[yeltu]

Hello,

I have a 6 year old Top Mount Refrigerator. We recently had problems with the ice maker, but have since gotten that resolved. Shortly after that repair, I noticed I was not getting a lot of ice. I thought that we were just using more ice than the frig could make, but now that's not the case. It pretty much only makes about 20 ice cubes all night.

Then, I noticed that the ice cream was mush and that the fridge part didn't seem as cold. Sure enough, the ice cubes started sticking together and the ice cream is now like a shake. My husband checked and cleaned the coils and did some other trouble shooting. Today, it is the worst it's been. I have transferred all the frig items to a neighbors house and have turned off the frig all together.

I was able to get the back panel removed and discovered a pretty good size chunk of ice on the left side. Now what? What kind of tools do I need. What do I need to look for or listen for? I'm pretty sure I can tackle this...I'm not afraid, but I do need step by step instructions as my husband is out of town and I can't wait for his return.

Thank you in advance for any and all help.

[aviandragon13]

This is an auto defrost? The first thing to try is to leave your fridge unplugged and let that ice melt. Then go ahead and plug it back in and turn the cold control to your normal temp and let it run for a few hours with the doors shut. Be sure to note what sounds you hear. You might hear a click and then hopefully a hum from the compressor. Once the fridge has been on for a while, feel inside to see if there's a temperature change. Full refrigeration could take up to a day if you believe the manufacturers. Please note that the freezer and the refrigerator share the same cold air, so don't crank both of them down all the way and then wonder why neither one is as cold as they should be. This is a common mistake. Also, once the fridge is warmed up (cooled down?) feel around the walls of the fridge and make sure they are not hot. Being warm for a while might indicate that auto defrost is running, but being hot for too long would suggest that your evaporator fan motor is dead. Post back with more info. Good luck.

[yeltu]

I removed the block of ice and plugged the unit back in. I set the control right in the middle where it's always been. After 18 hours of running, NO cool air. It's actually warmer now. The fans are running and I can hear the compressor humming. I checked around today and can buy a replacement for $475. Is this the smarter choice?

Thanks again for your help.
Tracie