Here are your parts
Replacement parts for Frigidaire FRT18G6JW2 REFRIGERATOR | AppliancePartsPros.comHere is a copy of the wiring diagram
http://manuals.frigidaire.com/p...f/Anderson/241588203.pdfLooking at the parts your unit does not have a condenser/compressor fan.
[COLOR="DarkRed"]There was ice on the wire going to the defrost coil, but there wasn't any ice anywhere else. There was some frost on the part with the fins (evaporator coil I think is what it's called).[/COLOR]
Does not sound like a defrost problem.
[COLOR="DarkRed"]After messing with it for a while I put it all back together and the next day it worked. I'm assuming it defrosted by being unplugged for 10 minutes or so.[/COLOR]
It would take a lot longer to defrost if the coils had been heavily iced/frosted over. For it to be a defrost problem they must be iced/frosted over to the point where the evaporator/freezer fan cannot pull air through them.
When you opened the door was the evaporator/freezer fan running?
It should be on whenever the compressor is on.
If it is not on then the unit will not cool properly.
[COLOR="DarkRed"]This morning when I woke up, the compressor was kicked off and the fridge wasn't running so I assume the timer is working correctly. By the time I decided to work on it, it had kicked on again so I took the back freezer panel off again and turned the timer manually so the defrost coil would kick on. It gets hot.
Would I be correct in assuming that since the fridge wasn't running in the morning the timer is OK, and when I manually turned the defrost timer the coil heated up, [/COLOR]
You cannot assume that because the timer may jam up in another part of the cycle. You can assume that the defrost heater is OK as it got hot.
I would also say that the defrost thermostat is OK, though they can go intermittent. If it is deformed/bulged replace it.
[COLOR="DarkRed"]that my problem part is the thermostat (since it's the only defrost part left)? If the timer turns the defrost coil on, then what is the purpose of the thermostat anyway?[/COLOR]
I am assuming we are talking about the defrost thermostat. It is wired in series with the heating coil. It is closed when frozen and opens just above freezing. The defrost cycle is a timed event (30 minutes) but if the ice is melted off the coils in 15 minutes then the defrost thermostat will open and shut off the heater. This prevents additional heat which is not needed for defrost from thawing your food. It sounds like it is OK.
[COLOR="DarkRed"]Any help is greatly appreciated... I've been a homeowner less than a year and I have no idea what I'm doing![/COLOR]
At one time or another we were all in that position.
Here is a good site with basic info on appliances which you may find useful.
http://www.applianceaid.com/repair-help.htmlIn your unit the main control thermostat turns the compressor and evaporator/freezer fan on. They are wired in parallel so when one is on the other should also be on.
So if it happens again.
Check is the compressor is on. You can usually hear it, also it should be warm and you should be able to feel it vibrating.
If it is on, check that the freezer fan is running, could be it is shot.
If neither are on jiggle the main control thermostat back and forth a bit. If the unit fires up then I would say that the thermostat is sticking open and needs replacing.
I hope I explained the above OK.