Kitchen Large Electric Appliances - New Frigidaire refrigerator question

I am replacing a refrigerator that has lasted for 40 years. The first one brought out, a maytag bottom freezer, was DOA. The next one also wouldnot cool. I had them bring out the next one, frigidaire FRS3R5ESB side by side. The freezer is down to 0 and it started making ice after about 2 hours.
My concern is that the fresh food side won't seem to pull below 40 degrees. I am use to at least 35 in that part and do not want to settle for this. Am I giving this enough time to get to the right temperature? This was brought out around 10:00am and it is now 10:20pm.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Where you have the controls set? The middle of the range should be fine, although for 35 in the fridge section, you'll probably need to set it a little colder. Then, let it run overnight, stay out of it.

Thanks for responding. I left the settings as they came from the manuf. straight up for 8 hours as the manual stated 8 to 12. It would not budge below 40 even after 12 hours. I turned it about a quarter more and left it over night. This morning it was 38, I thought with that much of a turn it would be 35. I turned it just a little more and will wait and see what happens.
This fridg also seems louder to me than my old one. I thought it would be quiter.
It said it was dual cooling. Am I correct in thinking that it means the air blows off of the coils into the fridg part rather than from the freezer? If so, it seems to me that it should reach the 35 degrees quicker than an old fridg.
How far should you have to turn the knob on a new fridg to get the correct temp?
I'm sorry for asking so many questions but I haven't had to do this for 40 years and if something is not correctly working I would like to send it back while I can get my money back.
Thanks again for responding.

I would just keep nudging it a little ata time until you get the temp you want. Simultaneously, you could try setting the freezer a tad warmer.

Modern refrigerators are about 50 % more efficient than the old ones primarily due to supperior insulation. Thus, compressors consume less than 50 % compared to the older ones. Therefore, it takes a lot longer to chill the unit due to the smaller hosepower compressors.

Today I had a temp reading of about 37 which I can live with. I didn't think about making any changes to the freezer.
Thanks for your help.

YW It sounds like you're getting there; setting the freezer a little warmer will put a little more cold air into the chill section.

Hi All - I'm having what seems to be a similar, but not exactly the same, problem with a brand NEW Frigidaire standard frig (freezer above refrig). Less than 1 yr old. Use it in the garage as a spare/overflow unit. Has worked fine (both frig & freezer) up to now (Jan 09). Now it seems to not be cooling in the freezer section, and only staying moderately cool in the frig. Upon setting the frig temp control to Max, compressor kicks in and fan blows air into the freezer. After a while, it cuts off, then apparently does not re-start.

Only thing that has changed is the outdoor temps. Lately have been into single digits at nite, teens in the day for a high. Garage stays somewhat warmer, but it's still quite cool in there.

Could the ambient temp of the garage be affecting the frig's temp control?? Is the outside temp "tricking" it into thinking it does not have to cycle on?? Meat and other items in freezer have not been freezing (in fact, some meat went bad).

Ideas????? TIA for any help!

Hi All - I'm having what seems to be a similar, but not exactly the same, problem with a brand NEW Frigidaire standard frig (freezer above refrig). Less than 1 yr old. Use it in the garage as a spare/overflow unit. Has worked fine (both frig & freezer) up to now (Jan 09). Now it seems to not be cooling in the freezer section, and only staying moderately cool in the frig. Upon setting the frig temp control to Max, compressor kicks in and fan blows air into the freezer. After a while, it cuts off, then apparently does not re-start.

Only thing that has changed is the outdoor temps. Lately have been into single digits at nite, teens in the day for a high. Garage stays somewhat warmer, but it's still quite cool in there.

Could the ambient temp of the garage be affecting the frig's temp control?? Is the outside temp "tricking" it into thinking it does not have to cycle on?? Meat and other items in freezer have not been freezing (in fact, some meat went bad).

Ideas????? TIA for any help!
The ambient temperature has a big effect on your refrigerator. Frigidaire makes a kit to use (heater for thermostat). :)