line covers a long roster of listings in the roster below, and on that platform the first split is whether both compartments are warm or only one. Of the things that stop a refrigerator cooling, the two most common cost a part that fits in a pocket and the least common costs more than many machines are worth. Where the freezer still works and the fresh-food side does not, the sealed system is almost certainly fine and the problem is on the path the air takes between them.
What an owner actually sees
- Both compartments are warm and the machine is running continuously — Either the air path is blocked at the source or the system is no longer moving heat.
- The condenser coil or the grille at the bottom is packed with dust — Heat has to leave the machine somewhere. A blanketed coil raises head pressure, runs the compressor hot and shows up first as a cabinet that has quietly lost a few degrees.
- No sound at all from inside the freezer with the door held open — The evaporator fan should run with the door switch pressed. Silence there, with the compressor plainly running, is a fan or a switch and both are reachable.
- One shelf or one drawer is warm while the rest is fine — Air distribution rather than cooling capacity. A blocked vent, a drawer not seated or food packed against an outlet will all starve one part of the cabinet.
- NEAR MISS — the freezer is too cold and the fridge is too warm — That pairing usually means the damper or the air split between compartments rather than a cooling failure, and it is worth ruling in before anything else is suspected.
Causes, most likely first on this line
- Airflow blocked by frost on the evaporator — Ranked first here, because the coil ices in normal use and depends on a cycle running properly to clear it, so a cycle that is merely late rather than absent will close the air path over weeks without any warning. Nothing in the roster below splits these listings apart for this fault, so the order that follows holds across the whole label.
- Condenser coil blanketed with dust, or the condenser fan stopped — Second here, because the machine can only move heat as fast as it can dump it, so a coil under a felt of dust turns a healthy system into one that runs constantly and still loses ground on a warm day.
- Thermostat or temperature sensor reading wrongly — Third here, because a control can only act on what it is told, so a sensor reading colder than the compartment really is will satisfy the machine early and leave the food warm.
- Defrost heater, sensor or control no longer completing the cycle — Last here, because it sits behind the frost it causes: the frost is the symptom you can see, and which of the three parts failed is the part of the diagnosis that needs a meter and the panel off.
Check in this order, and why
- Compare the two compartments before anything else — A hard-frozen freezer with a warm fresh-food side is an air-path fault. Both warm is a source fault.
- Clear the rear air outlets and rearrange the contents — Pull food back from the vents at the rear of both compartments and re-seat the drawers.
- Pull the machine out and look at the condenser — Dust on the coil and a condenser fan that is not turning are both visible from the back or through the lower grille, and both are owner-serviceable with the machine unplugged.
Safety first
Safety
Take the plug out before the first screw, not after it: a capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off, and the fan behind a cover starts the moment power returns. Treat the tubing at the back as the fragile part of the machine: it is thin-walled, it carries refrigerant, and a kink or a puncture ends the cabinet rather than the repair. Do not lever against it, do not rest the machine on it, and leave the door switches wired exactly as you found them..
Models in the arctic-wind:refrigerator:? family — Every listing above is covered by this article rather than by a page of its own; a model-specific page, where one exists, goes further. Numbers reproduced from the platform data for this label.
Reference| Model number | Family key |
|---|---|
| 1AW1BF27A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 1AW1BF33A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 1AW1BF44A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 1AW1SLF27A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 1AW1SLF33A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 1AW1SLF44A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 1AW2BF33A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 1AW2SLF73 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 1AW2WF73 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 1AWCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 1AWCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 1AWCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 1AWCF88 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2ACFW50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2ACFW70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2ATMSL212E | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2ATMW212E | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AW1BF16A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AW1BF26A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AW1SLF16A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AW1SLF26A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AW1SLF44A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWACF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWACF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWACF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWACF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWACF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWACF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWACF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWACF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWBCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWBCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWBCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWBCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWBCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWBCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWBCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWBCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWCCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWCCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWCCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWCCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWCCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWCCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWCCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWCCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWDCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWDCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWDCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWDCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWDCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWDCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWDCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWDCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWECF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWECF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWECF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWECF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWECF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWECF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWECF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWECF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWFCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWFCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWFCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWFCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWFCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWFCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWFCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWFCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWGCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWGCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWGCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWGCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWGCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWGCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWGCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWGCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWHCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWHCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWHCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWHCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWHCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWHCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWHCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWHCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWICF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWICF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWICF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWICF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWICF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWICF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWICF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWICF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWJCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWJCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWJCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWJCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWJCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWJCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWJCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWJCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWKCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWKCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWKCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWKCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWKCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWKCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWKCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWKCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWLCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWLCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWLCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWLCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWLCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWLCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWLCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWLCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWMCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWMCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWMCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWMCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWMCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWMCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWMCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWMCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWNCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWNCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWNCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWNCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWNCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWNCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWNCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWNCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWOCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWOCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWOCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWOCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWOCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWOCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWOCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWOCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWPCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWPCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWPCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWPCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWPCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWPCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWPCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWPCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWQCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWQCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWQCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWQCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWQCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWQCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWQCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWQCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWRCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWRCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWRCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWRCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWRCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWRCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWRCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWRCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWSCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWSCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWSCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWSCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWSCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWSCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWSCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWSCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWTCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWTCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWTCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWTCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWTCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWTCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWTCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWTCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWUCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWUCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWUCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWUCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWUCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWUCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWUCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWUCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWVCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWVCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWVCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWVCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWVCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWVCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWVCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWVCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWWCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWWCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWWCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWWCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWWCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWWCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWWCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWWCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWXCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWXCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWXCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWXCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWXCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWXCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWXCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWXCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWYCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWYCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWYCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWYCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWYCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWYCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWYCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWYCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWZCF34 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWZCF34A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWZCF50 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWZCF50A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWZCF70 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWZCF70A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWZCF87 | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
| 2AWZCF87A | arctic-wind:refrigerator:? |
Where the owner side ends
Call once the fan runs, the coil is clear, the seals hold and the cabinet is still warm, because what is left is the defrost circuit or the sealed system and both need a meter in the first case and a licence in the second. Judge urgency by the food rather than by the noise or the water: a refrigerator holds food safely at 40 °F (4 °C) or below, and a freezer at 0 °F (−18 °C) or below.
Other faults covered for this line
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.