[DYNO]

Frosty coils = Sour milk

The refrigerator side of my Jenn-Air side-by-side keeps getting warm. If I manually defrost the coils, it's fine for a while. The defrosting system is obviously not working.

I understand there are three main components...
Heating element
Defrost timer
Thermostat

Please help me troubleshoot these components. I've seen the heating element, but I do not know where to find the timer or thermostat. Once I find them, how can I tell if they're working properly?

I am very familiar with the use of an volt/ohm meter.

Thanks much!


PS On this model there is no way to force a heated defrost cycle (no knob or switch to turn). I can only turn off the unit and let the ice melt naturally

[denman]

Here is a link to your fridge
Maytag JCD2389DES

I would check the heater and thermal cutout for continuity/resistance just to be sure, but you have and adaptive defrost control board and they are notorious for breaking down

Have read they can be tested but have never done this myself
Short L1 to TEST for about 5 seconds
Should hear the relay click in
Fridge should start to defrost

Looks like a lot of problems are from poor initial design of this board
Overheating - melting tracks to the relay or the solder at the relay
Under specked capacitor C2

[DYNO]

I never thought I'd say this but...

...I can't wait to start working on my fridge (again)!

Thank you very much.