Any Refridgerator Experts? Freezer Side not Defrosting
 

Anyone have any ideas on what I need to check on here?

The coils on my Amana fridge keep frosting over. It happened the first time a couple weeks ago where both sides started to get warmer and the ice was wet. I unplugged it and cleaned out the freezer side, and took off the back panel to find the coils frozen at the bottom where the defrost heater is, and frosted solid all the way up to the fan above it.

I used a hairdryer to clean out all the frost, then plugged it back in and it worked great, but now it is frosted over and starting to do the same thing.

I've been checking around on google, and have seen suggestions that it could be the defrost timer, or the defrost limiter, with the latter being the most likely. I am planning on cleaning it out and taking a look later today again, but wanted to see if anyone might have some tips to look for when I do it.

It is an Amana side by side, with ice and water in the freezer side door.

Once it frosts up like it is, the fan above the coils still runs, but there isn't any way air can move over the coils and up into the rest of the unit.

This site is awesome for DIYers. Here's a GE with a similar problem. If you donate $5 you get lifetime access to everything on the site including repair manuals for popular models if they've been posted. Snoop around and you might find someone who's had the same problem with your exact model.

http://fixitnow.com/wp/2004/04/22/ma...ting-problems/

Thanks! I think I found another one here, but the one you linked has some good troubleshooting steps that I'll try.

I didn't let it go 24 hours, but the coils were completed defrosted and the freezer side was barely cold at all anymore by the time I had it all melted out.

I can't find the dang defrost timer so far, I am starting to think it must be in the food compartment. I am going to try to manually move it to defrost mode once I can find the thing. I've taken off the kickplate on the frosnt and didn't see anything but the coils for the compressor. Checking from behind now, and if it isn't there I assume it is in the food compartment somewhere.

In many cases it is in the food compartment.... possibly near the cold control / thermostat. Look for a small hole (about 1/2" in diameter). The defrost timer has a knob that can be accessed through that hole, that can be turned to manually place it into defrost.

Ugh...I looked in the food compartment and took off the panel over the cold control and found a little cover that when I snapped it loose had a circuit board...which I've seen pictures of on some of the forums, so I assume that this one doesn't have a timer, but uses this instead. I took a look at it and I don't see any manual triggers to move it to defrost mode.

Hmm, yup here is what I saw in there:

http://www.appliancepartsworldwide.c...aspx?Id=575753

BOARD, ADAPTIVE DEFROST

I wanted to move it to defrost manually to see if the rest of the stuff was working, but with this thing I'm not sure if that is an option yet.

Antifreeze?




(I can't believe I'm the 1st in with this btw)
Posted via Mobile Device

I have a JennAir frig and it was doing the same thing. I replaced the adaptive defrost board. On this unit it's located in the refrigerator compartment, at the top. Not too bad to replace. JennAir offered to supply the part IF I hired a service tech to make the repair. I bought the part and installed it myself for 75.00 or so.

I just checked and MAYTAG owns Amana along with JennAir. Whirlpool purchased the entire group in 2007........all of those frigs are built by the same company. Go figure.

What are you thinking??? We live in America. Cash for Refrigerators is on the way, and your sugar daddy in DC is gonna hook you up.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Jus...ory?id=8401046

Attachment 88825

The Man himself.

Beat me to it! :)

I have a maytag piece of crap and the same thing happened to me. It ended up being the Defrost Thermostat.

You can find the parts here. http://www.partselect.com/

Looks like I found it here for $62.87.

http://www.pcappliancerepair.com/cgi...9031&brand=WPL

and here for $59.87

http://store.appliancezone.com/servl...Control/Detail

I don't know why manufacturers have to replace items like defrost timers that would cost the consumer $15.00 - $20.00 with an item that's 4-5 time more expensive. Obviously the electronic part doesn't last any longer.