Stuck in defrost mode - control board thinks it's in defrost mode. Is there a way to reset the control?

No reset button. Possibly defrost timer is bad or thermostat or control board

Hello Tom;



My name is Peter; I am a retired field service appliance technician.



You did not provide a model number which is located on the inside liner of the refrigerator.



If the freezer light is the only thing that works, then you are locked into the defrost mode. Every 8-10 hours your unit will shut down for about 10-20 minutes. At this time your defrost heater turns on. Thereafter, your unit restarts to cool.



Go into the following website. You will get diagrams and part numbers for your components.



Locate your defrost timer. It may be in the lower back right hand side (a metal plate with a through hole). With a flat head screw driver turn the stem one click at a time clockwise to trip the defrost timer.

Or, it may be in your control board or elsewhere.



If it is in your control board do not panic. Take the part number from the website search the internet (Buy used/remanufacture) and get the board for 40-50% less.



If it is the control board, ground yourself by touching bare metal. Static electricity will knock out a control board. Water Filters Lawn Garden Appliance Parts

Nothing will work except for light . If you wait until it should time out of defrost

Hello;

My name is peter. I am a retired field service refrigeration technician.

"Of" means you are locked into the defrost mode. This is where your unit will shut down every 8-10 hours. Everything will stop running except for the light. The defrost mode take about 20-30 minutes where the heater turns on and defrost the cooling coil, then the unit turns back on.

Some upright freezer have a separate defrost timer, but not yours.

Your defrost timer is built into your control board.

PART NUMBER: 297366300 - Cost: $70.00
If you go into the internet you may be able to get the board for $40.00.

Install:
1.) Unplug your unit.
2.) Ground your self by touching bare metal. Static electricity will knock out a board.
3.) With a small flat head screw driver, wedge the outer frame and pop the assembly out. You only have one connector to disconnect. You may need the small screw driver to free the connector.

If the refrigerator is not defrosting, the defrost control board might be defective. The defrost control board monitors several conditions and determines how often to run the defrost cycle. If the board fails, the refrigerator will not go into the defrost cycle. Eventually, ice will build up on the evaporator coil and then the refrigerator and or freezer will not stay cold enough. This will depend on where the evaporator is located. It's prudent to check the defrost heater and defrost thermostat for continuity before replacing the defrost control board. If that is not the problem then the coil might have a hole in it and needs repair and coolent rechrge.

Good Morning Friend,

I understand that your Frigidaire freezer, model# LFFU17F5HWC, seems to be stuck in a defrost mode. Your freezer is supposed to automatically defrost for 30 minutes after every 12 hours of compressor run time. I suggest resetting your appliance, be either unplugging it or shutting the power off at your homes circuit breaker, for 3-5 minutes. Restore power and watch to see if it is still stuck in defrost mode. I ask that you please follow up with a comment on the post, at your convenience, to advise if further troubleshooting is needed or if your washer status has changed successfully. Hope this is helpful.

-Best Regards-
WP

You refrigerator was made by Frigidaire Adaptive Defrost Controls Frigidaire Refrigerator Trouble Shooting and Diagnosing
On the initial plugin, or when power is restored to the fridge after a power outage:
If terminating thermostat is open, the fridge enters a compressor (cooling) cycle.
If the terminating thermostat is closed, the first defrost cycle occurs 1 hour
after initial plug-in.
Maximum defrost cycle time is 24 minutes.
Minimum time between defrost cycles is 6 hours. (compressor runtime)
Maximum normal clock time between defrost cycles is 12 hours.
Maximum time between defrost cycles (in "vacation" mode) is 72 hours.
Vacation mode is not entered unless the door has not been opened in at least 24 hours.
Note that the ADC will only enter the defrost mode if the terminating thermostat is closed. If the terminating thermostat is open when defrost is initiated, the ADC board will wait for six minutes and then return to the cooling mode.
ASSUMING that the fridge has been on and running,
and the terminating thermostat is closed,
defrost is initiated by pressing the door (light) switch
at least five times within six seconds.
The defrost heater should start heating up within 8 seconds.
If the above procedure caused the heater to heat up, the ADC board is probably bad; replace it.
If the defrost heater does not heat up, test the defrost heater, terminating thermostat and cold control for continuity as follows:
Unplug the fridge from the wall. Unplug the ADC board from its connector.
Test the connector for continuity between the following leads:
Defrost Heater = DEF TERM (blue) to DEF OUT (brown).
Terminating Thermostat = DEF TERM (blue) to NEUTRAL (lt blue).
Cold Control = COLD CONTROL (orange) to L1 (black).
Replace the defective component.

Unplug the fridge overnight and defrost it completely. Ensure the thermostat is properly set.

If it does not restart normal function after you plug back, then there may be a fault concerning the digital control, in that case call the number listed on the owner manual.

you said the coil was freezing up? have you checked your defrost element? if your handy with a voltmeter put it on the "beeping mode" (disconnect the fridge's power first) and test the element if it beeps its good, and means that the defrost control isn't working it could be a timer or a board, also check the freezer fan rotate the blades if it dosen't rotate the fan is stuck. if the fans turns out o.k, the defrost thermostat is defective (thats the little metal ball type control befor the heaters).

is there any lights on in the freezer? try plugging the freezer into an outlet you know is working. there is no "reset" on the freezer so if lights are on and it still isnt working it could possibly be stuck in defrost or the thermostat could be stuck in the off position.

for the defrost problem: pull freezer from wall and look in the compressor area and you will see a control under the unit left of the compressor. using a flat blade screwdriver advance the timer clockwise a few clicks and it will probably come back on. if that doesnt work lets check the thermostat.

thermostat stuck: this is easy but you need to check def timer first. using the handle of you screw driver tap the thermostat knob firmly. if the contacts are stuck open when you hit it the contacts will release and the unit will come back on.

hope this helps..