Maytag fridge defrost timer location

usually located at the top center of fridge area covered by a plastic plate

defrost timer should be in the refrigerator side behind the temp control knob, defrost heater and thermostat should be located in the freezer compartment behind the cover plate for the fan. Just remove your shelves and you will see the screws holding the cover plate on, remove them and you will see the coils and fan. Thermostat / heater are at the bottom of the freezer coils

Maximum complaint in fridge is defrost problem. To solve :
First, you have to locate the defrost timer which may hiddenbehind corners of the fridge at the back bottom or in theceiling of the fresh food section or behind the cold control cover. Once you locatethe defrost timer, slowly turn the screw like wheel in the middle of thedefrost timer with straight screwdriver until the fridge shuts off. Now it's indefrost. If the defrost heater(s) starts, replace the defrost timer and defrostthermostat. If the heater(s) does not start, unplug wire cord to check ohm testfor continuity of heater. If continuity is there, plug cord wire which givespower 120volts (check specification) to heater. If heater no starts, bypassdefrost thermostat by join the 2 wires in the defrost thermostat. If the heaternow comes on, replace the defrost timer and defrost thermostat. If the heateritself is bad, replace it. Thanks and hope helpful.

If you have a defrost timer you can test it. It can be located under the fridge behind the kick panel on the front. Some are in the fridge with the controls at the top. You can turn the defrost timer till it clicks and everything shuts down. The heater should now come on. If it does, replace the timer because that means the timer is not running. If it doesn't, check the heater and defrost thermostat. Turn the timer again till everything starts back up to end the defrost cycle.

If you have an adaptive defrost control instead of a timer, replace it if the heater and thermostat test good. It is located in the fridge with the controls in some models and on the back in others.
You can post your model number into one of several appliance parts sites on the internet and search for defrost components to find your parts.

DEFROST PROBLEM
The evaporator coil behind the cover on the back wall inside the freezer will ice up under normal conditions. Every 8 to 10 hours for around 20 minutes the defrost timer (or in most newer models the electronic adaptive defrost control) will turn the defrost heater on to melt the built up ice. There is a defrost thermostat which prevents the heater from overheating the freezer by breaking the heater circuit when the temp reaches close to 32 degrees F. The entire cooling system shuts off during the defrost cycle and starts back when the timer advances through the cycle.

If this ice is not melted it will continue to build up until the air can't flow over the coil to circulate the cold air through the freezer and into the fridge. The temperature change in the fridge is usually noticed first followed by the freezer.

If the defrost thermostat is bad, it can prevent the heater from coming on OR it won't turn the heater off when it gets too warm. It is clamped to the evaporator coil at the top to sense the temp. If it appears to be misshapen it is bad.
With an ohm meter it should show continuity when cold and none when warm.
You can also bypass(disconnect the two wires plugged into it and twist them together) the thermostat to see if the heater comes on then. If it does then you know the thermostat is bad and needs replaced.

The defrost heater is located on the evaporator. It is in a tube which is at the bottom and can also go up the sides of the evaporator. On some types you can see a burnt spot if it's bad. With an ohm meter it should show continuity from end to end when disconnected from the wiring in the freezer. You can also test the wiring for voltage when it's in the defrost mode.

If you have a defrost timer you can test it. It can be located under the fridge behind the kick panel on the front. Some are in the fridge with the controls at the top. You can turn the defrost timer till it clicks and everything shuts down. The heater should now come on. If it does, replace the timer because that means the timer is not running. If it doesn't, check the heater and defrost thermostat. Turn the timer again till everything starts back up to end the defrost cycle.

If you have an adaptive defrost control instead of a timer, replace it if the heater and thermostat test good. It is located in the fridge with the controls in some models and on the back in others.

Hi, welcome to fixya.

If it is the actual component which control's the defrost cycle ( what was once referred to as a "defrost timer" ) it is located in the fridge section up under the plastic light and control covers.

For many modern fridges including yours, It is known as an "adaptive defrost control" and looks like this...
If you are referring to the actual defrost heater and bi-metal/DTS, they are located in the freezer section behind the evaporator cover.

Hope that answer's your question. Let me know either way.

Thank's for visiting "fixya" today. Please take a moment and rate the info provided for you here.

macmarkus :)

Defrost circuit failed, needs to be able to defrost the coils so air can pass through them thus cooling evenly. You can check the heaters located on the coils probably near the bottom back wall of the freezer with a ohm meter if you read through, the heaters are good, if you get no reading the heaters are bad. Or could be defrost timer or on newer models the adaptive defrost control which is a circuit board. If its an older model you can manually turn the timer with a screwdriver if you feel resistance, then you should replace the timer. Also in the circuit is the defrost thermostat located on the coils, this is the least expensive of the 3 components to replace. You should have a schematic located under the fridge, use this to determine which type of timer you have and for further trouble-shooting. Please let me know if this helps

Hi, Here is a picture of the control panel where the timer is located. There is a1/4" screw holding the control panel up. Remove the screw and the control panel should release. The timer has a wire harness of 4 wires. It can only plug in 1 way.
Please let me know if this has helpes you at all or if I can assist you further.

Thanks
Vic

One of 3 things cause a ref not to defrost. Defrost timer may not be advancing to the defrost position on the timer...The defrost thermostat, located on the evaporator in the freezer, is measures open bad)...or you have a bad defrost heater. If you have an electronic defrost control,which is used on most Maytag, Jenair, or Amana units, this could be your problem. If you turn the unit off for 24 hours to let it defrost manually then it will last for about 2 weeks before freeze up again.

Any frost on back wall of freezer section. If so you have a defrost system problem. If you can hear a hum followed by a click the problem is with the compressor. In back of the refrigerator is a removable panel. remove it and carefully check if the compressor is hot. A cold compressor indicates no power to the compressor which would be related to the temperature control or defrost timer.
Defrost timers are normally located in the area of the temperature controls. Locate the timer and rotate the clutch head screw clockwise slowly until it makes one click. If the timer is the cause of no power to the compressor the compressor will restart. If the problem is defrost related this same action will start the defrost which should take place in 18-22 minutes. If defrost of the freezer coil takes place and the compressor does not restart after the time indicated (wait 30 minutes) rotate the screw slowly one more click and the compressor should restart. If you had to rotate the screw the second time the problem is your defrost timer.