Kenmore 253.6480240c freezer wont stay frozen is it the timer

If the fan has failed or intermittent, the freezer wont freeze the food properly but usually you get a mountain of ice build up at the back of the freezer. This ice jams and stops the fan from turning. Alternatively, there could be a defrost problem. Unless it is a fully electronic defrost machine, there is usually a little timer on the back of the fridge to force a defrost after a certain time. The fridge will turn off, the defrost heater operates to melt the ice and then usually with 20 to 45 minutes, the defrost timer will "click" back on and start the fridge running again. If the timer is sticking, the fridge may stay on its defrost cycle and never start again, thus, it doesn't get cold. If you find the defrost timer, have a close look for a little shaft or slotted screw type stud sticking out of the middle of it. A slight turn of this and you should hear it clicking around. When you hear a loud click, that is either the start or end of the defrost cycle. If you have a full electronic defrost system, it may be a failed board, heater, thermostat or defrost safety fuse.

Lets have a look at rear wall of freezer, is there frost building up? Usually in top freezers the cold air settles to bottom and you don't notice fresh food section until about a day. If frost is building open fresh food sections door and in control panel=> CLICK HERE see item 257 in photo? That is WR9X565 or 311082 Defrost Timer Just below that is the control panel cover and you should have a small plastic plug covering a hole just below the defrost timer. Pry plastic plug out and using a flathead screwdriver turn the defrost timer clockwise slowly. Once you hear the compressor and fans stop stop turning timer and about a minute later you should hear some crackling noise coming from freezer. Allow to stay like that for up to 30 minutes and timer should come out of defrost and compressor and fans should start again on their own. If this action caused defrost then replace the defrost timer. If that does not seem to cause defrost the we need to go to step two, unplug and place items in a cooler or alternate refrigerator and use a hair dryer to assist in melting the ice behind rear panel. Remove rear panel in back of freezer and see => Freezer Components item's 621 and WR51X10038 or 880036 Defrost Heater Assembly
You will need to remove rear panel and work with refrigerator unplugged from power. On this=> Page watch how to test your defrost element just beside a photo of the timer. Most times I replace the defrost thermostat while inside freezer wall but I will let you try this first and please respond and rate, Thanks, Sea Breeze





WR51X10038 or 880036 Defrost Heater Assembly

The possibilitty is the 8 hour timer may be defective. This timerr is the one which cut off the compressor and powers the heater to defrost the coooling coils to condense the water to the try below. If this wont happen then the possibility of the cooling coils building up frost will decrease cooling. The thermostat can also be a culprit as the thermostat is also in circuit . You can see if the timer works in this cycle by shutting off the fridge for several hours and restarting to check the defrosting cycle.the timer is placed near to the compressor unit and the heater near the cooling coils. Hope you check this out. Good day .

could be many....is it on?...making sounds?...if so the compressor is working...has it dropped its gas?....is it a upright fan forced?...are the freezing fins all frozen up?....could be auto timer or defrost element failure.

Hi. I am Kelly and welcome to FixYa. Here is the real question..... Is the food staying frozen?

Freezers usually defrost 3 times a day (8 hr intervals) Some as often as 4 times a day. The freezer use concept is that it is not opened more than 3 times a day. (Yes there will be more times than that any given week)

Having said all of that.... some things to look at.

1. Check the door seal for any signs of tears... grease... collapse...

2. Make sure there are no gaps in the door or between the closed door and the seal.

3. Many people don't check this one... but make sure it is level. An un-level freezer can cause the door seal not to function correctly.

Now if your saying that the food is actually defrosting... then there are a few other things that can cause that.

A. Sticking / defective Defrost timer

B. Defrost element is not heating and the freezer goes through a VERY long defrost cycle as the contents have to reach 60 Deg F for the 60 Deg bi-metal thermostat to close and advance the defrost timer to start the compressor.

C. Intermittent operation of the 60 Deg thermostat

I hope this clears things up a bit for you.

Thanks for using FixYa.

Kelly

Is the compressor motor running.If no check starter/overload relay.
Check to see if the condenser fan at the back underneath near the compressor is running. If no check fan.

Are the condenser coils near there warm or room temp. should be warm


How to check stuff>
http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/appliance/refrigerator/refrigerator.php

Below the evaporator fan is the evaporator coils. Remove the back cover in the freezer to observe the frost pattern. Light frost everywhere(NORMAL) or a partial pattern of ice(LOW ON FREON) or nothing(LOW FREON OR COMPRESSOR PROBLEM).

If the evaporator coils behind the back panel of the freezer are icing up because of auto defrost failure that will stop the circulation of cold air and eventually affect the freezer too.

check defrost timer, defrost heater, defrost thermostat. In most newer models the timer has been replaced by an electronic control board. If the heater and thermostat are ok it’ll be the control.

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. If it doesn't, check the heater and defrost thermostat. Turn the timer again till everything starts back up to end the defrost cycle.

frozen coils anny one ???
defrost fridge replace theromostat and timer

HI,

if the compressor is running your ref. should be getting cold. Their is a defrost timer but when it is in defrost the compressor shuts off. I think you do have a leak.
thanks,

The defrost cycle is not working properly, there are three things involved in system. #1 Defrost timer in refrigerator #2 Thermostat on coils to tell if unit is frozen #3 heater element located under coils thaws coils when frozen. the defrost timer if it is manual < located at the front of light assembly panel in top of refrigerator there will be a hole with a plastic piece that resembles a screw strait screw head> it turns and every 8hrs aprox. it stops operations and starts defrost cycle by allowing voltage to the thermostat and if thermostat is frozen it allows power to element for thawing coils. If defrost timer is manual look for direction it is facing and mark edge to see if timer is turning< very slow turning and is easiest way> if you can get an ohm meter ohm the element on high setting< if it has continuity element is operable> check wiring just to be sure not problem. If you find the timer does turn and doesn't stay in one position over 40 minutes then the thermostat is bad.If element fails tesing then the element is bad and if timer stays in one position then it is bad. If unit is equiped with electronic defrost timer and element is good in would replace timer and thermostat to guaranty that resolved problem

Check the defrost timer for operation if your unit has one. Some Delfield models have solid state controls. If your system has a timer for the defrost you can open the timer cover and turn the dial in the direction indicated by the arrow until a time peg comes up to the time of day marker. You will hear a loud click and the compressor will shut off. Defrost should take place. The inner dial of the timer will have some indication as to how long in minutes the defrost should take. If the pointer does not move while in the defrost position the timer motor is bad. Turn the dial again so the copper pointer goes past the time of day marker and the compressor should restart. Replace the timer.