Troubleshooting a No Cool Refrigerator - Part 1
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
- This Video is for Troubleshooting a Refrigerator that is not cooling. In this case we are talking about a fridge that the freezer is still freezing but the fridge section is not cooling.
This is usually the sign of a Defrost issue. This is a simple step by step tutorial on how to locate the faulty defrost system component.
There are basically three things that control the defrost system.
-DEFROST TIMER
-DEFROST THERMOSTAT
-DEFROST HEATER
The refrigerator shown in this video is a Frigidaire, FRT model. These checks will work with pretty much any brand of top freezer refrigerator,including Whirlpool, Maytag, GE and so on.
Here is a link with more info on troubleshooting a defrost issue.
applianceoutlet...
Please hit the like button, comment, subscribe and thanks for watching!
My condolences to Bill’s family. I just recently discovered his CZcams videos and they've been very helpful. Then I discovered that he has passed in 2016. May he rest in peace
You mean the man on the video passed on?
Rip
Thank you, tonight has been 7 years, I’m his little sister and I appreciate coming here to see him and read how many people he has helped. Thank you
I really enjoyed watching him. I'm so sorry to hear of his passing, ❤ Rest in peace my brother.
dang no way, I just started watching this guy. wow
Thanks for the video Bill - you truly are Da Man! You get ***** plus!!!
My 10-year old frig slowly became warmer over a period of several days - possibly more - and by the time I realized I had a serious cooling issue, it was almost too late. After calling a local appliance service and learning that it would take 2 days before I could get a tech out, I jumped on CZcams and found your video. After following your recommendations - took about an hour, it is now about 20 hours later and my frig is once cold again! In fact, I can't recall the last time it has been this cold - most likely a few or more years in fact. Words can't express enough how much I appreciate your video! It really saved me hundreds of $$$ in repairs and what it would have cost to replace the food that would have spoiled. You are truly the best!
1fastporscheguy This great man that saved you hundreds passed on 2016. What a great loss... I was very sad 😭 to find out....
@@mekirimonet783 - I was really saddened to learn about his passing. I'm sure he would pleased to know that his legendary work is still making a very positive difference in people's lives.
Thank you very much for taking the time to make this video. By the end of the video I understood the system and figured out that my thermostat was the problem. We just installed the new one and it is running smoothly again. You saved me a lot of money. Thanks again.
Bill, you are a marvelous gentleman! My FRT18IL6DS4 wasn't cool, but the freezer was covered in frost. Sure enough, the coils looked like the North Pole and the fan was running just fine. I checked the timer and sure enough, the heater popped on and cleared the frost. Now I know it's a $20 part replacement and no need for a $200 service call. I LOVE YOU MAN!
You are correct. I would replace the defrost thermostat. Sounds like you have everything under control. Great Job!
Thanks for Watching!
Hi...i have a question...do u see my comment?
What does it mean that my freezer not frozen, fridge not cool and my ice machine not working?
Bills been dead for years guys. R.I.P
I'm so glad I found you to help guide me through this mess. I'm ripping apart an Amana bottom freezer. I refuse to call for professional help. Took me 2 and a half days to get this gem in the house. Thank you Thank you.
My freezer was working and the refrigerator wasn't working!
Thank you very much Bill, your two videos just made me save a refrigerator repair!
Thank you man!
I wish I had landed on your relatively complete video series from the beginning, would have saved me much quandary.
My refrigerator defrost timer failed in the defrost mode late Friday afternoon. Did slowly correctly deduce it had to be the timer and used a jumper to bypass the timer to know that the compressor was operating correctly.
No parts till after memorial day. Was concerned about the defrost thermostat, now realize from your videos that it is fine.
I appreciate your adding actual amp and ohm readings and other details like the meanings of L 70, & F 20.
Most 120V AC motors for power tools and other applications have a run winding and a start winding.
The 120V is applied continuously to the run windings during normal operations.
120V is also applied momentarily through a capacitor to the start winding to provide an extra start kick and provide a directional signal.
The start windings are offset from the run windings within the motor, and the capacitor provides a phase shift which together gives the directional kick.
In many motors, there is an internal centrifugal switch that opens up when the motor gets to about half of normal operating speed, which typically disconnects the start winding very quickly, usually within a half a second.
My guess is that the compressor relay has a built in time delay which disconnects the capacitor within a second of starting.
If the capacitor, centrifugal switch or time delay fails, the motor will just sit there and hums because it doesn’t know which way to run and doesn’t get the starting kick. The most common problem when most motors will not start is that a piece of dust (sawdust) gets on the contact points and prevents closing.
My guess is that the universal 3n1 relay probably has a bigger capacitor and sturdier relay and could probably replace the factory relay forever.
Your videos saved me a lot of money. One suggestion though. My fridge was warm, freezer cold. I put my thermometer in ice ten minutes, no continuity. But this wasn't the problem, the fan motor was bad. I suggest u add the fan troubleshoot to this series, instead of being separate . Luckily I saw it and ordered the thermometer and the fan motor. The fan motor fixed my fridge. I have the same refrigerator that's in the video. Thank u. Your videos saved me a lot of money.
Wow! Thanks so much for this. I do not know anything about refrigerators, but by using your videos and following along step by step, I used a pair of needle nosed pliers and a butter knife and just fixed the fridge! All while my husband was napping:) Yep. It was a defrost problem. I had no idea there was anything behind that back panel of the freezer!
Thanks Bill ...I followed your steps and now my fridge works perfectly...you saved me hundreds!
David J Szlashta Awesome!
Many thanks. On my old Hotpoint, after a decade of good operation, the refrigerator got warm while the freezer remained frozen. I vacuumed all of the dirt clogging the coils underneath. No fix. I unplugged it for 24 hours, and it worked fine for a week, then same problem, all the food in the refrigerator went bad again. I disassembled all the panels in the freezer, noting that the fan was working, but the coils were frozen solid, so no cold air to the refrigerator below. Defrosted them with a hair dryer. Found the slot under the control panel at the top of the refrigerator, and manually turned the defroster timer using a flat head screwdriver. The compressor motor turned off twice per revolution, so the internal switch was working. Unplugged the refrigerator, took off the cover, noted infinite resistance using a VOM. The timer motor head died, so no routine defrosting. Appliances website had the timer for $60 but Ebay vendors have the same one for $6 to $10. Problem solved after a couple of hours of troubleshooting and $10.
my hubby wakes in middle of night gets something to drink and I find the refrigerator open 4 hours later wide open. I am working on a way to unlevel it so it will close. Unfortunatly I just had surgery on my shoulder so this too will have to wait. Love your video's and your daughter is a cutie
Mr. Newberry,
These two videos are extremely helpful. I appreciate your thoroughness. It makes so much sense the way you explain things. You ought to be a teacher.
Thanks again,
Joe
I had this problem and started looking for a new refrigerator. Replaced the defrost timer and BAMM, problem solved. You helped me save some cash big time. THANKS.
Hello Bill, I had a defrost problem, and you tutorial above fridge does no Defrost, really help me to understand, now I known what was happening, I have general knowledge, I'm going to call the technician to fix it, now I know what it will be fixed and what parts need to be changed, Thanks
THANK YOU!!! so much for this video. Our bottom freezer refrigerator suffered this exact problem with the condenser coils inside, but not visible, inside the freezer were completely frozen over. Removing a single metal panel and carefully using a heat gun and fan, we defrosted the coils. Thanks!!!
Replaced the temperature control, that solved the problem. Should be good for another 21 years. Thanks for the tip.
I did battle with a Defrost Timer in about 2007. The problem I learned was the timer motor gets "Tired" and stops just at the "Step" in the timer wheel. This causes the timer motor to stall and prevents Defrost from starting. This causes ice build up---as you mentioned and the lower section warms up because cold air cannot reach the lower section. The tricky part is sometimes the timer motor gets a kick start from maybe someone slamming the door. So, the issue becomes tricky to diagnose. (I compare these timers to a battery operated clock. When the battery goes bad, the hour hour stalls on 40 minutes because it is trying to "Climb" up to 12 and cannot do it).
Bill you saved me a ton of money... thank you!!! I was so close to buying a new refrigerator, but I was able to repair mine instead. My problem was that the evaporator fan had quit working. Amazingly the local appliance shop even had the part in stock from a decade ago. Yahoo!
Hey Bill, Thanks so much for your video. I just fixed my fridge thanks to you! I couldn't afford a new one (or a 2-hour repair man appointment) it took to defrost a huge ice block in the back of the freezer. Seems to be working fine. PS: We wiped down all frozen food from a recent order (due to "virus fears" from supermarket - real or not) and maybe most of the packages were a little damp going in...that was a week and half ago. I think that started the freeze-over and clogged it, then it got worse. Just a theory. (all i know about this is what I saw in yr video) THANKS again!
Thank you my brother passed away 7 yrs ago tonight and it makes my heart happy to see him still doing good, thank you.
Glad I was able to help out. Were you able to fix your refrigerator?
Thanks for Watching!
Thanks for the practical information on how to diagnose a refrigerator cooling problem. A clear explanation of how a refrigerator cools.
Great explanation of how the defrost system works on a refrigerator! Now wish me luck while I troubleshoot my side-by-side! Thanks for the help!
Cheers Bill. My wife and I are extremely grateful for your excellent and (for us) extremely pertinent advice.
Bill, thanks for this video. I was able to troubleshoot my kids fridge today and repair it based on your explanations. Cheers to you!!
I have enjoyed watching the video's on DIY diagnostics and thanks to and the clips, I believe that we can fix our fridge. Thanks to all- that have helped us, learn something new and have saved us a lot of money. Louise.
Thanks Mr. Bill that video was very good and having it plug in is th way to find out if th fan is going to work
TYYYYYYYYYYY I know NOTHING about refridgerators and mine is cold in the freezer and warm in the fridge below, so now i can try this. I have a magic chef that is doing what you're saying.
you just save me about $350, that's worth a subscribe in any place in the world. Thanks for helping out this old retired sailor!!!
Thank you Bill for your great teaching and the effective technique of repeating main ideas from time to time. Very clear.
Thank you so much for your great videos! The model you were using for this video is our fridge, or at least very close to it if not *the* exact model. It helped me figure out that the evaporator fan wasn't running. I just replaced it and am waiting eagerly to see if things are cooling down now the way they should. I knew something wasn't right last night, the freezer was coldish but not cold, and the fridge was getting warmer and warmer. I was stressing out, thinking "Agh what am I going to do!"
Thanks for sharing your knowledge, may all good things come to you.
I think you are correct. I changed out the defrost timer & the problem is still there. Took off the freezer panel & no ice build up & heater works. Temp. control has been ordered. Tip to others to save some $, once you find the part number look on amazon or ebay for $avings. Will report once temp control is installed. One tip I found useful, please confirm, when replacing the defrost timer... If the timer has a WHITE wire going to it ,the timer lead goes on #1...Anything else goes on #2
Good info; thanks much. In my case with a Maytag side--by-side, cooling coils so ice covered the vent into the fresh food side was completely closed with ice. Took hours to get all the ice out, but defrosted fully and now operating ok. Your info sent me looking for the coils, which I finally found inside the freezer and defrosted. Don't know if permanent fix, but good for now.
Bill... I hadn't seen there was a part 2. Think I will get this done now. Just need the younger set to check the bottom for me. You have been allot of help . Thank you so much.
I checked and the unit is running, the fan is running, haven't opened the back inside yet (It's late Sat night), but will do that as soon as I can check the defrost timer.
You would want to put the thermostat on Ohms. With the thermostat in the on position and unplugged from the refrigerator, it should show a closed circuit. It should not read open if you are testing it, because by the time you get at it to test it with the door open on the refrigerator it should have had time to warm up where it would be calling for cold.
I have change The Defrost thermostat and the Heather already before I find your video, nothing change, after I See your video just turn the timer and the Refrigerator is working perfectly now. I'm afraid I've changed both pieces for nothing, Too late to repent.
Thanks a lot for your Video.... Live savior.....
Fine job Sir! I appreciate very much that you have shared your knowledge with me. Your invaluable information has postponed the once certain destruction of my piggy bank. TYVM!
Oh God.. he was and still is a great teacher
No bitching here! If they don’t like it they can move on or pay you for your time so you can do it their way! Great videos!
Hi Bill, another way to check the heater element and thermostat, without ripping the freezer compartment apart, is to turn the defrost timer into defrost mode and to watch water dripping or not into the drip pan. Hope this help!
Freezer fan blowing cool air but not freezing food or water. Whirlpool top freezer 13 years old.Condenser coils are clean, door gaskets seal good, compressor is not hot and food in freezer real cold but, water in ice tray will not freeze.
The fresh food department is cool and not cold.
Please help!
Awesome video. Thanks so much.
That was a very nice video Bill. My fridge was identical and sure enough, the Defrost Timer is defective. Thanks for a doing a great job in helping zero in on the main problems immediately. You saved me time and money. Thanks a million Bill.
Dan Kachur Awesome! Great Job on your Repair!
Man I wish I saw this video yesterday. I saw one of youre other vids and so I suspected the defrost timer or thermostat but wasnt sure. I finally found the frozen coils then I knew it must have been the timer. I melted the ice with a heat gun and took apart the timer and sanded down the contacts that were obviously toasted and now its working again. It was my neighbors Amana. I actually recharged my own frige a few monts ago. I used a valve kit for a car and soldered it on the compressor and pumped it up with a freon can and its been good.
HI Bill, I had the same issue but my issue was the fan motor had failed. Please lets be aware the this is also a part of the cooling process.
Awesome Vid, Got my fridge to work with new temp sensor and heater, broke the heater myself after testing, DOHH! Thanks, Fridge ran all night no problems!!
Nice Job, minus the heater, but still cheaper than calling someone in I bet.
Thanks for Watching!
OMG such a good video, ended up having a block of ice encasing the radiator in the freezer sat there for an hour with a blow dryer melting it. i didnt even know that was there i thought it was all in the back at the bottom of the fridge where the drip tray and circuit board is
Dear Bill Your video is helping me in understanding the problem. Now my fridge works properly for 5 to 6 days then the freezer works normally but the fridge part is not functioning. What to check
thermastat
“If you're gonna watch this video and bitch, then that's your problem, not mine”
* drops the mic *
Intense for fridge fixing LMAO
@9:57 you made a grown man cry happy tears. The idiots at GE couldn't even tell me where it was.
David Foltz Nice! Thanks for Watching!
David Clark
Thanks Bill - your videos are clear and easy to follow - saved me many $$ by fixing it myself.
Excellent videos. I appreciate the effort you took to make them. Over a few days, our Kenmore fridge / freezer got warmer. We took the back panel of the freezer compartment off, and it was icy, so we figured; defrost issue. We left it unplugged overnight to thaw it & plugged it back in. Fan, compressor came on, but no cold air even 12 hours later; only room temp air is blowing in the 2 boxes. Now, I don't think it's a defrost problem anymore, but don't know where to look. Any suggestions?
Well Bill.. I re-read and re-watched your video and realize the problem is elsewhere, though I know not where.
The fan and motor seem to be working all right as I can hear it, and feel the air. The fridge was alright, and the freezer has gradually gotten worse, and now both are about done. I cleaned the coils last night, they were pretty dirty, and made sure their is ample room around the air vents inside. This Unit is only 2 years old, seems I have never had a problem with a fridge until it has over 15 years in them (today junk I guess). The Compressor is past my abilities. I am a 62 year old women with disabilities. So if you have any other ideas sure would be helpful, even if you think it is the compressor. At least I will know I have checked the rest.
Checking and cleaning the coils behind the kick plate last night has my knee blown up today, so not up to the looking for the Tech sheet, but will grab the first grown grandson, or my son when they get back into town. At the minute they are out of State, so I am on my own..
you re a clear and good teacher.
Thanks, helpful video, but do you have any recommendations for fridges where the freezer is at the bottom?
Thanks Bill straight up - diagnosed my Whirlpool no sweat.
Where did you get your defrost timer on your whirlpool pls?
I would check the condenser coils &/or fan. They regularly need to be cleaned of dust and pet hair, which block air flow. Very similar affect that happens to evaporator coils when ice builds up.
Thanks for this video!! Between this and part 2, I was able to fix my fridge, which made me feel quite handy. :)
I love the way you tell the bitchers to basically get over it. :-) Thanks for such an informative, helpful video. I think you saved us a huge bill or the cost of a new fridge. Thanks!
Thank you very much-exactly my problem-saved me $80 as of now.......
You could check the timer like that, it should continuously turn(very slow). It sounds like you have an issue with the temperature control for the refrigerator. That is the piece that the frig temp knob is connected too.
Thanks for Watching!
HI Bill Adding to my last note, I just opened the freezer panel with great difficulty due to all the ice blocks preventing it
Thank you for the well done video.. My Freezer is an old Kenmore upright and all the tubes come in and out on the left side of the compressor. How do i tell which one is the high and the low. i assume the low is where to put the tap. when the freezer is running one tube gets hot like the upper part of the compressor and the other is not hot.
Great job on these videos, Bill - they're well explained and easy to follow.
I've got one question I'm not finding an answer to in any forums: On the GE, there are two sets of yellow / green (grounding?) wires with clips. I don't see anywhere for them to attach on the back panel - what should they be clipped to?
Thanks in advance to anyone that can field that question!
Matt Delaini
Found this, which I'll post just in case anyone runs into the same question: "The green wire . . . can be attached or screwed onto anything metal for grounding purposes. I would suspect that it would be . . . the metal plate/cover you took off to gain access to the evaporator coils. As mentioned though, location is not critical, as long as it is screwed to something metal and the wire is long enough to reach and not put in consistent strain by stretching it." www.shopyourway.com/questions/1227327
Thanks for the instructions and visuals!
Thank u very very much .u definatly deserve a subscrption for that
It is probably a good videó if you are dealing with something 30 years old, but not for any newer.
Thank you man.
You save my time and money.
I appreciate it🙏🙌
Thank you for making videos like this one, hopefully I can fix my refrigerators defrost issue tomorrow!
AlyssaassylA How did you make out?!
All fixed! Turns out I didn't have a defrost issue, the fan was out of place and couldn't circulate the air. Even still, I now feel confident that I could fix some of the issue that may present themselves. Thank you!
Thanks for the clear and concise videos!!
Question: Neither my freezer or refrigerator are cold enough (Frigidaire FFTR1814Q). All components seem operational, clean condenser, no door gaps or ice buildup, I have a floor register (AC mode) that blows right on condenser. Could that be degrading fridge's cooling ability?
My fridge us popping and cracking. Freezer works. Fridge section doesn't. Will run your checks hopefully it works again!
Thank you so much for this video!! it helped me fix my fridge myself!!
Thank you for taking the time to educate us about this.
I really appreciate it.
Very good videos Bill. I have a Whrilpool side by side that is not cooling both freezer or frig but once I turn the frig control knob all the way to warmest and then back it will start running and keep running for about a week then stop cooling again, no water in drip pan when warm, weird. No visible ice build up but could be behind the panel. Can I check the timer by placing a mark on the part that you turn with a screw driver and check it occasionally to see if it is turning?
Ok, I found that part and turned it with a flahead. It made a click sound. Fridge made some sounds; it is either fixed or shot for good.
Thanks so much for your help in this video. You saved me a bundle. Pretty sure my timer is dead, but I can do it manually until I can replace it.
Just did it and it work Thanks a million
Thank you very much Bill. Your video was very helpful.
deforest timers can get stuck also....take a screwdriver and turn the dial..if heater and thermostat check out fine turn. it may have gotten stuck.
Nice video. Trying to save $ from buying new frig. Freezer is now our frig. How do you know when turning dial it's in or out of defrost?
PS.thanks in advance for trying to help us save money by repairing this! great videos
thanks for making this video, it really helped me with my issue, my refrigerator was not cooling and when look behind the back panel it was completely froze. I cleaned it and now it's working properly.
I do have a question, i could not find the defrost timer in my refrigerator. I have an GE rgi31xima, if you have seen one of this could you please tell me where can i find it.
Thanks again for this video very helpful
it is very good presentation.... and knowledgeable thanks for the clips it help me very much. keep up your good works.
Very cool, never knew how the defrost worked. Thank you
Just a Semper Fi, didn't address my RV problem but like your work! Mike
+Mike Cox Semper Fi!
good How To, thanks. simple, clear, quick.
Replace the relays, alot cheaper to give that a shot first. Most of the time this cures the clicking.
Thanks for watching!
phew my fridge just started up again!! i left it open from 7am-445pm!!! it was just slightly open. btw i have a brand new fridge only a few days old. I wish they made the seals more sticky (better suction or whatever). my 20-30 year old fridge had a better door!! when i closed it i knew it was closed. now i really have to make sure this new one shuts right.
Bill have the same problem, but I have a Samsung bottom freezer. I do have frost on the ceiling of the freezer.
Awesome vid. Thanks for the help. Fixed my fridge
Great instructor 👍💯
I have a Kelvinator Impression Series 500 Twin Air No Frost 1998 model. For the past 3 days the fridge department temperature oscillates between 13 and 15 degrees and the freezer temperature is 0 degrees (and not freezing ice-blocks). The freezer evaporator fan is working, the compressor is starting and working, the evaporator is not over-frosting, the air ducts between freezer and fridge departments are free of blockage, cool air is circulating into the fridge compartment, I couldn’t find the defrost thermostat behind the freezer panel, the defrost timer is not stuck in defrost, I tested the heater element using the defrost timer manually and the heater element is heating, I don't know if the defrost timer could be damaged and cycling too often, but I haven't noticed the evaporator fan switch off once, so I don't think that's the problem. The seals were all changed 12 months ago and all sealing well. The problem happened from one day to the next. What can it be, do you have any suggestions? Can the fridge be low on gas? Or can it be something else? Please help.
I have the same fridge a Frigidaire and it's not cooling anymore I've only had it for 6 years I don't know what to do and I can't afford to pay hundreds to fix it. I've already thawed it out because it was collecting ice on the panel and thermostat, and now I have to empty the drip pan and I don't know if I can take it out to empty it or it's the type that it can't be remove please help so helpless and desperate thanks
No bitching coming from me Bill...........kudos to you for sharing your knowledge................Thanks
You're welcome!
Thanks for Watching!
hi bill,hoping you can help,my under counter fridge is icing up at the back (inside) but the fridge is too warm, almost 50F! the thermo is on it's coldest setting,i have hoovered the coils,the fan under the fridge stays on all the time,the ice block has started to shrink over the past few days! time for a new one?
Thank you for the video Bill. It's always interesting to see how things actually work around us. I am having a similar issue with a Samsung s/s. Error code is flashing 22 which indicates a "fridge fan". I just wanted to ask if this made since before I bought and replaced the fan and also if there is any troubleshooting I should do prior to replacement to in order to confirm it is the fan and not something else causing the fan to malfunction. I would greatly appreciate any help you could provide. Thank you for your time.
Thanks for the descriptive easy to understand video.
feedback864 You're welcome! Thanks for Watching!
Latest... I got the back off after turning the air cover sideways and finding two more hidden screws. It was all dry behind there, after about a half hour of leaving the door open while "I was cooling down." lol.
All parts seem to be working. Freezer gets to 20, and the fridge to 40. Nothing is freezing though it will maintain what was already frozen. Fridge stuff is too warm. I am thinking at this point..It is the OEM Elect. control. What do you think?
Good info ... just subscribed .. Thank you sir for easy explanation