I have to keep the temperature turned up to 9 in order to keep the food at 45 degrees. The fridge is only 3 years old.

yes thermastat maybe bad check sencer for temp it maybe bad

The higher the number the colder the temp is supposed to be.

In order to prevent the formation of bacteria and other such organisms to affect food the way it does, the ideal temperature range of refrigerators has been mentioned here. Before we look at these settings, it is important to know the format in which temperatures are represented within a refrigerator. Commonly, you will notice a dial representing the figures 1-5 or 1-9 in the refrigerator, and a dial representing the letters A-E in the freezer. The ideal setting is usually in the middle of such figures.

If the dial is in such a format in your refrigerator, try a setting at 3 if the range is 1-5, and at 4 if the range is 1-9. For the freezer, a setting at C is suitable.

The ideal temperature in the refrigerator ranges between 34 degrees F - 38 degrees F or 1 degrees C - 3 degrees C. So that foods such as vegetables and fruits remain fresh and crisp, the temperature may be set around 38 degrees F or 3 degrees C.
The ideal temperature in the freezer ranges around 0 degrees F (-18 degrees C) or lower.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/refrigerator-temperature-settings.html

This information does not mean anything to us if you didn't specify the model. In what temperature range a freezer works we knew thanks to the stars.
One star (-6 degrees centigrade) is perfect for making ice cubes and is sufficiently cold to keep food for three or four days.
** Two stars (-12 degrees centigrade) stores food for fifteen to twenty days.
*** Three stars (-18 degrees centigrade) will keep food safe for up to three months.
**** Four stars (below 18 degrees centigrade) means that the compartment provides the ideal conditions for freezing down fresh and pre-cooked foods.

Dado

Many residential refrigerator / freezers are designed to work at temperature considerably above above freezing. Most modern refrigerator / freezer have a single electric thermostat - located in the fresh food compartment. This lone thermostat will control the compressor to keep the fridge (fresh food) section at the desired temperature (usually between 34 - 38 degrees F). The freezer will get colder regardless of how cold it is already whenever the fridge thermostat turns the compressor on.

Now that you see how the thermostat works, let's look at what happens when the fridge is placed in an unheated space - like a garage. In winter time, the temperature can drop considerably below 38 degrees. If the outdoor temperature remains cold enough, for long enough - it will affect the thermostat in the fridge. The temperature inside the fridge could drop below 38 degrees, preventing the thermostat from telling the compressor to turn on. Meanwhile, the temperature in the freezer compartment slowly rises from the normal -10 to 0 F degrees. It will continue to rise until it is the same temperature as the fresh food compartment or until the thermostat in the fresh food compartment tells the compressor to turn on again. This means the freezer contents will thaw.

If the temperature in the garage is even in the 40 to 50 degree range, the loss of cold in the fridge may not happen often enough to keep the compressor coming on often enough to keep some freezer items frozen solid - such as ice cream. Remember, water freezes at 32 degrees F, other products may require lower temperatures to remain frozen, and could thaw at 28 or other temperature.

Good luck!

The control pad is operating normally. The temperature is about 9 degrees off, that may be due to dirty coils. check them and clean them with a brush. This should make it run more efficiently. If that doesn't do the trick let me know and we can go from there. But being ten years old I'm pretty sure it needs a coil cleaning anyway.

Every time I select my fridge and freezer temperature from -16 and 3 degrees C respectively it keeps on going back to 20 and 18 degree C. Please assist.

this is likely one of the thermistors on the fresh food side has failed. They are usually located under a small cover inside the fridge. They should have a reading of 15.5k-16.5k ohms at 72 degrees. They are easy to check and replace. Here is a link that should help. You can also enter your model # for diagrams and illustrations of your specific model. http://appliancehelponline.com/sxsfreshthermistor.html

Find the return air It can't come in if it can't get out. also if you were checking it with the freezer door open you will not feel the air. Just in case i have done that myself. if all air ducts are open and it's getting o I should be 20 in fresh food with the control on 9.

Replace your thermostat and will work like new again

Domestic refrigerators nowadays are designed not to operate at temperatures less than 45 degrees. First, if it's 45 degrees in the house, people probably are not living there. 2nd, 45 degrees keeps food refrigerated. 3, if people are not living in a space, then they don't need to keep frozen food.

This is a result of the changes in refrigerants we've been going through since 1992.
If you want an outdoor freezer, buy one, and make sure it's designed to be used in a non conditioned space.