My Kenmore SxS fridge recently was only cooling to about 60 degrees and I did the research online and found that excessive frost build up could be the problem. I removed the rear panel from the back of the freezer and sure enough it was packed with frost. I took a hair dryer and melted it and the fridge returned to 38 degrees as expected.

Okay so I know I have a defrost problem and there could be 3 possible causes, 1) the defrost switch, 2) defrost thermostat and 3) the defrost heater. I'm not very handy with a volt meter but I do own one. However I noticed that I have what appears to be quite a bit of green corrosion from the copper all around the defrost thermostat where it clips onto the pipe. I'm wondering if this could be the cause of my problem. It is an inexpensive part to try at $23.

I have read several troubleshooting steps about turning the dial on the defrost switch until the unit shuts off and seeing if I hear the gurgling sound however I reviewed the parts list for my fridge and it doesn't list a defrost switch. I'm assuming there is a control board of some sort that handles this and I may not have an option to do this troubleshooting step?

What is the likelihood the green corrosion is the problem? What do you suggest I do next? I have attached a picture of the corrosion.

Thanks.

Thanks den man. I will do what you suggested. I can't seem to find the tech sheet for the control board. Can you help point me in the right direction?

Thanks for the tech sheet. However I will need more hand holding to manually force a defrost cycle. It's not clear to me at all how to do this after reviewing the tech sheet. Thanks.