[Gene]

The evaporator coils normally should be about 100% covered with thin frost. In order to keep it from frosting up and blocking air flow circulation through the evaporator coils the electronic control activates the defrost cycle every 8 hours of compressor run time.

The evaporator fan motor should run as long as the compressor does. Possible it has an interment problem. If you believe so then it's better to replace it.

- The evaporator fan motor assembly Part number: W10128551

Gene.
P.S. You can see how the air flows in the refrigerator in the attached file.

[ssauer40]

Gene, after reading your reply, I'm convinced its not running the heater unit every 8 hours like you said. The return air flow in the freezer part becomes blocked. I going to assume the heater unit is not running. My evap coils become heavily iced over, till the return air vents in the freezer (after looking at the air flow diagram you posted) are plugged.

I cant afford down time (its working now as I have used a heat gun to remove the ice for a second time in about 6 weeks) and I just ordered your heater element and thermostat and will just replace both. Where is the thermostat located? And if that doenst fix it, the control board. Where is that unit located too, I assume under the control settings panel.

Thanks so much Gene.

[Gene]

You are welcome. The thermostat is located on top of the evaporator coils and the control board is located inside the control panel.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Happy New year!

Gene.

[branchpartyof5]

Our fridge is 6 years old. It has been freezing the lower compartment on and off for a couple years. Last week I noticed the fridge side was not as cold as usual, and continued to get worse. I would hold my hand up to the diffuser and could not feel any cold air entering. After reading different forums, I figured the diffuser needed to be replaced but was not entirely confident with my decision, so I called a repair guy to come look at it. He said that condenser coils looked good (not too much dust) and both fans were running. When he took off the back panel in the freezer, he said the problem was the condenser since only the bottom few coils has frost on them and the rest were just wet. His solution was to buy a new refrigerator. He didn't even look at the diffuser or run diagnositics on anything else. As a last ditch effort, I turned the fridge off for a couple hours, cleaned everything, took out the diffuser and could see the vents were closed and somthing was rattling around. So I opened the vents manually, replacing everything and turned on the fridge. 24 hours later the fridge is cold and the evaporator coils are frosted all the way up. I also performed the digital diagnostic test I found online and all checked out except the diffuser which did not open and shut on its own. I plan on replace the diffuser myself. My question is could I really have a problem with my condenser?

[Gene]

Hello,

First of all to make sure we are talking abut the same part - the coils inside the freezer are the evaporator coils while the condenser coils are on the back of the refrigerator. I'm assuming your question was about the evaporator coils.

...he took off the back panel in the freezer, he said the problem was the condenser since only the bottom few coils has frost on them and the rest were just wet...

Did you see it yourself?


What is the complete model number of the refrigerator?

Gene.

[branchpartyof5]

Hi,
Yeah, he looked at the evaporator coils and said I probably needed a new COMPRESSOR (sorry I said condenser before).
Jill

[branchpartyof5]

I did see it myself. The model is 106.56539400

[Gene]

Hi Jill,

The evaporator unevenly covered with frost could happen because of dirty condenser (on the back of the refrigerator) or the refrigerator can be on defrost cycle at that time or the defrost cycle just finished.

I would recommend to keep the diffuser open with a toothpick and watch the temperatures for a few days. Normal temperatures should be: about 0°F in the freezer and 36°F-39°F in the refrigerator. If it will work good, replace the diffuser.

- The diffuser Part number: 2216112

Gene.