The freezer was too warm. The fan was running: the diagnosis tool did not work!
I used the tool at Partselect that in theory allows diagnostic of the problem to be repaired. The result was that more tan 90% of the time with the introduced symptoms it had to be the thermostat. I order the part, got it quickly and installed. It did not fix the problem. So, be careful with the diagnostic tool, because it is just based on what most people buy when they have a particular problem. Videos for installation are great. If diagnosis was better, this would be fantastic. In my case there might be a different problem.
Refer iced up and would not keep the bottom cool. It was 70 Farenheit inside.
I simply removed 4 screws holding the casing and then 2 more holding the timer. It was very easy. I then replaced the timer by unplugging and plugged the new one in. I replaced all the screws and the job was done. Less than 30 minutes. I was very impressed with the shipping time. When I ordered the part, I had it the next day.
No freezing or cold in either freezer or refridgerator - compressor did not run.
Traced issue to defrost timer ( burned compressor & element contacts). This unit is mounted next to the temperature adjustment control in the refridgerator area - right in front. Removal of plastic cover provided easy access to the timer. Unit unscrews from the mounting then unplugs. Installation is reverse of removal.
removed broken end caps, took a small screwdriver and simply applied a little pressure to release them. Pushed new end caps into place (they just snap in). Presto done!!
Freezer part worked well, but refrigerator part did not cool down bellow 60F. These is a top freezer model. When I looked there was lots of frost on back panel of freezer.
First of all thanks to all who posted their stories, because those stories helped me to narrow down what could have gone wrong with my fridge. I did not know how frost-free refrigerators worked at all, reading your stories and doing some on_line research I understood the theory behind the work. My freezer was working constantly, but fridge was warm, cold air would not reach to fridge because freezer was completely frosted. I had ordered defrost heater, defrost timer and thermostat. I was sure one of these parts was the problem. First I used flat screwdriver to turn the timer manually untill frdge stopped running(timer is on the left bottom corner behind the black decoratve plastic under the door) . Waited about 20-30 min, checked ,freezer was still frosted. I disconnected the fridge from the wall socket and took shelves out from freezer compartment. This is where hair-dryer came in handy or you could wait till ice would melt on its own, which could take long time.Then loosend 2 screws on left wall that were holding icemaker unit half-way , unplugged the icemaker and took it out. Then took the light-bulb and cover off. Next I unscrewed and took the posts out that were holding shelves in place. Then I took remaining screws from back wall out and gently pulled back cover up then forward a little until I could see electrical connectors behind the cover and unpluged them. Back wall cover was ready to come out. I discovered thick wall of ice covering entire cooling unit. Used handy hair dryer again. When the ice melted, I saw the thermostat was busted open ( Iguess water or moisture got into the unit, then froze and ice pop-openned the cover damaging one of the connecting wires). I diconnected wires and changed the thermostat , which was very easy, just one clip holding it in place . Then plugged the fridge and checked if heating unit was working by touching it. Negative. Closed the door and let fridge run for 15 min, turn timer with screwdriver until fridge stopped working, cheked heater again- wallah it was warm and then it got really HOT! and melted all of the new frost build-up(a sign that thermostat was working). Closed the door waited another 15-20 min, fridge came-on on its own. Unplugged the fridge, pulled it forward from the wall and used sponge to drain the water from holding tray- about one half gallon of it. This is a good time to use a vacuum clener to undust the back and under the fridge. Then put everything back, in reverse order, ofcourse. Cleaned fridge and freezer compartments with warm soap and winneger solution (really good- this was a present to my wife who took our two little daughters to grandmmas and out of my way), put everything back and turned the fridge on recommended settings. Its been 5 days allready and it works great ( I used thermometr to check temperature inside the fridge and freezer). I'm thinking of returning defrost heater and timer back.Thanks PartSelect.Com, I saved lots of money. Hope this story will be helpfull to someone.Thanks for your time!
As I was aware hot install it, bec a couple of days back, the handle pop out of the lower screw shaft. The easy steps is put the lower part first, keep the handle diagonal to the door, once the lower screw is fit into the shaft, turn it to right to place the holes on the door holes and just jack in the screw.
freezer iced up, not defrosting, diagnosed bad defrost thermostst
Took about an hour previously to deice freezer, timer was running,drain was open, jumped defrost thermostat out and heater was O.K. Defrost thermostat was just a plug and play item, the time involved was in taking the freezer apart to get to it.
The refrigerator light would not work ...even after replacing the bulb.
I used a flat head screwdriver to pry open the front of the socket as I pushed the socket toward the freezer side. I unplugged the two wires connected to the socket then re-connected the two wires to the new socket and popped the new socket back in. I then put a new light bulb in and we had light again in the fridge.
Our freezer warmed up and we had to throw out all the food.
We were looking for a new freezer --thinking it wouldn't be worth calling a repairman. I was trying to determine the size of the freezer and couldn't find it in the manual. So I googled the model number and stumbled upon this site. Thought it would be worth a try and $12 plus shipping to replace the thermostat. Got the thermostat a couple days later, followed the video directions to replace it--not hard! Plugged it in and it is working great!!! SOOOOO glad I stumbled on your site! You saved us $700-$800!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
