The performance of our whirlpool side-by-side freezer (Model No 8586 151 01011) has been degrading slowly over the last few weeks. In the end we repeatedly got temperature alarms and had to turn on the superfrost feature to get rid of them. Finally a CF error code is flashing.
A first check revealed that the condensor was completely blocked with dust, which explains the poor performance issue. The condensor is free of dust now, but the problem still persists. After a minute or so, the CF alarm is triggered.
I have already checked the condensor fan. It is running quite fast and blows a reasonable amount of air. The compressor seems to operate, too. It is warm and vibrating, yet the condensor is rather cold.
Food stays frozen, but the cooling compartment is not very cold. Obviously the compressor doesn't generate enough cooling power.

What does the error code CF mean (for other models it is 'condensor fan', but is this true for my model, too - could it for example also mean 'compressor fault' ?)
Since the compressor must have been operating continuously over the last few weeks, could it be that it was overheated and possibly has been damaged?
How can I check this?
What other causes should I consider?

Thomas Garmisch, May 2009

Contact whirlpool service agent www.agsrefrigeration.co.uk. Tel 07723019161 who repaired american fridge freezer after we were told by domestic and general that it could not be repaired.

Sally, August 2017

I have an american style side by side ff ,i bought it second hand and just wondering how long it takes it to start switching on amd off after its been switched on for the first time ,temperayurrs have reached what the display is displaying becausr i used a thermometer to check it against the display.it id on now for 6&a hslf hours and still going ,but no food in it,and itd all cleaned out in the bottom.fans all working to.

daniel doherty, February 2015

CF on this machine stands for "communications failure". The 'back' board and the 'front' board are not talking to each other, as the front board is displaying this its most likely the back board at fault. I found that the large cap C1 had a dry joint, re soldering it fixed it.

Alan Garrett, February 2011

We called out a Whirlpool engineer (at a cost of £95!) who told us CF stands for circuit failure. In other words, the two main control boards need replacing, at a cost of £490, on top of the call-out charge.
I phoned customer services at Whirlpool and simply got a lecture about how we should have taken out the extended warranty; as the fridge is now 2 years old we have no right to help from Whirlpool and that came across loud and clear!

Anne Neale, June 2009

Removing the back panel inside the ice compartment revealed that the evaporator was a solid block of ice completely preventing any air flow within freezer and cooling compartment. This explains the poor performance of both the freezer and cooling. Had to manually defrost the unit. Meanwhile I found an interesting thread in a GB forum (http://applianceguru.com/forum1/13919.html) indicating that at least for european models - which i have - some capacitors on the motherboard seem to be bad quality and die rather often. One of them controls the relay for turning on the defrost unit. I'll replace them and see what happens.

Thomas Garmisch, May 2009

I have similar problem too! Mine is an american style fridge and at first the fridge was getting warmer and the alarm started to go off, in the end we had to defrost...after that it seem working fine on & off for a few weeks...now it is the freezer getting the alarm! It now just display hypen instead of temperature. The first time it did that, I manage to get ridge of it by pressing that rapid cooling temperature so that it ensure it reaches to a temperature you set to...that helped...but now even when we press that...it goes back to hypen after awhile! Back to your alarm problem, have you exceed maximum weight of food storage?

n., May 2009

http://www.repair-help.com/kb/index.php?category=75

Nort73, May 2009