My Kenmore refrigerator model 10661282100 is cooling properly as long as it runs. Somehow it gets stuck in the defrost cycle and won’t start again until I tap on the thermostat control panel above the fresh food area. I replaced the electronic control board but it did not fix the problem. Please help.
Sounds more like a main thermostat problem.
Next time don’t tap the control con sole just move the thermostat setting back and forth a bit.
If it fires up I would replace the thermostat.
I changed the settings of both the frefrigerator and the freezer as you suggested but it did not start. the thermostat that I placed in the refrigerator shows 40 degrees. I opened the frige to see if it would start again when it gets warmer. After a few minutes, when the temperature rose to about 50 degrees, it started to run again. The problem is when it stays off for a long time, the ice will melt and become wet. I am not a heavy user of the fridge.
I am out of ideas.
My gut says it is the thermostat.