View Full Version : Refrigerator not cooling
jdykes
Jul 15, 2009, 12:53 PM
My fridge has stopped getting things very cold. The freezer seems slightly impacted as well. I've turned it to the lowest setting without much change. Anything I can do to get it cold again? The unit is not very old.
twinkiedooter
Jul 15, 2009, 05:43 PM
Sounds like the defrost timer switch went bad. Anytime the freezer cools and the fridge does not it's usually that pesky part that goes bad.
inneedofhelp200
Jul 15, 2009, 05:52 PM
I have the same issue on a Maytag MSD2356AEW. I found that if I remove a lower panel on the back of the inside of the freezer I can see the cooling coils they were frozen with solid ice. Auto defroster does not seem to be working. So I shut down the freezer for a couple of days. Then restarted. It worked great for about a week then it was frozen again. I replaced the heating coil but still same problem. Looking at the schematic I guess there is a "Adaptive Defrost" board. Anyone know where this is? Or "Control Board"?
If you problem is not like mine try cleaning back. Or could be freon leaked. Are among a few possibilities
inneedofhelp200
Jul 15, 2009, 05:57 PM
Opps, I did not see twinkiedooter response before I submitted mine. He is probably correct.
twinkiedooter
Jul 15, 2009, 09:15 PM
I have the same issue on a Maytag MSD2356AEW. I found that if I remove a lower panel on the back of the inside of the freezer I can see the cooling coils they were frozen with solid ice. Auto defroster does not seem to be working. So I shut down the freezer for a couple of days. Then restarted. It worked great for about a week then it was frozen again. I replaced the heating coil but still same problem. Looking at the schematic I guess there is a "Adaptive Defrost" board. Anyone know where this is? Or "Control Board"?
If you problem is not like mine try cleaning back. Or could be freon leaked. are among a few possibilities
From what you describe as your problem with the Maytag, it has all the classic signs of being the defrost timer switch and not the heating coil that you replaced. If the unit successfully unfreezes totally then runs for a few days or week and freezes back up it is definitely the defrost timer switch as the unit cannot properly turn on the defrost cycle to melt away the built up ice.
I know this problem backwards and forwards as I had side by side refrigerators for years and years and they always, and I do mean always, had that problem if the defrost timer switch went bad. I don't have a side by side anymore due to the switches going bad too often. I had one switch that went bad in a side by side at least once a year! So you can see I'm well versed in the "my refrigerator is freezing up and the refrigerator part is not cooling"..
The damper door is NOT the problem or you are low on freon or the unit would not form ice on the coils. Sorry. As I said before I've been there done that quite a few times and I, too, thought that the damper door had something to do with the problem and discovered that NO, it had absolutely nothing to do with the problem. In self defrosting models it is always the defrost timer switch that goes bad. Just the nature of the beast you could say.
jdykes
Jul 16, 2009, 04:58 AM
Thanks for the post. I did confirm the freezer is freezing. Mine is not a side by side, it is an Amana BC121bw, not sure if that changes your thoughts on the issue. If it is the defrost timer, is this something the fairly skilled layperson can switch out, or would I need to hire a repairman?