Whirlpool No-Frost Refrigerator-Freezer, Model ET18JKXSN02 (w/factory Ice Maker...I installed this accessory kit about a year later after we bought this new in 1988) - This is a top freezer unit, not a side-by-side.
Problem: Freezer gets cold but doesn't freeze & ice maker no longer works (makes me wonder if the 2 problems are related). Playing with the temp control dials doesn't seem to affect this problem. Freezer fan is running fine, blowing cold air and I'm not hearing any odd fan noises, like bearing problems or blades hitting frosted lines, etc. The fridge seems to be cooling fine.
I sometimes hear an odd, soft "groaning" sound periodically that lasts for just a few seconds then stops...sometimes as often as at 20 second intervals. It's hard to tell, but the sound seems to be coming from the back of the freezer in the evaporator area. It may be coming from inside the fridge, like possibly around the temp control dial area visible when you open the door but I don't think so (it's hard to tell the exact location with the fan running...it doesn't do this when the fan stops). The best description I can give is that it kind of sounds electrical, like something is trying to start or switch over but then can't always do it (almost like it's arching). There is no smell nor do the lights dim or fan motor slow down (it's not blowing the circuit breaker either). The sound is not coming from down below, like from the compressor area or ice-maker water valve.
Researching online seemed to indicate that a common failure item is the Defrost Timer unit, located behind the temp controls, accessible from inside the top area of the fridge. I replaced that but the problem is basically unchanged (note: I used "Version 1", Procedure #2, per the instructions to configure the timer...black pigtail wire attached to terminal #2).
I just removed the back panel in the freezer, exposing the evaporator area and there is no frost (water drips are visible as well as audible while the fridge is running). I inspected the bi-metal Defrost Thermostat but it is not visibly damaged or burned. I removed it and ohmed it after it had been out of the freezer area for a little while and it was open (infinite ohms). I've reinstalled it and am now running the freezer with the back panel off so I can observe that area, and possibly pinpoint the source of the groaning sound.
What's the logical next step? It's gets expensive guessing and replacing parts, hoping to get lucky. Is the next step to replace the Bi-metal Defrost Thermostat? How often does the actual Control, Temp (Whirlpool Part # 1123394) accessible at the top (temp range 1 thru 5 & also the on/off switch), inside the top area of the fridge compartment go bad on these? I'm not sure what my next step should be at this point.
A little history that may be relevant:
A few months back, possibly 9 to 12 months, we had problems with things freezing in the refrigerator. The eggs in the door would freeze for example. After calling a repair tech and fiddling with the temp dials (freezer and fridge), it seemed to get better but never seemed quite right. I don't recall hearing the groaning sound back then but I can't be 100% sure (this has been a gradual decline problem over some months). During this same time, the ice-maker would run intermittently, unlike before when it ran perfectly, like clockwork. Could these freezer problems, essentially the inside of the freezer isn't freezing, prevent the ice maker from working too (i.e., are those electrical circuits somehow related, perhaps dependent on each other)?
The compressor runs fine, no odd noises or anything (just hums like normal). The in-put and out-put lines are normal, i.e., one is hot and the other one is cool. I know this fridge is old (24 years) but I don't think the compressor is the problem (I'm not quite sure how to test it and I'm told these units can't be fixed due to new EPA standards and that this uses the older freon refrigerant). As previously noted, the inside of the fridge area keeps things cool and seems to work fine so it appears that's OK, it's just the freezer area and ice maker that's the problem. Thanks.
