How to Troubleshoot & Replace Whirlpool AP5985775 / W10814173 Refrigerator Air Damper Diffuser Assembly

After 3 1/2 weeks of frustration with the appliance repair company, we found this site and chatted with a customer service rep. who helped us figure out what part we really needed. It was shipped and we received it within 2 days as promised. All we did was remove 3 screws, unhook the power source, take the diffuser out and replaced it with the new one. After putting everything back together, we plugged the refrigerator back in and it works beautifully. Needless to say, after another week, we are still waiting on the repair company to contact us. 

Replace de Diffuser 

Thought the problem was a stuck Air Diffuser. Thermistor seemed ok. Read other reviews from people who replaced the Air Diffuser. Ordered the part and it arrived a day. Removed Air Diffuser with a 1/4" nut driver, removing 3 screws. Unplugged and found old Air Diffuser Door broken. Replaced with the new one and plugged it in. Restarted refrigerator and kept thermometer in it. Refrigerator is running great. 

Glad I came across this website. Affordable prices and very useful opinions from other users made it an easy fix. Refrigerator was freezing food, and I guess the little door that opened and closed was broken. There were 3 screws: one behind the air filter, the other on the left side where the hole is, and the last one was right under the water filter. The plastic covers come off easily and the whole diffuser unit can be easily replaced. Thanks AppliancePartPros. 

Damper was not working properly. I ordered the part from Appliancepartspro.com, part came correct. Service from this company was great and very helpful. 

Replace the diffuser in upper left corner of fresh food section. There is a little door that opens and closes and it was broken..There is a 1/4 screw that is hidden in a hole on left wall. There is a 1/4 screw hidden behind the air filter at center back top...Not a bad job once you figure out what to remove. The unit also has a plug but it's easy to work with..Hope this helps.. 

The refer freezer is a Whirlpool less then three years old. The part I needed was readily available and received it in four days. I thought it would take at least 7-9 days. I will be using you exclusivly when I need parts for my appliances. I need to say something about Whirpool. The part I needed has a plastic door assy that goes from fridge to freezer. Plastic does not hold up well in extremely cold conditions. I guess whirlpool engineers either don't care or would rather save a few pennies by manufacturing a part that will not last more then a couple of years. The average price of this inferior part is over one hundred dollars. I got it on sale at Appliance parts for around sixty five dollars. Is a OEM part and very easy to replace. Wonder what will go out next on this substandard refrigerator freezer?? 

Replaced it 

I received the part in a timely fashion earlier than expected. It was pretty easy to get the old one out. New one was just pushed into place incoupling the wire harnesses via clip. 

Replaced diffuser. Turned off cooling using front panel controls. Removed two screws with1/4" nut driver. One screw behind air filter, another into the divider between the sections. Removed two plastic cover pieces and pulled old diffuser out and installed new one. Replaced plastic covers and screws. Turned cooling back on and fridge works perfectly again!