[warmfridge]

The fridge is quite cold (5 degrees F), but the fridge is warm (55 degrees F).

This is a second refrigerator that we keep out in the garage. It was quite warm yesterday when I noticed the warm fridge, but it was very hot outside a week or two ago and the fridge seemed to work fine.

There seems to be more air flow into the freezer than the fridge. Is this normal?

Are the fridge and freezer cooled by the same compressor/evaporator? the same air fan?

I have vaccuumed out the coil under the fridge. It was not too dirty to begin with.

What should I be looking for?

UPDATE (edited 8/27 7:30 AM)
Tried some troubleshooting yesterday. Cleaned the condensor coils. Emptied the freezer and fridge and examined the coils behind the back panel in the freezer. They were frosty, but not so much that it seemed airflow was impeded. Then I defrosted the unit. Plugged it back in around 5PM and the temperature in the fridge slowly dropped throughout the evening. It was 55 degrees at 10 last night and 28 at 7 this morning. Does that rule out freon/compressor/evaporator problems or will a weak fridge eventually get cold when it's empty?

If it is defrost-related, how do I begin narrowing down the problem?

[PS Volunteer - Appguy]

You might try adjusting the damper control that lets more freezer air into the fridge section. You will know you are turning the right control when you feel more air going to fridge. Also, check if fridg. door gasket is bad at bottom of door, or maybe light bulb is still on when door is shut!
Now check freezer temperature and post. With compressor control set up to the coldest position, freezer should go down ton at least 0 degrees.

[warmfridge]

Thanks Appguy. As soon as I noticed the high temp in the fridge I turned the knob to let more air into the fridge. It seemed to allow a little more air into the fridge, but not significantly more, and the temp continued to climb.

Then I cleaned the coils and removed everything from the fridge and freezer for a manual defrost.

After I did the manual defrost Sunday evening, the temp began to drop. By Monday morning, the freezer was just above zero and the fridge was 28. That seemed normal to me. It has been OK since (running empty). I have not put any food back in because I do not believe the problem is solved.

[PS Volunteer - Appguy]

Now it sounds like a bad defrost. Just check defrost thermostat when cold and defrost heater.

[warmfridge]

How do I check the defrost thermostat and defrost heater? I assume I need to somehow manually get power to the heater and see if it gets hot. Isn't there some type of sensor (bimetal) that could be bad as well?

What specific steps would you take to diagnose which part of the defrost system is bad?

[warmfridge]

Here is the latest.

After five days, the temperature is rising in the freezer and fridge. Obviously there is a defrost problem. How do I diagnose it?

[PS Volunteer - Appguy]

If no meter, just replace all defrost items.

[warmfridge]

I've got a multi-meter and would like to figure out which is bad. How do I diagnose it?

[warmfridge]

Bump, bump, bump...

[PS Volunteer - Appguy]

While parts are still cold measure the defrost thermostat ohms, should be shorted, then measure the defrost heater, should be around 30 ohms.