[sanmigmike]

Been playing with this problem on and off for a while. It first started with the refrigerator side freezing things up. Then quit that for a while and then it started again.

Now it seems to run constantly, the cover is off the coils on the freezer side, and the coils ice up in a short while after being defrosted. The freezer side with the controls at Freezer 4 and Refrigerator 6 show 22 f and 40 to 45 f in the refrigerator. The coils are covered with almost an inch of what looks like rime ice on the coils in less than a week. Pattern of frost seems even with a slight tapering thicker as you go higher on the coils. Seems even now but you can see that the frost starts higher and rapidly covers the coils in a downward growth pattern.

The compressor was replaced about two years ago. Defrost timer or need I look further?

[woodchuck]

After a week that frost build up is normal. But your defroster should be melting it about every 8 hours. But being too cold is not a symptom of defrost trouble. It would actually block the flow of air to the fridge. With the cover off the coil the flow of air will be disrupted and cooling not as efficient. If your compressor doesn't cycle off check your temp control.Refrigerator Repair Guide: How To Test the Temperature Control - ACME HOW TO.com

[sanmigmike]

Freezer side temp is about 20 to 24 f, not all that cold, refrigerator side is 45 to 50 or so, really too warm for a refrigerator I would think. Changing the position of the dial for the refrigerator seems to have little if any effect on the temp. I would guess that would be due to the blocked airflow?

Right now it never defrosts...unless I turn it off. I would also think that not only would you get little if any cooling air flow to the refrigerator side you would also get poor flow on the freezer side due to it being just a solid mass of frost and ice.

I'll go ahead and pull the temp selectors and test them as per the procedure in the link.

[woodchuck]

Fix defrost system first. Check defrost timer, defrost heater, and defrost thermostat. Refrigerator Repair Guide: How To Fix a Refrigerator - ACME HOW TO.com

[kayakcrzy]

I agree with woodchuck, quit messing around, and replace the defrost thermostat, and the timer. That is a cow rod heater, and they normally never go. Get it done!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tom ApplianceEducator.com

[sanmigmike]

Have not checked the defrost timer but the defrost heater seems okay. Checked the defrost thermostat and it seems to be bad. Tried it hot and cold (20 f). The brown wire goes from the thermostat to the control box (long!!)so will cut that wire tomorrow morning, check the thermostat again making sure I am getting a good connection and then I think time for a new part. I'm wondering what the new part will look like as far as wires.

Did check the temp selector...on/off switch and it seems to be fine. The control damper seems to be mechanical and it seems okay too.

[kayakcrzy]

Sometimes the wires on the new one's are not the same. If not, you should cut the wires off the old one, and wire nut them in. But, I would replace the timer too, for a preventaive maintaince sort of thing. That way the majority of the defrost system is new. I have never had to put in a cow rod defrost heater yet, and I run about 8 to 10 service calls a day. Tom ApplianceEducator.com

[sanmigmike]

Replaced the defrost thermostat, will replace the timer when I have a few more bucks (Wed.). The old thermostat was actually split open on a seam (I hooked it up to a multimeter and tossed it in the freezer out in the pantry, got to 0 and still no connection! so it was bad!). Right now with the dials set Freezer and Refrigerator both a bit below 5 we get about 14 f in the freezer and about 48 in the refrigerator. The fan right above the coils does work in the Freezer. It has been on a few hours...not sure what next to get the refrigerator lower. The freezer almost empty, the refrigerator is full on the top two shelves. Taking the temps about in the middle on both sides. Don't think it has run enough hours to hit the defrost mode yet.

Did get the Jenn-air stove top working, we had a burner that would not quite turn off... Just a new switch.

[kayakcrzy]

When you replaced the defrost thermostat, did you defrost the evaporator coils? If not do so. Second, the fan should be running by now. If not you will have to replace it too. Tom ApplianceEducator.com

[sanmigmike]

I think I didn't realize how long it would take for it to get to temp after warming up for a few days. Right now the temps are -10 and 30 f. Playing with the settings to get it to better temps. Fan at the coils is working fine (I checked it with my fingertips LOL) and it cycles on and off. The coils were defrosted. It was off for two or three days.

Just in case will replace the defrost timer in a few days.

(Good so far eh?)