[flathead]

This unit will cool things fine in the lower refrigerator section - even freeze them if you are not careful. However, the freezer is erratic and getting worse. It will freeze solid and then the next time you open it it will be warm. No frost in the freezer, doesn't run excessively, no noises. I no longer use the freezer as anything in it will be frozen and thawed apparently at random. I have freezer dial up to maximum - no change I could tell. I live in a remote area where there are no pro repairmen, so I hope I can get help with this. Have full stock of tools and good volt/ohm meter. (I really miss ice cream!)

[libertyappl]

Here's is the breakdown of your unit, Model CT15Y4W
Turn the dial back down to a normal setting.

Remove the rear panel in the freezer. See if there is any frost or ice on the coils.
Post what you find.

Nat

[kayakcrzy]

Do you hear the fan running in the freezer. You should hear the fan running. You should not have to bend your hear to hear it. Also check the condenser motor next to the compressor, to be sure ity is running. Tom

[flathead]

libertyappl: The back of the freezer has only one removable part and that is a plenum apparently directing flow of air from under the freezer floor. I removed the screw and reached behind and found a smooth plastic surface and no coils. It looks like maybe the coils are between the freezer floor and refer top. Looking into opening that up but it may take a bit.

[flathead]

kayakcrzy: I hear no water running, the collector pan is dry. We have very low humidity here but there is no sign of frost anywhere but on the peas in an open bag that keep freezing and melting. I do hear the compressor running, a fan that is down under the bottom near the compressor (it is blowing air out of the front vent) and another fan blowing somewhat cold air into the freezer through the rear plenum.

I've wondered if there could be a problem with cleaning. First, if there is some way to clean out the condenser coils. The refer is in the garage and it gets dirty out there so perhaps has picked up dirt that needs removing. The other thought has to do with the auto defrost. If I get this right, there is a heater unit that will defrost and allow water to flow down and out of the freezer. Given the complete dry collector pan, perhaps the tube is plugged somehow. If plugged would the water collect in the coils and prevent air flow/heat transfer to the air that is blown into the freezer?

Sorry if these are dumb questions, but my fevered old brain just works that way - born with a wrench in hand and fed on 30-weight.

[denman]

Look at the parts breakdown given by libertyappl.
The coils are in the freezer floor See "Freezer compartment" section Item 10.

To clean. Unplug the unit. Remove the front kick plate and rear cover, if it has one. Blow the underneath (including condenser coil jelly roll) clean with a compressor or leaf blower. A long handled brush will help remove stubborn dust. Clean off the fan blades.

Get to the coils and check them.

Both the below can be seen in the "Unit compartment & system" section.
Turn the defrost timer (Item 23) cam to defrost. Note: cam just turns one way.
Compressor fan should shut off when you enter defrost mode.
Does the defrost heater get hot. Watch you do not burn your fingers.
Once the ice is gone re: coil is above freezing does the defrost heater shut off? Note the compressor fan is still off. If no then it could be the defrost thermostat (Item 35) which is clipped to the evaporator coils is defective (shorted)

The thermostat is supposed to open (shut the heater off) once the coils are ice free. It sounds like it is staying on the entire defrost cycle which puts way too much heat into the freezer compartment.

[flathead]

OK, so I finally figured out that you have to gently pry the sides of the refrigerator outward after all the door hardware is removed to get the bottom panel of the freezer out to expose the evaporator and fan motor.

The first thing I noticed is that this
AP204532
is loaded full of ice and it weighs about five or ten times what it should. It was loaded full of ice and swelled up about double the size it was originally over the area of the evaporator. I also see there is a note about it requiring special attention in the parts section.

The fan works and the evaporator is cold. Could it be that this Ice-loaded Styrofoam was keeping the evaporator cold enough that the thermostat always saw it as being cold enough in the freezer?

I have set the refrigerator to 5 and the freezer to 5. The floor of the freezer is out, the freezer is empty, and I have inserted a thermometer in the freezer that will record both high and low temp overnight. What should this range be given what I have described?