I have a 2009 Kenmore Elite side-by-side, model number 106.58702801. A couple months ago I noticed occasionally the ice cream would be a little softer than normal. I figured the freezer door didn't get closed all the way (2 young kids in the house that don't seem to understand that doors open AND close). 3 days ago everything was thawed out and the freezer was 40*. I emptied the freezer/fridge, ran the onboard diagnostics, cleaned the coils under the fridge, put in a thermometer that stores the 24 hr high and low and plugged it back in. The lowest temp the fridge reached in about 2 hours was 14 degrees, at which point I reset the thermometer so I could get an accurate high temp. All fans seem to be working properly.

In about 4 hours the temp went from 14 to 38 back down to 14 in the freezer. I took the back panel off the inside of the freezer and there was no ice build up, only some light frost (there hasn't been anything more than light frost on the coils in the freezer at any point). I ohmed the thermistors in the fridge and freezer. They showed pretty close to the same at close to the same temp and I assume it's unlikely they would both go bad at the same time.

At this point I suspect the compressor start relay, the compressor, defrost system or the board. Yesterday evening, after unplugging and plugging back in, the unit went down to 14 and maintained 14-16 for about 5 hours (maybe longer, I went to bed). I woke up and the compressor wasn't running and it was 40 degrees in the freezer and 44 in the fridge. I can't rule out the defrost system because it might be coming on and failing to restarting the compressor, but that doesn't explain why it won't get below 14 degrees.


All of that to say... what could cause it to not reach set temp and not consistently maintain that temp?

Sorry for the novel. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Edited by user Wednesday, May 26, 2021 5:38:32 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified