Samsung RF266AEWP fresh-food section not cooling and make noise — noise stops when door opens

Hi, I’m Mike, your appliance troubleshooting expert—where did the strange noise seem to come from (inside the fresh-food section, freezer, or behind/under the unit), and did it stop or change when you opened a door?

Did the noise sound like a rhythmic scraping/whirring that stopped when you opened the fresh-food door, and is the freezer also warming up now?

Is the freezer still keeping food hard-frozen, and do you see a thick frost/snowy layer on the rear wall of the fresh-food section?

Thanks—that pattern points to the fresh‑food evaporator area. Most likely the evaporator fan was rubbing on ice behind the rear fridge wall; when you open the door the fan shuts off, so the noise stops. As the ice builds, it blocks airflow to the fresh-food section so the fridge warms while the freezer stays ok.

Most common root causes on the RF266:

• Fresh‑food defrost issue: failed defrost heater, defrost sensor/thermistor, or the high‑limit (bi‑metal), so frost/ice accumulates around the fan and coil.
• Iced/clogged fresh‑food drain: very common on this model; Samsung released an updated evaporator cover/drain clip kit to prevent refreezing at the drain, otherwise ice returns.
• Less likely: a failing fresh‑food evaporator fan motor (bad bearings) that started noisy and then stalled.

The sealed system/compressor is probably fine given the freezer performance, so this is an airflow/defrost problem in the fridge section.

Safety note: any inspection inside that compartment should be done with power unplugged—there are sharp edges and live wiring; don’t open the sealed refrigeration system.

Want me to walk you through noninvasive checks to confirm which of these it is and discuss the typical repair options?

Short answer: usually moderate, not “buy a new fridge” money.

Based on your symptoms (noise in fresh-food section that stops when door opens, freezer still OK), the likely repairs and typical US prices are:

• Fresh-food ice/defrost issue (drain icing or weak defrost): updated evaporator cover/drain clip kit or defrost parts. Parts 40–220 dollars; labor 120–250; total 200–500.
• Evaporator fan motor noisy or stalled: motor 60–120; labor 120–200; total 200–350.
• Less common, control board not initiating defrost: board 120–250; total 300–550.
• Sealed-system work is unlikely here; if it were, it’s 600–1,200+ and usually not worth it.

Expect a diagnosis/service call of 90–150, often applied to the repair. Most RF266 cases like yours land around 200–450 all-in.

If you’d like, I can help you decide between calling a tech now or trying a couple of noninvasive checks first (no disassembly beyond shelves).