[andrew steen]

This is a side by side kitchenaid refrigerator about 6 years old. the weather has been hot lately. The articles in the freezer are simply not frozen hard enough - the icecream for example is very soft; the ice maker still works ok, but the ice is not very cold.
The compressor is working constantly. The fridge side is cold enough. The drip pan beneath the fridge does have some water from time to time, but maximum an eggcup full.
I have read some posts that may equate the symptoms to the defrost cycle switch not working, but am unsure of the immediate steps I should take to determine the precise problem.
thanks
andrew, toronto, canada

[PS Staff - Sheila]

If the temperature inside your home is very warm the fridge is going to have to work hard to cool.

Try moving the fridge out a little more from the wall so the air can circulate better.

Also place a fan in front of the fridge to move the warm air.

[andrew steen]

the fridge cannot be moved out because it is bullt in. One other thing; the cooling coils on top are really not hot at all, luke warm. Is this not a sign that there is not cooling going on? weather now cooler and ice cream still not frozen hard. Compressor now stops now and again. Any thoughts?

[PS Volunteer - Appguy]

First measure freezer temperature, if warmer than 15 degrees, you may have system problems or a clogged condenser. Pull freezer back panel and check frost pattern, if only partial frost, you have refrigeration problems.

[onceamaytagman]

First of all, check the condenser (under the ref to be clear of all dust, dirt, cobwebs, etc. ...clean real well with a duster type brush and a vacuum cleaner if fouled. The condenser fan motor can be checked to be running at the same time. Without a strobe-tach it is hard to tell if that fan is turning as fast as it is supposed to...if the fan blades are nothing but a blur, chances are it is moving sufficient air. Next check to see if any of your door gaskets are torn, rolled-over, or in any way not sealing properly. If not, air drawn into the ref. cabinet is causing more frost to form in the evaporator region than the defrost heater and defrost time-cycle were designed to handle. Air flow through the evaporator may be restricted causing inefficient cooling.

[andrew steen]

Away for a few days; when back the freezer was not cold enough; in fact the food had just about thawed out. I took the panel off the back of the freezer cabinet; there was a lot of frost especiall over what looks like a thermocouple (just above the evaporator pipe wrapped in black plastic). I thawed out with a hairdryer. The right compartment is still ok.
I manually started the heater with the grey knob adjacent to the condenser coils and it works ok.
Compressor is working.

There is quite a constriction in the evaporator coil, just below the black pastic wrapped piecel ; this really does not look right; certainly when I look at pictures of replacement evaporators the internal diameter seems to be maintained around the radius. Could this affect the cooling.

The evaporator coils do have frost on them (exept the bottom couple) but the temperature of the freezer is only about 28 degrees F.

The fact that the consenser coils (situated on the top of the fridge) are clear and all fans working it) never get warm bothers me; do not most condensor coils get hot the harder the appliance works. I do work on my vehicle air conditioner so have some knowlege - I have even got the R134 an pressure guages and am certified to use it.

thanks
andrew

[PS Volunteer - Appguy]

You will need to recharge system with R134A, just verify it takes R134A, the compressor should be labled and also the model # tag.Re-charge till the freezer coils become completely covered with frost, watch that you don't overfill it.

[andrew steen]

I have left the fridge overnight and low and behold the temperature in the freezer is at 5 degrees F. But I summise that this could well occur if there is little requirement for cooling ( the ambient room temperature is now 20 deg F less than it was a week ago when the problems started).
I'll take a look at the compressor later today and look to see if it does indeed use 134a.

cheers
andrew

[andrew steen]

this evening have checked the defrost heater, defrost thermostat and defrost timer and was surprised that all seem to be working well.
the ambient temperature is about 20 deg F less than it was when the problem occured. I have the freezer temperature set to the left, just before the off ("warmest" allowed) and the system is working hard (the compressor has not stopped working since I checked the defrost heater, defrost thermostat and defrost timer earlier this evening - about 5 hours ago). The temperature in the freezer is currently 8 degrees F and going down slowly.
Just to repeat, the compressor seems to be working 24/7 (except for the defrost cycle); looks to me that it is short of refrigerant. The condenser, which in my fridge is on top never ever gets remotely warm.I have not been able to find the connections to add more refrigerant (I have the hoses and license to do so, but am more familiar with automobile systems).
Thank you for the responses to date.
any assistance would be gratefully received.
thanks, andrew

[andrew steen]

I have seen that in the kitchenaid tech sheet that comes with the side by side refrigerator cite system pressure for the hi side and low side for various room temperatures; where do I connect the guages to check the system pressures.
thanks, andrew