We have a GE side by side refrigerator that started staying warmer a few months ago, then our freezer side starting not freezing right although it still felt good and cold. Ice cream was melting and ice took a few days to freeze. I finally got on here and found some information about the defrost heater and timer. We took the back panel out of the freezer and it was all frosted over, plus we kept watching for a few days and noticed that the we never saw the orange glow or heard the defrost heaters coming on. So we took our old heaters off (the bulbs looked burnt out -blackened) and we got a new heater kit with the thermostat. We installed it and kicked the timer into defrost manually so we could check it but he heater still never came on. We left it running a couple of days but still never heard or saw the heater come on. We went ahead and installed a new timer but even when he goes into defrost mode the heater never comes on.

So this has a new heater, thermostat that came with heater kit and a new timer but the defroster is not coming on. I put an outdoor thermometer in the freezer compartment but it only gets down to around 38 to 40 degrees. Can it just not be getting cold enough to kick in the heater? How can we bypass the thermostat and see if the heater is good? Also why isn't it not be getting colder than that? Could it be low of freon which makes it stay to warm which in turn keeps the heater from kicking on? If it is low of freon will it be worth getting more freon put into it. I am assuming if it is low it must have leaked out somewhere and we need the leak fixed and then more freon. Or am I wrong, do they just get low over a period of years without having a leak? Anyway how much does it usually cost to get freon put in and a leak fixed and is it worth it? SOrry for all the questions but I have had it with this thing. We are using a friends extra one right now til we get this fixed or get a new one. I love the fridge and we never have had any problems before so I would rather get it fixed if it is not to much. THanks again.

I agree with the last post. In addition.
1. Make sure the heater is getting electric current. The heater is energized by the timer. If the timer does not get current then the heater will not work.
2. Also check to make sure the condenser fan is operating. If it is not running when the comressor is on the compressor will shut down automatically on high discharge pressure or on a high temperature switch within the motor so that it does not burn out the motor nor get too hot.
3.Make sure the condenser coils are fairly clean. If they are dirty it reduses air flow and casues poor heat transfer another condition that will cause the compressor to run at much higher discharge pressures and can cause the motor to shut down automatically.

The first thing tho to check is to find out why the heater does not work.

Timer should be a little black? box about the size of a pack of cigarettes I would guess. Try tracing to where it is located by checking where the wires from the heater return to. It might even have an adjustable dial on it to adjust the time between defrosts.

Gene thanks very much Buck

look inside the refrig on the back wall. mine was on the right.