I don't know how to set the temperature setting on my Hotpoint RLAV21 fridge. The dial goes from 0 to 4. For fridges I have had in the past the higher the number the colder the fridge but I've got my Hotpoint fridge set at 0 and things are freezing in it. The instruction manual is no help

RFA70 settings Controlling the Temperature of the Fridge Compartment The left hand control wheel on the front panel adjusts the internal fridge compartment temperature. The internal temperature should be 5?C or colder, although some sections such as the salad bin will be slightly warmer. The setting of the control wheel will depend on the location of the fridge freezer, the room temperature and how often the door is opened. The normal set point (marked by a 3 on the dial) is usually suitable. If you need to adjust the temperature turn the control wheel using a coin to avoid damage: Clockwise (higher number) - Colder Anti-clockwise (lower number) - Warmer
Here is a user manual go to page 6 http://imagebank.indesitcompany.co.uk/brochures_online/pdf/Hotpoint/Fridges/HBRFA60.pdf

APPLIANCE 911

A good setting is in the middle of the thermostat range. For example, if you have numbers from 1 to 9, 5 would be a good number. If this setting continues to freeze, look for a bad thermostat or temperature thermistor.

Your fridge is cooled by the freezer, the thermostat is within the Fridge to tell it to shut off, you might have a bad fan or a build up of frost where the air is sent to the fridge, check where air goes to the fridge when it's running, if you don't feel air flow then something is up, best thing you can do is take everything out and allow the fridge to defrost, at leat 24hrs. then see what happens, if you don't feel air flow after the defrost then you fan is shot and you'll need to replace it.

Set at 2 initially, check after 1 day. If not cold enough put to 3 or 4. Don't leave at 6 for any length of time

There's a little dial or knob to set the temperature of your fridge, just wind it down to about 4 if it has a number setting and that should keep from the contents freezing up.

Hello Elise, The Dial should be set to the middle number three (3) to start with and allow for 24 hours of running before you make any adjustments, either up or down.

The higher the number the colder the fridge temperature will be. Just remember that it takes almost a full day for the fridge compensate for any changes to the thermostat. Also, only make adjustments in the temperature setting by only 1 increment at a time (either up or down) and again, allow 24 hours before making further changes.

If your fridge has the red button in the center of the temperature dial, that is the manual defrost button. So if you've got a build up of ice on the freezer section, just push it and it will defrost the unit for up 2-4 hours.

Hope you find this Very Helpful and best regards!
Merry Christmas!

Can't solve your problem, but just to report we have exactly the same issue, a huge block of ice forms on the upper rear panel. The compressor seems to be running 24h, not matter where the 'thermostat' is set.

I suspect that there was/are a faulty batch of thermostats. Or (since there is no metal cooling plate to bolt it to) that the T/Stat probe has somehow come adrift from its correct sensing area and is not correctly sensing the temperature inside the fridge.

If I get to the bottom of the problem, I will re-post here.

Replace the start relay and overload. Sea Breeze

you need to have a defrost or the freezer will not work unplugging the time clock then the compressor will not work. Tom

0 = off, 1 = cool, 2 = cooler, ..... 7 = coldest.  0 - 7 Nothing to do with the degree the fridge is set to.