Thermostat diagnostic code

Refrigerator & Freezer Repair
1

Hello -

I have a Whirlpool with a bottom freezer. The freezer coils are totally iced over. I forced a defrost and it did defrost (very quickly). I’m assuming within days this will ice over again. Since we’ve been here before… first time was the thermostat and second time the control board… I have limited interest in forking out another $300 for a repair.

I went into the diagnostics mode and when testing the thermostat circuit it did show the code for shorted (S). What I don’t know(understand) is does the freezer have to be a certain temp or does the diagnostic mode, regardless of temp etc., show accurate status of the thermostat. In other words… is that my problem vs. the control board?

GB2SHTXTB00

Thanks!!

2

After reviewing the wiring diagrams at:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=defrost%20code%201s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDQQFjAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsecured.whirlpool.com%2FService%2FSrvTechAdm.nsf%2F2cd44500d572193285256a45004fd9d6%2F8e95092d16f05e168525744800711fe0%2F%24FILE%2Fdefrost_systems.pdf&ei=bffIUJm0CJKP0QHiwIGgBA&usg=AFQjCNG4jikREwSP2gEX7Cc9AUXxeDrwRA&cad=rja

It leads me to believe that the heater would not function at all if the thermostat were bad (even if defrost were forced while in diag mode). Would this mean the control board must be bad?

3

Your defrost thermostat may be intermittent, so just replace it, the adaptive defrost board seems ok, but might be a good idea to replace it also.

4

Thank you very much for responding! I’ll start with the thermostat then I suppose given the $ difference. I also should have clarified in my initial rant that the last failure (board) was about a year ago and six or so months before that it was the thermostat. Not sure I’ll buy one of these again…4+ repairs during its short life.