refrigerator help?

[WS6]

Ok I have a refrigerator with the freezer on the bottom. Well, a couple weeks ago the coils int he back of the freezer iced up and the frig on top got warm. I unplugged everything and defrosted that coil. I also cleaned the heat exchanger coils under the frig. Plugged everything back in after leaving it for a day and it's worked great. This morning though it was a little warmer. I opened the freezer and the coil at the back has iced up again. Why?

Last time we checked the compressor and the freon level. Everything was fine. The freezer door doesn't necessarily shut all the way sometimes. It didn't shut all the way a few days before the top stopped working the first time. I figured that caused humidity to get into the freezer and that created the ice. This time though, the door has been shut and was not left open at all. So how can the ice be forming?

Thanks

[Ron S]

The defrost circuit is not working,there is 3 parts to that curcuit,the defrost heater ,defrost terminator,and the timer or curcuit board{depending on how old it is}.Most of the time its the last part.Ron

[WS6]

frig is a few years old only. How hard to replace the circuit board or timer? It's a kenmore unit. Anyway to check the other parts to make sure they aren't the culprit?

Thanks Ron

[Ron S]

If that model uses a timer,the timer has a dial on thr front of it which allows you to manually engage the defrost cycle.Just turn the dial until you here a click and the defrost heater should come on,as long as the heater does come on,the timer is bad.If the heater doesn't come on the heater or terminator is bad.Ron

[WS6]

where would this dial be located at, Ron? The only dial/knob on the inside of the freezer or refrigerator is the temp control on the roof of each one. Is it in the back on the bottom with the compressor and lines? Sorry for all the questions but I greatly appreciate the help.

[Ron S]

The timer {if your ref is equipped with one} is a kidney shaped box about the size of an LS1 coil,it will have 4 wires going to it.The dial I'm describing is actually a round slot on the front of the timer which can be turned with a coin or a straight screwdriver.The timers are usually located in the back by the compressor, in the front behind the toe plate,or on the refrig. compartment behind the light sheild.Sometimes all you will see is the round access hole to the dial.If the ref. is equipped with a curcuit board for defrost, you would have to know the activation sequence for the board.In that case, you should probably call someone.It really shouldn't be that expensive a repair,Timers are usually between 20-30 bucks.

[jy211]

also check the drain in the freezer...

[WS6]

Thanks Ron. I'll take a look.

How do I check the drain JY? Last time when I had the thing unplugged, the melted ice made its way onto the floor and I was mopping it up.

[WS6]

Ron,
Check your PMs please. Thanks

[MonzaRacer]

Could also either be thermostat for frig or the fan that blows cold air into it from freezer, had my old magic chef do that less than 50 dollar fix depending on which is bad,,,i GOT NEW FRIG.

[WS6]

yeah I had the Sears people out here today because I no longer had time or really the know how to determine what was going wrong. I tested the timer per Ron's instructions so I knew it was good. The tech figured out that the defrost thermostat was the problem. Told me how to replace it and where to get it locally. It would have cost about $230 to have him fix it right then. Well, I'm poor and cheap so I'll wait a couple days and do it myself for about $20.