Freezer froze solid, and fridge grew warm. Did total defrosting, tested heater. Thermostat/terminator is an odd looking type which I did not test. Timer is inside upper part of food section. Removed two screws and light panel dropped down an inch, but not enough to access the timer. Tried prying off the rear plastic air-column, and several clips unhinged, but where the two parts meet, neither one wants to pull free. What am I doing wrong? There has to be a trick to getting these parts free. I've done this with other types and models but this one has me pulling out my hair. :confused:

Also, can I test odd looking thermostat (terminator) the same as the normal round ones?

Model number is correct. It's a nice, old fashioned top freezer with all the moder looking plastic inside. Only 2 years old. Wife says to just give it a good hard tug,, but we know how that will end. Oh well. Thanks for the response!

Hello Denman - Thank you again for the help. The PDF you posted is for a very different refrigerator but it was full of useful info, so I bookmarked it. My wife found my exact machine's exploded diagram, but again, it held no clues as to how to get all the plastic light panel area pieces to come loose enough to remove the timer. Oh well. I am an American and that means I will just wince a bit and give it a mighty tug. It worked for Big Bad John in the song, so it sounds like a perfectly aweful but red-blooded American plan.

Looks like I will have it all figured out after it is all broken into pieces. The new parts I use to replace this will be easy to install and remove because I will know in hindsight how to do it correctly.

Thanks for the help! Open a window in the morning and you might hear the sound wafting up from Tampa Bay of a refrigerator being torn, I say TORN apart! Somehow, I am at peace with this plan.