[SirLSD]

the fridge/freezer works fine until the auto defrost starts. the heating element gets real hot and any frost that his built up melts and drips onto the element where is hisses and immediately evaporates. avter removing the back panel from inside the freezer the heating element has got close to some plastic panels and has melted it.
my questions are:
(1) does it sound like the heating element is getting too hot? if so how do i fix it?
(2)what do i need to replace to fix it? what do these items look like? i will attach a picture so you can help me identify them.

also there is an exposed wire going from the heating element into a little round plastic box. it is real close to the metal of the refrigirant tubing. there is some corrosion on the wire. could this simply be the cause of it shorting and tripping the switch?

thanks in advance.
brett

[kayakcrzy]

Does the coil freeze up? Where you just concerned about the hissing noise? That is normal. Do you have any cooling problems? You can reach me at my web site at ApplianceEducator.com Tom

[SirLSD]

there is no cooling problem. the cooling tubes and fins get a thin layer of frost over it before it is melted. the clipsal switch/circut breaker/rcd switch/whatever you want to call it then turns the power off to most of the house. when i then check the freezer i can hear drops of water hising as it evaporates as it hits the heating element.

[kayakcrzy]

So if I understand you right, you are saying when the refrigerator goes into the defrost cycle it blows thee breaker? Since you said that the element is getting to hot, and it is burning the plastic a little, that would mean that you need to replace the defrost thermostat. It is about the size off a quarter, and has 2 wires coming to it. Tom ApplianceEducator.com

[SirLSD]

is this the defrost thermostat in the picture below? its about the diameter of a quater, and has 2 wires. 1 coming from the heating element.
how hot is the heating element supposed to get? im assuming its getting too hot as it can boil off a drop of water the second it touches it. is that too hot?
thanks.
also where do i find a model number on a westinghouse fridge/freezer? (freezer on top of the fridge) i bout it second hand and guess i need to know the model number so i can order parts.
thanks.
brett

[kayakcrzy]

It is supposed to get pretty hot. It only has 22 minutes to defrost the coil every 8 hours. Yes, that it the defrost thermostat. If the model # is not inside the refrigerator on one of the side walls, take the front bottom kick plate off, and look down there on the frame, if it is not there take the vegetable bins out, and get down on the floor, and look on the right side or left side for the tag. They used to put them there for years. Tom ApplianceEducator.com