Hi. My freezer started acting up a week ago. Ice cream and ice pops located in the center of the freezer compartment were soft, as well as bread. Items in lower third remain frozen solid. Ice maker (top third) continues to make ice. Removed the back panel inside freezer to expose the condenser coils. The bottom half of the condenser coil have a layer of frost. Top half/third has no frost. However, the tube feeding directly from the top to the bottom layer is covered in frost.[IMG]https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&ik=fa452f8af4&view=fimg&th=14cbad3d4bde929e&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=1498481777523556352-local0&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ8WjUs2umxhePKapSTrZaWD0KQqn-UxF2pbYBhBx1wSdjwvkU4SRwnzp4skpcv0E9u3jBYbevQzFc5w2x6ugBe7nop0JB6kpAvmCi-EJagKL5U6bvUUKu4smAY&ats=1429063620243&rm=14cbad3d4bde929e&zw&sz=w1877-h841[/IMG]

Also, the condenser fan works fine and the refrigerator compartment appears to be maintaining temp.
Can someone please provide some reasons for this issue and any tests to verify the possibilities (or is this a sealed system problem that isn't worth fixing)?

I am assuming that the compressor runs all the time except when the unit goes through a defrost cycle.

Sounds like it may be a sealed system problem.
This will be an expensive repair and often it makes more sense to put the dollars towards a new unit.

Below is a link, take a look at the example pictures about a third of the way down the page.
http://www.applianceaid.com/ref...ator-not-cold-enough.php

Thank you for the feedback thus far.

Yes. Wrench 191 is correct - it is the evaporator coil. Over the weekend I replaced the defroster temperature switch. This was not the problem. Verified the defrost heater element for continuity. So it is back to inconsistent temperatures across the freezer compartment. Still making ice at the top (although slower than normal), bottom is still cold, and ice pops near the vertical middle of the freezer compartment get slushy.

denman - Have been unable to verify that the defroster is actually working/cycling. The compressor motor does not run all the time either. Reviewed the link you offered but am unaware of the location of the defrost cycle timer on this unit. Can you advise?

Any additional tests or recommendations before having to replace the entire refrigerator?

Thank you for this! Now to find the service manual showing where all of the parts are located...