[james King]

My refrigerator is at 57 degrees, and our freezer defrosted some meat, then after we removed some of the meat, last night it got to 21degrees, but the stuff on the door is partially defrosted. I think it is the fan I hear running all the time, but I don't remember hearing it really kick in, turn on. A friend thought it may be the compressor. The coils on the bottom are a little dusty, but nothing major. Any sugestions would be great.

[Gene]

Remove the back panel in the freezer (#10 on the cabinet break down diagram) and check how the evaporator coil (#15 on the system break down diagram) is covered with snow. If the fridge is running for a while then the evaporator coil should be about 100% covered with thin snow.

Post your findings, please.

Gene.

[james King]

I removed the panel and just as you said, it was froze up. I just want to mention, with your instruction and drawings you make this very easy to understand. Thank you.

James

[james King]

So what do I do now? I have a volt meter and I repair packaging equipment for a living so I am used to troubleshooting with the right equipment and knowledge. What can I do now?

[Gene]

I need to know if the evaporator coil was completely frozen up or it was just covered with thin snow. It makes a big difference.

Gene.

[james King]

It was completly iced up.

[Gene]

Most likely the problem with your fridge is a faulty defrost system.

The defrost system consists of three parts: the defrost timer (#23 on the shelves break down diagram), the defrost heater (#14 on the system break down diagram) and the defrost thermostat (#21 on the system break down diagram).

If the evaporator coil is still frozen up, locate the defrost timer and using a flat screwdriver, slowly turn the shaft in the middle of the timer CW until it clicks. The compressor should stop and the refrigerator is in the defrost mode now.

Wait about 10 minutes and check if the defrost heater is hot or (if it's covered with ice) for the sizzling noise from the heater area.

If it's heating up, then the problem is a bad defrost timer.

If it's not heating up, check the defrost heater for continuity. Replace if it's open.

If the defrost heater is fine, replace the defrost thermostat.

- The part number for the defrost timer AP2111929

- The part number for the defrost heater AP2153549

- The part number for the defrost thermostat AP2150024


- Here are the break down diagrams for the Frigidaire refrigerator Model FRT22RGHD0

Gene.

[james King]

It seems to be the defrost timmer. Thank you for your help. I will order the part.

Do I need to turn the timmer back CCW to return it to it's origional setting or can I assume it just keeps rotating CW as time goes by.

[james King]

Ok, I bought a timer and It still froze up. I tested it by checking if I could hear the sizzel of the heater melting ice-no go, So I installed the Defrost Thermostat. I tested it again to see if the Defrost Heater would get hot-no it didn't. I checked it with my meter to see if there was an open-not open. I checked the Defrost Thermostat to see if it was open-I disconnected it and it shows as an open. I don't belive this is the way it works. I would think it is normally closed and when it senses a certain temp it would open. I checked my connections and crimps-they are fine. Where do I go from here?

FYI-it froze up 1st time and then taken months before it happened again, then it got shorter and shorter between times of it frezzing up. Now days

[Gene]

The defrost thermostat must be very cold to get closed and provide power to the heater.

Gene.