I’ve been having defrost problems with my Frigidaire for the past couple weeks. Things have changed a bit since I first began having issues.
In the beginning, I’d turn the timer to defrost mode and I’d see the defrost heater turn red telling me it was defrosting. This worked for about a 2 weeks. Every couple of days, I’d have to manually turn it to defrost mode via the timer and the heater would defrost the coils. This led me to believe the problem was with the timer (perhaps the timer was slow and did not go into defrost mode as often as it needed to).
Now, when I manually put the fridge in defrost mode via the timer, the heater does not come on. For the past week or so, I have been manually defrosting the coils with a heat gun. Even after its completely defrosted, the heater will not come on.
I’ve been holding off doing anything to fix this because I wanted to be sure what was wrong with it. Now that the problem has changed, I’m not sure what to buy…the timer, thermostat, heater or all three.
You need to have a multimeter to check the defrost heater and thermostat.
Both must have continuity. The thermostat must be ice cold when tested. Replace the bad parts (defrost timer should be
also replaced).
Well you know you need a timer for sure as it was not going into defrost by itself.
To check the heater and the defrost thermostat you will need a meter.
The heater should measure about 20 ohms.
The defrost thermostat should be o ohms when frozen.
It opens just above freezing so must be frozen when you check it.
Also if it is deformed/bulged replace it even if it measures OK.
OOPS!!
Looks like Simon and I are answering the same question at the same time.
The timer does go into defrost mode, as far as shutting down the cooling, but the heater no longer turns on. The reason I would manually turn the timer into defrost mode before is because I would notice frost buildup, not because it wouldn’t go into defrost mode on its own (basically defrosting the coils more often than it would on its own).
The heater used to go on when I’d manually turn the timer to defrost mode but now it does not.
Also, can you please explain what you mean by the thermostat being "bulged".
You should replace the timer. BUT you need to check the thermostat and the heater.
The "bulged" mean deformed, if it’s bulged - you will recognize it right away.