The ice is melting in the ice maker, the vents are frozen the refrigerator is not cold

Todd Marr

• 77 Answers
• Posted on Sep 26, 2007

SOURCE: Kenmore refrig not making ice and top shelf area in refrig not cold

if you are having tempurature issues make sure the fan in the freezer is operating. it should be on when the compresor is running. this may explain both warm fridge and no ice.

SOURCE: Refrigerator Not Making Ice, Frost in Freezer and Refrigerator Not Cold

It has a defrost problem.  Most likely cause would be the defrost thermostat which clips onto the evaporator behind the back panel in the freezer.  Next most common would be the defrost timer.  Third would be the defrost heater.  Let me know if you want to try to test these parts.  If so I will need the entire model # from the sticker in the fridge or on older models on a plate at the bottom front below the door.

SOURCE: Frozen vents from freezer to fridge

you most likely have a defrost problem.or a clogged drain.you need to check your defrost heater defrost timer and thermostat.if ice is formed over drain then you can unclog drain with hot water.you will see when it is unclogged,water will run down drain without running over into bottom of freezer.

SOURCE: kenmore refrigerator side by side model

Your fridge has a dual solenoid water valve - one side controls the water flow to the dispenser, the other to the ice maker. It's possible that one side burned out while the other is still good.

Here's a photo of what it looks like:



Here's a link to the replacement part:
http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/part-number/Kenmore-Parts/Refrigerator-Parts/218658000/0046/253/Model-25358682890/0582/0165000?keySuffixId=NA&productTypeId=x&searchModelNumber=25358682890&subCompDesc=Icemaker&brandDesc=KENMORE&modelDesc=Side-by-Side&blt=11

Before replacing the part, make sure the solenoid is in fact, bad. Get a voltmeter, and touch the probes to the electrical contacts on the solenoid, like so:

If the meter barely moves, the solenoid is bad.

If both solenoids test out OK, the other possibility is that the water supply line is kinked or clogged. Also, if your water dispenser has a filter (also on the back of the fridge), it might be clogged. My money's on the solenoid, though.

Good luck, and if this helps, please my answer!
Also, thanks to Zenzoidman for the pics.

Testimonial: "I've got someone to fix the problem, but this helps me understand what he might be looking for and what the part will cost. Thank you, Pat"

SOURCE: my kenmore side-by-side refrigerator is

all it does is the evap fan blows cold air from the freezer into the fridge section and returns through the bottom air vent,so if there's ice there most likely one of the doors was left open,check the freezer for frozen water droplets on packages or on the walls and shelves of the machine,if you don't see that open the freezer door,if you don't hear the fan blowing you could have a bad evap fan motor.if the fan is blowing in the freezer from the bottom remove the second draw or bin and put your hand on the back inside wall of the freezer,if there's frost or like snow on the back wall you have a defrost problem,bad defrost thermostat,defrost heater,timer or board depending on what model you have,if the fan is blowing and you don't see any problems that i talked about you could have a bad damper,on some machines there's a damper door that opens and closes to let cold air into the fridge section,if it's bad it won't open and no cold air can blow in from the freezer,if you think the door was left open,remove anything that's in the way,in the freezer side and the fridge side,shut the machine down or unplug it and with a hair dryer melt out the ice,don't keep the heat in one place for to long,you can melt the vent if it's plastic or styrofoam,after you think it's melted out start the machine and put your hand up in the left hand corner in the fridge section and see if you can feel any cold air blowing in,there could be ice up there too,next time send the model number so i can look up your model,on a side by side you'll find the tag on the right hand side wall in the fridge up near the ceiling or on the ceiling near the light.hope this helps,if you have another fridge you could move the food and just shut the fridge down with the doors open and let it melt out on it's own overnight.good luck