[sasquash]

over the last week the fridge and freezer have been getting warmer,
food not cold enough butter soft etc. freezer still making ice but ice cream very soft, have set thermostats to coldest settings, any idea what the problem may be?

[kayakcrzy]

If you look at the back wall of the freezer, half way down in the back, you will probably see a frost build up. If so, you still should hear the fan running in the freezer. What you will have is either a heater problem, or a defrost thermostat, or a motherboard problem. If you take the back wall off the freezer. Make sure the refrigerator is unplugged, and on the bottom of the evaporator is a heater. Take the 2 screws holding it in place out, and pull the wires off of each end, and check it with your ohm meter. If you get no reading, replace the heater and defrost the coil, and put it back together, and you have it. If the heater is good, pull out the refrigerator, and in the back, there will be a seperate panel on the back of the refrigerator with three screws holding it in place. Take them out, and that is where the mother board is. Replace it. If you need me you can reach me at my web site at ApplianceEducator.com Tom

[sasquash]

the heater did show continuity when tested with an Ohmeter. Is there a way to test the Thermostat?
I would rather replace that than the motherboard.

[woodchuck]

You can temp. bypass it by unplugging the two wires from the thermostat and connect them together. If it still won't defrost---board.

The thermostat has to be cold to test for continuity.