[gmsimmel]

Situation: The refrigerator won't cool to less than 60 degrees and the freezer barely maintains 35 degrees with all controls set to max cooling; some frost apparent on the back wall of the freezer; condenser coils have been vacuumed; no blockage of condenser fan; diffuser fan inside the freezer is working.

Based on the posts I have read so far, this sounds like the defroster thermostat is broken ... Please tell me how to check it. Any other possible causes and solutions?

[PS Staff - Sheila]

Your fridge is not defrosting.

Locate the defrost timer in the control panel of the fridge section behind the light shield.

With the compressor running turn the knob between the two screws until the compressor shuts off.

The fridge will now be in the defrost cycle.

The defrost cycle will last about 25 minutes.

Open the freezer and listen for the sound of water running.

This will mean that the freezer is defrosting.

If the freezer defrosts then your will need a new defrost timer.

If the freezer does not defrost then you will need a new heater or defrost thermostat.

The defrost heater and thermostat are located in the freezer section behind the back panel.

Here is a link to your fridge model TFHW24RRA.

Here is the defrost timer.

[gmsimmel]

Thanks! I've replaced the defrost timer and we'll see if the refrigerator works as designed.

[gmsimmel]

The refrigerator compressor is now working continuously but neither the freezer not the refrigerator sections are cooling very much. After ~ 5 hours, the refrigerator is at 70F and the freezer is at 40F.
Any suggestions for the next step?