DIAGNOSING REFRIGERATOR DEFROST PROBLEMS

Defrost Problem

Defrost problems can cause both sections not to work. You need to find out why it's not defrosting. There are three things that cause a defrost problem:defrost heater, defrost thermostat and defrost control.

If you have an older refrigerator, it probably has a mechanical defrost control. Find it and turn it clockwise until the refrigerator cuts off. (Note that the defrost control is normally located either in the refrigerator near the cold control or at bottom behind the kick plate).To view a video of testing a manual defrost timer. If your refrigerator is newer it will have an electronic defrost control and you won't be able to turn to defrost. Most refrigerators with electronic controls have some method of maunaly going into a defrost. You will need to refer to the tech sheet or service manual for this procedure on your model. Now that it's in defrost, wait a few minutes. If the defrost heater gets hot, replace defrost control. If it doesn't get hot, then the problem is either the heater or the thermostat.

At this point, you need to melt the ice. The best way to melt the ice is to use either a hair dryer or heat gun. Be careful with the heat gun you can melt your fridge pretty quick.

Once the ice is gone, you can check the heater by unplugging wires and using an ohmmeter to check for continuity. If you have continuity, the heater is good and you should replace thermostat. If you don't replace the heater, at this point you won't be able to check the thermostat but if the heater is good replace it.

The model KSRG25FK has a W10353224 Defrost Control Board that is also used as Adaptive defrost meaning it tries to conserve defrost to prevent repeated defrost that timers use, This tends to save wasted energy yet has its problems of its own because it is electronic and as always electronics fail. The word adaptive is used because the electronic defrost attempts to prevent unneeded defrost to save energy. I will try to explain while using Whirlpools Service Manual without provoking Whirlpools multiple defrost systems Copyright Material. If Whirlpool ask that I remove this Manual I will at their request. You will need free download to open this Manual. Click Here=> Defrost Systems Explained Thank You, Sea Breeze

Some newer refrigerators have been using an electronic board instead of an mechanical defrost timer. The adaptive defrost control does the same job as the defrost timer ( shuts off the refrigerator cooling items and redirects the power to the defrost heater for the defrosting cycle, then redirects the power to the compressor and fans to come back on when the defrost cycle is over ). This adaptive defrost system is a bit different when testing, normally speaking if the defrost heater and defrost thermostat ohm ok, we replace the adaptive defrost board.

Hello,

Defrost problems can cause the fresh food section not to work. You need to find out why it’s not defrosting. There are three things that cause a defrost problem: defrost heater, defrost thermostat and defrost control.

If you have an older refrigerator, it probably has a mechanical defrost control. Find it and turn it clockwise until the refrigerator cuts off. (Note that the defrost control is normally located either in the refrigerator near the cold control or at bottom behind the kick plate). If your refrigerator is newer it will have an electronic defrost control and you won’t be able to turn to defrost so just continue without doing so. Now that it’s in defrost, wait a few minutes. If the defrost heater gets hot, replace defrost control. If it doesn’t get hot, then the problem is either the heater or the thermostat.

At this point, you need to melt the ice. The best way to melt the ice is to use either a hair dryer or by using hot water (this will be faster but will make a mess).

Once the ice is gone, you can check the heater by unplugging wires and using an ohmmeter to check for continuity. If you have continuity, the heater is good and you should replace thermostat. If you don’t replace the heater, at this point you won't be able to check the thermostat but if the heater is good replace it. Defrost parts can be found at AppliancePartsPros.com

If you have a GE refrigerator made after the year 2000, do not replace the defrost thermostat. Trust me the thermostat is not your problem. 99.9% of the time it will be the heater. Sometimes it is the main board or the thermistor.

Also note that

It's possible that the defrost terminator is bad.

If it doesn't have an electronic adaptive defrost control, then the mechanical defrost control is bad.

In the future, avoid ALL appliances that use electronics. They fail very very regularly and are expensive to replace.

Just think if you had a fridge with a TV in it, and the tv went out. Who would you call? A TV repairman or an appliance repairman?

Buy a Whirlpool refrigerator with the least amount of electronics you can get.

Also, there is a door switch that goes to the freezer section. It controls the light and the adaptive defrost. If the switch is bad, that too can cause the problem.

Lastly, do not buy anything made by electrolux corporation (frigidaire is one of them for example).
They have cheap evaporators that leak and can't be fixed, thus causing you to buy a new fridge every year or so.

Hope this helps your problem......

most newer refers have the timer located somewhere near the main controls. Usually in the console near the refrigerator thermostat. older models could be behind the kick plate on the bottom or even on some in the back near the compressor. If it's a new electronic model it may not have a timer.