First post:, refigerator not cooling.

[kingstan]

Hello, just found this place and it looks like I'll be visiting often. LOL I'm not a mechanic, but play one around the house.

Please help to see if I missed anything. The fan was running, frost in the freezer, and fridge and freezer not very cool. I took the back panel off the freezer and found the coils,a nd wires etc.. frozen up. Used a blow dryer to defrost it and take a look. Touched what i think is the defrost thermostat and it fell apart. [xx(]



I'm assuming this was my major malfunction and will be seeking a replacement tomorrow. Is there anything else I should be checking before replacing? And is this a common part that most appliance repair places will have?

Thanks in advance, and a great place you have here.

Regards,
Joe

[LazyPup]

Defrosting the refrigerator with a hair drier was the proper method to insure you dont damage the coils.. and it appears you have located the problem.

The part you have pictured is properly identified as a "Defrost Termination Switch."

It is connected in series between the defrost timer and the defrost heating element.

It is a normally closed thermostat that is intended to open on temperature rise, thus turning the defrost heating element off when it senses the line is hot enough to have melted the ice off.

The OEM (original equipment manufacturer) part shown here has quick connectors attached to the leads for ease of installation. You may find a generic replacement of the same temperature range at any Refrigeration or Appliance parts store. They may have the OEM or they may offer you a generic from Gemline or Mars. The generics will work fine and would probably be much cheaper. The only drawback is the generic will probably have bare wire leads and you will have to connect it in with small wirenuts (they often come with the generic switches.)

[Dan O.]

** Is there anything else I should be checking before replacing? **

While you're in there you could check the defrost heater for continuity but its condition shouldn't affect the limit switch either way. It's just that it's right there at the moment, no extra disassembly required.

You can read about how a frost free refrigerator's defrost system works (if you don't already know) at the following link:

LINK > http://www.appliance411.com/links/jump.cgi?ID=658

** And is this a common part that most appliance repair places will have? **

Most parts places should have some form of replacement as Richard said. Whether they'll have an exact replacement is another question. It's always a good idea to bring the make and model number of the appliance along with you just in case. You can find tips for locating the model number tag on your appliances in the 'Repair Parts' section of my site linked below.

JFYI

Dan O.

https://www.Appliance411.com/?ref411=Fridge

The Appliance Information Site
=D~~~~~~

[kingstan]

Thanks gentleman,
I appreciate the info.

BTW, the only reason I new to do this at all was due to the fact that I had to troubleshoot and replace a thermostat on our old refrigerator a couple years ago. That took days.....

I wish I had found this place then, it would have made things much easier.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

Take care,
Joe