Thank Gene; I ordered a defrost timer yesterday and it should be here tomorrow. If that's not it, I'll call again; otherwise, thanks a lot. David

Gene,

I have a similar problem but suspect a different cause. With my refrigerator and freezer temperature controls set at the manufacturers recommended settings, my frig temp is about 40F-45F and the freezer is 0F-10F. If I lower the frig temp setpoint, it also raises my freezer temp. With both controls at the lowest settings, my frig runs 30f-35F but the freezer runs 20F-25F (also notice some condensation on the top and right inside panels of the freezer at this point). What temperatures are acceptable for both compartments? I've not seen any frost on the inside rear panel of the freezer so I don't suspect the defrost components are bad and I've checked for blockages in the air ducts and it's clear. Could this be a thermostat problem? Something else? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks Gene. I'll try that and see what happens.

OK. With Freezer control at the recommended setpoint (midpoint) & refrigerator (T-Stat) control near its lowest setpoint, the freezer is 0F and the refrig is 35F. It seems VERY sensitive. Moving the thermostat up halfway to the next warmer setting puts the freezer at 20F and refrig at 44F. Any reason for concern in having to maintain the thermosat so near its lowest setting? It never was that way in the past. Why the sudden change (or maybe I just noticed it)? The refrigerator is only about 7 years old.

Gene,
I had previously cleaned the condenser coils. I have heard a "twang" noise once in a while when the condenser fan runs. It seems to be from the slight movement of the fan blade along the motor shaft as I was able to duplicate it manually when I spin the fan (unit unplugged , of course). I also noted that the fan occationally comes on and goes right off a couple times in a succession when I hear that noise most often. When I lower the thermostat, the fan comes on and the frig runs. However, it SEEMS each time I do that, I near the end of the lowest thermostat setting as the temp inside increases? I see from the parts list that there are two parts for the compressor: one is part 4387766 called "Overload Service (includes relay)" and part 2212963 called "Start-Device Combination (Start Relay and Overload for Production Compressor Only)". Could one of these components be possibly failing/overheating and causing the compressor to run for a while and then quit? Would it then automatically reset (if thermal) and allow it to restart? I know the refrigerator is capable of 0F freezer and 35F fresh food (at least until I adjusted the frig temp up) based on temps I had a couple days ago. Thanks much for your assistance on this!
UPDATE: 8PM - With freezer control half way and refrigerator (T-stat) at lowest setting, temps now -3F freezer, 32F frig. (Thermostat does seem "sensitive")