[Mark57]

Refrigerator always stays running at 3 and above, if I lower the thermostat to around 2, she seem to operate ok.......Food and drink stays cold. The freezer seems to be ok. (Should I replace the thermostat?) This Whirlpool was made 12/1998

Thank you,
Mark

[richappy]

Measure the back freezer wall temperature and post. If over 10-15 degrees pull off back freezer panel and describe evaporator coil frost.

[Mark57]

Hi Richappy,
Today purchased a thermometer, looks like my readings are good.....2 degrees when running and 15 degrees just before she turns back on. Now I placed the thermometer at the vent on the back wall of the freezer panel to get these readings.
Last night I noticed I had to turn down the thermostat between 1 and off on thew frig side to shut it off, was running a long time.
So what do you think whats my problem?
Thanks for your help,
Mark

[richappy]

You have marginal refrigeration, it is NOT your cold control. Pull the back freezer panel off and describe frost pattern, should be completely frosted over.For a fidge running a long time, freezer temp. should get down below zero.
Also clean your condensing coils in the back. Please post results.

[Mark57]

Today I cleaned the back of the condensing coils and all around the bottom. I removed the back freezer panel to noticed the evaporator, it was all Frosted up, before I removed the temp was at -6.
She still runs best at around 2 1/2 on the thermostat?????

[richappy]

You have a mechanical defrost timer in the fridg control panel, locate it and turn the middle knob clockwise with a flat bladed screwdriver till the compressor stops and the defrost heater starts heating. If so, you must replace the defrost timer, its probably stuck. If no defrost, you probably have a bad defrost thermostat, a little round thing clipped to the evaporator coil in freezer. You can defrost your coils with a hair dryer.

[Mark57]

On the defrost timer I made one complete turn and the compressor stopped. (I'll order the timer from this site.) Looks like it was defrosting, water was dripping down into the drip pan. Should I turn the defrost timer back a turn or leave as is? Oh and should I replace the defrost thermostat while I'm at it?
Richappy,
Thank you for your time and all your help.
Mark57

[richappy]

Yes, order a new defrost thermostat and turn your defrost timer to turn the compressor on, it might stick in defrost.

[Mark57]

Today install the new defrost timer, she ran for over 4 hr's was at -8 so I drop the cold thermostat from 3 to 2 1/2 until the compressor stopped.
Could this now be a cold control problem? (Thermostat)