How to replace Samsung refrigerator evaporator fan motor DA97-12815B

Is your Samsung refrigerator losing its cool? A malfunctioning evaporator fan motor might be the culprit, disrupting the airflow needed to keep your food fresh. Luckily, you can solve this issue yourself with our step-by-step guide, complete with a handy how-to video below to walk you through every part of the repair.

Need a part?  Search below using your appliance model number to find exactly what you need:

If your Samsung refrigerator is no longer cooling properly, the evaporator fan motor could be to blame. This vital part circulates cold air throughout the refrigerator compartment so your fridge can keep food cool.

Over time, worn-out motor bearings can cause the fan motor to overheat and fail. When the evaporator fan motor malfunctions, the lack of air circulation will cause the fridge to become warmer than usual.

You can swap out the evaporator fan motor yourself by using a few tools and following a few guidelines.

You can find a replacement evaporator fan motor here. If you need other replacement parts for your Samsung refrigerator, just enter your model number at AppliancePartsPros.com to find them. It’s that easy! Most orders arrive in just two business days, and we have thousands of guides to show you how to install your new parts.

Watch the full repair here

What you’ll need

• New Samsung evaporator fan motor (make sure it’s compatible with your specific model before installing)
• Phillips screwdriver
• Flathead screwdriver
• Putty knife

Read more: Why Is My Refrigerator Not Cooling?

Safety tips

When working on any appliance, remember to keep safety first. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Always power off and unplug your appliance or switch off the circuit breaker before you attempt any maintenance or replacement work. This keeps you safe by preventing any risk of electric shock.
• Turn off the water supply at the outlet before beginning repairs. Keep towels ready to catch any residual water in the system when removing parts.
• If the appliance has recently been used, give it plenty of time to cool down before working on it.
• Take your time while working to prevent accidents and personal injuries. Rushing is the enemy of precision.
• Work in a well-lit area so you can clearly see and access appliance parts.
• Keep your workspace free of clutter and other obstacles. Keep children and pets away from the work area.
• Never work on internal parts with wet hands. Make sure the work area is completely dry.
• Check the user manual to see if there are specific installation or safety instructions related to your appliance or replacement part.
• Be gentle when handling or removing parts. Excessive force might damage the appliance or cause personal injury.
• Wear insulated work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal parts and debris.
• When working with wires, avoid touching any exposed wires or terminals. If you need to touch a wire, use a non-conductive tool or wear insulating gloves to prevent electrical shock.
• Consider wearing safety glasses and/or a dust mask when working with chemicals, dust or a large amount of debris to prevent irritation or injury.

How to replace the evaporator fan motor

Follow these steps to swap out the evaporator fan motor in your Samsung refrigerator.

Step 1: Remove refrigerator contents

1. Unplug the fridge from the power outlet.
2. Turn off the water supply to the fridge.
3. Remove the vegetable drawers by pulling them straight out, then lifting and sliding them out.
4. Remove all the fridge shelves by lifting the rear hooks to detach and slide them out.
5. Press the side locking tabs on the vegetable drawer cover and lift to detach and slide it out.
6. Use a Phillips screwdriver to detach the four screws holding the rear panel in place. Set these screws aside.
7. Lift the central shelf support and remove it.

Now you can access the rear evaporator cover panel.

Step 2: Remove the evaporator cover panel

1. Use a putty knife to insert and push in the area where the locking tabs are located. This will release the panel.
2. Gently pull the panel out from the bottom.
3. Disconnect the wiring harness plugs at the back before you remove them. There will be two plugs to detach.

Step 3: Remove the old evaporator fan motor

1. Use a flathead screwdriver to detach the yellow wiring harness clip.
2. Use a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the four screws that hold the mounting plate in place.
3. Lift off the old evaporator fan motor along with the mounting plate.

Step 4: Install the new Samsung evaporator fan motor

1. Place the new evaporator fan motor and mounting plate into position by lining up the holes.
2. Insert and tighten the four Phillips screws to secure the mounting plate.
3. Loop the yellow wiring harness around the motor and reconnect the clip. This prevents the wires from getting caught in the fan blade.

Read more: How To Deep Clean Your Refrigerator

Step 5: Reassemble the refrigerator

1. Align the evaporator cover panel by first connecting the two plugs.
2. Push the panel back into place by pressing the sides to lock the tabs.
3. Use a Phillips screwdriver to replace the four rear panel screws.
4. Reinsert the central shelf support.
5. Slide in the vegetable drawer cover and lock the side tabs.
6. Slide all shelves and vegetable drawers back into position.

Wrap up

With the new part in place and the unit reassembled, let’s test the fridge.

1. Close both refrigerator doors.
2. Plug the fridge power cord back in.
3. Reconnect the fridge to the water supply.
4. Give the fridge a few hours to cool down, then use an independent thermometer to check the interior temperature.

Read more: How To Prevent And Fix A Frozen Refrigerator Water Line

More information

We hope this guide helped you replace the evaporator fan motor in your Samsung refrigerator. If you’d like to watch the full repair, you can do so here.

If you still need some replacement parts, grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com. We offer over 2 million parts and most orders arrive in 2-3 business days. If you need some help with finding the right part or placing an order, you can contact our team at 1 (877) 477-7278.

In the meantime, explore our DIY blog and watch thousands of video tutorials on our YouTube channel. We can also help you troubleshoot common fridge problems here.

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