[sroney]

I have a GE side-by-side refrigerator freezer. Earlier this week I noticed that the refrigerator side is not very cool (nearly warm).

The freezer side is plenty cold, and appears to be functioning correctly.

Any advice is welcomed.

Thanks.

Steve

[sroney]

OK,

By reading other threads it seems like I may have a problem with the defrost. Does anyone know where the defrost timer would be located, and the procedure to check the timer on this unit?

Thanks

[ChristopherG8394]

The timer is in the upper right hand corner of the cold side behind the rear panel, but on my unit it turned out to be a bad connection to one of the defrost heaters. Take the back off the freezer side first and defrost the coils and check the heaters and contacts.

[JKerr]

Originally Posted by sroney

I have a GE side-by-side refrigerator freezer. Earlier this week I noticed that the refrigerator side is not very cool (nearly warm).

The freezer side is plenty cold, and appears to be functioning correctly.

Any advice is welcomed.

Thanks.

Steve

12/28/07... 11:05 EST Hi Steve;
Questions. Is icemaker still working and icecream brick hard or spoon soft? Also are ice cubes glossy or frosty?
Jim K

[lynn manss]

my GE did the same thing. It was the defrost heater that is just a light. They apperently burn out after about 6 years

[sroney]

Jkerr,

The ice maker seems to work fine, cubes are normal and clear.

There is no ice cream in the freezer at the moment (whats up with that??)

There is some light frost on the back of the freezer.

I don't have any type of service manual, so I don't know how to check the timer, etc.

Steve

[woodchuck]

Cold air enters the fridge through a damper or vent between the freezer and fridge. The evaporator fan in or behind the freezer blows the air through. There is an adjustment to open and close this vent to allow more or less cold air in. Make sure it's open.

[sroney]

There are three small vents (approximately 1" square) toward the front of the refrigerator. These units are open (I can see through them). And the fan in the freezer is working.

I have noticed today that there is frost developing on the rear of the freezer. I am assuming that it is a defrost issue.

I have a repair man that is supposed to call me tomorrow, but if I replace the timer, heater and thermostat - the parts are roughly 1/3 of the telephone quote. And the parts do not appear to be too difficult to replace.

[woodchuck]

You can test those parts. Refrigerator Repair Guide: How To Fix a Refrigerator - ACME HOW TO.com

[sroney]

OK,

Here is the latest. Any thoughts are appreciated.

I took the back off of the freezer, and the top coil was frozen solid. The bottom two coils had minimal frost.

I advanced the defrost timer by hand, and the heaters glowed red. (There are heaters for the bottom coils only). I then thawed the coil, and plugged the refrigerator back in. The unit powered up, and the coils began to get cold.

After a few minutes, I advanced the timer by hand to the defrost cycle again. The compressor and fan in the freezer stopped. This time however, the heater coils did not glow.

So my first assumption is that the heaters are fine, and the heater thermostat is working fine (since the heaters came on when the freezer was cold, but not when the freezer was warm.

My second assumption is: My problem is the defrost timer.

So, are my assumptions correct, and if so should I replace the timer only, or is there any reason I should replace anything else?

Thanks!

Steve