Hotpoint Fridge/Freezer Fan Stop Working ...

[Captin Kirk]

We have a Hotpoint Mistral Plus frost free fridge/freezer. Don't really know how old it is as we had it off a friend and cannot find any model numbers either.

No problems to date until a couple of days ago when the fan at the rear at the bottom of the unit (compressor fan?) started to make loud noises. It sounded like it was slowing then speeding up again repeatedly in a cycle. Now the High Temperature red light has come on and this fan has stopped working.

I removed the vent on the bottom and hoovered out all the dust that had collected over the "element". I have took out all the shelves and removed the internal back panel from inside the freezer and all seemed ok although that fan did not operate while I had the cover off ... should it be working all the time?

Finally I pulled the whole fridge out and removed the bottom panel at the rear to get a look at the noisy/stopped fan. When the power is turned off I can spin the blades freely but when the power is back on the blades will only turn so far as if the magnets in the motor are holding them back and I can feel vibrations from the motor so I now power is getting through to it.

Given that the fan was getting noisier over the last couple of days is it likely that it has packed up i.e. bearings etc. or is it a relay or a thermostatic sensor stopping the fan from kicking in?

[AlBags]

I would say there is a fault in the armature of the motor .. or the brushes (if it is not brushless)
Take the motor out and see if a local electrical motor rewind place will look at it for you. Thay should be able to test it. They will also fit new bearings .. usually. They are common sizes.
A common company for this used to be Gem Rewinds.