[cnc]

Well when it rains it pours

I have Kenmore Fridge bottom mount freezer model number
59661869101 It's over 10 years old probably close to 12 or so

Anyway the freezer is not keeping stuff frozen it's cool/cold loaves of bread are semi frozen, bananas are semi soft ...stuff isn't thawed but definetly not frozen

I took the back covers off the fridge and cleaned and blew it out, took the inside panel off and this is what I found....

I grabbed a hair dyer and thawed it out....

Now if this isn't fixed where do I start....lol

I've tried to google this fridge but it doesn't seem to come up any help is again appreciated

[salem1912]

Could be low on Freon, they ice up when low. I'am not a expert but I did stay in a Holiday Inn once. Are the fans running?

[65gto69]

Not sure if you a vent system under the fridge/freezer (at the floor). Usually you can see a grill under the freezer that comes off, lots of cooling coils under there, they can get very dusty and need cleaning. If you haven't done that might want to try. Looks like the system was just constantly running and caused to freeze up.

Mark

[cnc]

Originally Posted by 65gto69

Not sure if you a vent system under the fridge/freezer (at the floor). Usually you can see a grill under the freezer that comes off, lots of cooling coils under there, they can get very dusty and need cleaning. If you haven't done that might want to try. Looks like the system was just constantly running and caused to freeze up.

Mark

Thats my thinkin the system always running

I cleaned it out all last nite so tonight when i get home ill pay close attention to the cycle system

[cnc]

Originally Posted by salem1912

Could be low on Freon, they ice up when low. I'am not a expert but I did stay in a Holiday Inn once. Are the fans running?

HAHAHAHAH.......fans run yes

But i think it runs continuously and is freezing

[Simple Man]

Normally, I would say it isn't defrosting. But those are the lines, not the coil itself. Looks like a restricted coil.

[py71lemans]

If the fans are both running, you cleared all the ice from the coils and evaporator in the freezer, cleaned the condenser coils of dirt and dust (under refrigerator front to back) then set the controls to mid point on both refrigerator and freezer. A thermometer in the freezer should read about 0 degrees. If its above that and the compressor is getting very warm/hot from running all the time then the sealed system probably has a problem. Up here on a 10 year + old refrigerator nobody wants to try and fix them.

[cnc]

Ok
I just checked the freezer and it is not running so it does shut off....got ice in the cube trays bread is frozen so let's monitor this and see...speak of the devil it just came on again.....

Steve thanks for chiming in....ill see about doin that test tomorrow...got a temp probe at work.....

[saltman 1965]

Its not defrosting. There is a defrost timer behind the grill @ the bottom in front. It has a small knob or slot for a flat screwdriver turn it cw till you hear it click and shuts off comp & fans. Its now in defrost. With the coil frosted the heat element under the evap should come on. If not it could be a bad element or the defrost limit stat. The limit stat is about the size of a quarter mounted on the evap suction line.The limit stat is the one that fails most often or the timers quit running.It should come out of defrost after about 30min.

[Simple Man]

Originally Posted by saltman 1965

Its not defrosting. There is a defrost timer behind the grill @ the bottom in front. It has a small knob or slot for a flat screwdriver turn it cw till you hear it click and shuts off comp & fans. Its now in defrost. With the coil frosted the heat element under the evap should come on. If not it could be a bad element or the defrost limit stat. The limit stat is about the size of a quarter mounted on the evap suction line.The limit stat is the one that fails most often or the timers quit running.It should come out of defrost after about 30min.

I don't think it's a defrost problem. Look at the coil, there is no frost pattern on it, the frost is on the lines leading to the evaporator coil.

[saltman 1965]

If it was restricted or low on freon only the first pass or two would have some frost on them.There is a lot of frost built up on the top,bottom & both sides of the evap. Looks like cnc started to defrost it or it was off for a while and then took the pic.

[cnc]

Bringin this back up looks like I'm getting ice build up again at the back of the freezer. The slots are starting to get covered up with ice I can see it......and yes that pic I had started to defrost the system BEFORE I took the pic....
I just removed the frt lower cover and turned the red dial cw....the fan and comp were running and when I turned it CW they both went off....listen for 1/2 hour or so see if it starts again???



Where is the limit stat located approx with that pic I posted earlier..is it in the upper right corner I think I recall something like that there......thanks Chris

[py71lemans]

Looks like upper right corner. Some times they go bad when water gets inside, freezes and expands the plastic insides up.

[6TEE8GTO]

Originally Posted by py71lemans

Looks like upper right corner. Some times they go bad when water gets inside, freezes and expands the plastic insides up.

OP- listen to this guy... I've repaired thousands of these over 30 years. It takes mere minutes to check both the defrost heater as well as the terminator stat, and you want to test that terminator when it's all frosted up like that. If it gets up above 40-50 degrees it will open and testing it will be futile, as it correctly would read an open circuit. You should be able to read thru the defrost heater and the terminator in a series circuit. As long as you already have the evaporator cover off, take the side of the defrost heater that is connected to the neutral side and disconnect it, disconnect the terminator side (there should be connectors on both sides) and read the resistance, if you get a totally open circuit, check the heater, usually under 100 ohms, but they either work or they don't, so if you get a reading, it's not the issue. Like py71 said, the terminator often goes bad and it's super easy to spot, look at it, it will have an epoxy-like top and if that top does not appear level, like it's lifted slightly to one side, that terminator is bad. When I used to service older models that were frosted up, I used to just take an amp probe, clamp it around the defrost feed wire at the timer, and turn the knob into defrost and look for the current draw. If you saw a draw, you know there's heat being produced so it is most likely the timer. If you didn't get a reading the you have an open circuit I the defrost system meaning heater or terminator. Some guys take an ohm meter and check at the timer, you pull the connector off and can easily check the heater circuit there as well, but I always found the amp probe to be quick and easy. If the heater is working you know this quickly. Another old trick was to advance the timer to defrost position, and then stare at the power cord plug, and quickly pull it out of the outlet- if you see a spark then there's a load from a working heater.
On that model (that's clearly a Whirlpool built appliance) the terminator is a VERY common fail item. You do have a defrost problem, it's not the sealed system. If you had a restriction or other issue, you would see a cluster of frost and glare ice right where the cap tube enters the evap, and the rest of the coil would be devoid of any frost or ice...

[cnc]

I'm gonna pull the freezer apart Monday nite ...and do some checks
Is the heater on this freezer an element shaped like this. |__________| that would fit along the bottom and side of the evap...with individual wires on each end....thanks

[py71lemans]

Your model number doesn't come up exactly but these should be close.

Heater and thermostat

[cnc]

Originally Posted by py71lemans

Your model number doesn't come up exactly but these should be close.

Heater and thermostat

Sweet thanks ....

[cnc]

So this mornin took the rear cover off and this is what we got

Starting the defrost process with a hair dryer again and il do some checking on the heater coil and the stat.....keep u posted ...

[cnc]

Ok checked the heater element I've got continuity....not sure it the right scale to test it on but it's not broken..........onto the stat

[cnc]

Ok after having the dryer running and moving some air around , The melted ice removed this is what I saw this obviously separated..
I had called my local appliance repair place last week they have one there and it's $20
I'll get it Monday and put it in Monday nite

Now when I reinstall this new stat it goes right on top of the copper tube NOT on the black sleeve correct.....I didn't take notice when I pulled it off but I'm gonna say yes it's directly contacts the tubing