Heater, Thermostat, Timer/Adaptive Defrost Control
If your refrigerator freezer compartment is cold, but the refrigerator compartment is warm--It could be a defrost problem.
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PHOTOS and ILLUSTRATIONS on this site<<<
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     When the refrigerator is not cooling but the freezer compartment is cold, just replacing refrigerator parts and hoping that you got the right one isn't the answer. You can systematically check and replace only the refrigerator replacement parts you need.
     If you have to replace a part, you can decide whether to buy at a local store or online.  ALWAYS compare refrigerator parts prices before ordering. You don't have to buy to compare prices and to find out what is included for that priceDon't lose money because you did not check!
     As you read this page, you will find some of the material repeated.  This is because some readers may be diagnosing while others just want to replace parts.  In any case, I recommend that you read through the entire page to familiarize yourself with the information and visuals included. 

     You may wish to skip over anything you already know.  Go straight to "Finally--Installing the New Parts" if this is all you want to know.  Finally, this is not a manual for repair techs, although you may pick up a few pointers.

   
For more information and/or to illustrate, you can right click on some photos/images  to enlarge them for a better view.  Move your mouse over a word or photo and it will change if it is a link (highlight, change color, a hand may appear).
     When trying to find out what is causing your cooling problem, you may notice frost covering the back panel  inside  the freezer.  Sometimes, unplugging the refrigerator (to defrost) will solve the problem temporarily.
     This is why the repair tech sometimes leaves thinking s/he solved the problem, only to have it return after the frost/ice builds up again in a few days or a week.  During the return visit, you may be told that it is a different problem and you need to pay another "visitation" or service fee. 

     You may get angry at this point and say that this tech is not a diagnostician, but instead a parts changer!  Either is possible, but sometimes actually changing the part(s) is the only way to know.
"When a defrost problem occurs, it is usually the fault of one or more of three basic parts:
(1) defrost timer/adaptive defrost control,
(2) freezer thermostat or
(3) the defrost heater element.  The "good" news is that you can buy all three parts..." (read this section)
FROSTY THE SNOWMAN
EducationDx
    ©2016, 2023
What's the abbreviation for mountain? MT.
     If you unplug to manually defrost  the refrigerator, remove the food contents and be prepared to catch any melting ice water.  You or the repair tech will need to defrost your system to diagnose, repair or replace parts anyhow (note:  There are exceptions).  This can be a very time consuming process, as well as costly. 
     Sometimes you won't know if the repair is successful until a few days or a week later.  That is because sometimes just defrosting the system enables the cold air to get into the refrigerator compartment again.  However, unless it was just a freak occurrence caused by high humidity or some other phenomenon, the reason that the defrost system malfunctioned still exists, and the symptoms will no doubt return.

    
So if you don't make the proper diagnosis and repairs, the problem will continue to plague you.  You probably don't want to defrost your refrigerator manually every week, after all, isn't that why you bought a frost free one in the first place?

     Let's examine the problem. 
Your model may differ from the illustrations, but the same principles apply. There may be some variations, e.g., your refrigerator may have a defrost timer or an adaptive defrost control.
                Be Prepared!
      Remove the black cardboard panel cover on the bottom rear portion of the refrigerator.  There are about 4 or 5 small hex screws holding this.  You need to remove this to monitor and suction off water if the water level rises when you start the defrost.
Next
>>>Testing
What if it isn't a defrost problem?
    If the level rises (depends on how much ice build-up you have) you may need to suction off water in the built-in defrost evaporator pan (bottom, rear of refrigerator behind that black cardboard panel cover) as the ice melts  (or you might have a watery mess to clean up). 

     It is only designed to catch a relatively small amount of frost  that evaporates when the refrigerator is running normallyKeep an eye on this, as you may have a lot of water or just a small amount as the ice melts.
Freezer Illustration
(right click to enlarge and print a copy)
     Sometimes making the correct diagnosis can be tricky even for someone with expertise and after testing.  However, if you can follow directions (like unplug the refrigerator!), and have some basic mechanical/electrical skills, you could diagnose and effect a repair.   Know your limitations and call a repair person if necessary!  Some parts can store energy--even when the unit is UNPLUGGED!
Refrigerator Parts--Defrost System
Empty the refrigerator and freezer compartments.
Let's Defrost
DON'T BLAME IT ON THE DOG!
Admiral Refrigerator Parts Amana Refrigerator Parts Caloric Refrigerator Parts Electrolux Refrigerator Parts Frigidaire Refrigerator Parts GE Refrigerator Parts Hotpoint Refrigerator Parts Jenn-Air Refrigerator Parts Kenmore Refrigerator Parts (Sears) KitchenAid Refrigerator Parts Magic Chef Refrigerator Parts Maytag Refrigerator Parts Roper Refrigerator Parts Tappan Refrigerator Parts Whirlpool Refrigerator Parts White-Westinghouse Refrigerator Parts
UNPLUG
    It is assumed that you have already removed the stored food items,  since the refrigerator isn’t cooling.  Also, it is assumed that the problem is not a clogged drain line (see #14 in freezer illustration) (is there ice blocking the trough drain hole?) from the bottom of the freezer (evaporator) coils or a problem with the freezer fan (is it turning?)- (see #5 in freezer illustration) or freezer damper (is it opening and closing?) or the air-diverter (see #35 in freezer illustration). *
*The upcoming pages will illustrate how to view these areas!
TIP: 
       Find your ice chest or borrow one or two to store your food in while defrosting.
       No ice chest?  You can use a plastic garbage bag (double) filled with the ice cubes
       you will be taking out of your freezer
Keep the ice cubes in a separate SEALED bag
       inside the main bag!   You can use Blue Ice (or other ice substitutes) if you have some
       instead of ice cubes.
TOOLS or accessories that you might use:

Suction Bulb Tool (or meat baster--don't use this for cooking after using here!)

Needle-Nose Pliers (to replace heater)

1/4" hex nut socket and driver (Do not use electric drills or power screwdrivers!)

Hair Dryer w/GFCI (if you are impatient)

Cloths, pans, and sponge  (for water removal)
     As mentioned above, it is possible that this simple

defrosting of the freezer

might solve your problem, if it was just a freak occurrence--like something steaming was placed in the freezer or the worn  door gaskets [if so--replace them] have allowed moisture/humidity to accumulate in the freezer compartment.

    
If you feel lucky, you might plug the refrigerator back in and see if it works. It may work for a few days/weeks, or it may run longer.  However, if you have come this far, why not test the three components to be sure?  You may need to replace a part or two, and why not do it while you have the refrigerator cleaned out and defrosted?

Parts

Remove food
     When a defrost problem occurs, it is usually the fault of one or more of three basic parts: defrost timer/adaptive defrost control, freezer thermostat or the defrost heater element.  The "good" news is that you can buy all three parts for around $150 (for all 3).  Of course, more expensive parts, diagnostics and service fees are added when a repair tech does this, and if you are unsure of your technical abilities, this may be the route to go.

Refrigerator Defrost Parts

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*Disclosure: Some links on this website are associate links and are used to help illustrate what an item looks like, and you can decide if you want to just look or purchase the item.  "As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases."  We receive a small commission (that helps support this website) if you actually purchase from this company, but the price to you remains the same.

You can hover over any link to see if it is an Amazon link, if this matters, or a link to a page on this website or to a reference page, e.g., Smithsonian Institution, bookmark on this website, etc
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