The appliance interior lights works but it's not cooling or freezing

sounds like the compressor has quit running or there is a Freon leak... either way it looks like a sealed system issue..... on some ge models if the cond fan motor quits it will heat up between the ref and fzr doors....

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR REFRIGERATOR?

For a detailed Refrigerator illustration, click below.

Side by Side
Freezer on Top
Freezer on Bottom
Under counter
Warning! To avoid personal injury or even death, always disconnect your appliance from its power source--that is, unplug it or break the connection at the circuit breaker or fuse box--before you do any troubleshooting or repair work on your appliance. Also, because some components may have sharp edges, use caution while working on your appliance.

It's stopped completely
It's not cool
Cooling is poor
It's noisy
It leaks
The freezer compartment is icing up
The food in the refrigerator freezes
There's water dripping inside the refrigerator
The refrigerator never cycles off
The ice maker has a problem
There's an ice- or water-dispensing problem

Try to check the defroster heater this cause the problem;

Hi,

Many times a freezer and/or refrigeratordo not work right because of a dirty condenser coil...there are also many otherthings that can go wrong. If you are hearing a clicking or buzzing then check out thelast two tips.

If your refrigerator is running but warm, then...

Check out this tip that I wrote about that... it is a great place to starttrouble shooting your unit...and something that you can do rather then callinga repair person to do a simple thing for you...

Refrigerator Condenser Coil Cleaning Refrigerator Repair

Refrigerator Troubleshooting Refrigerator Compressor

Refrigerator Compressor Start Capacitor and Start Relay
Refrigerator or Freezer not Cooling or Getting Cold

heatman101

This could be a fan motor problem. Check to see if the fans are running and if not take a look at this page http://www.appliance-repair-it.com/refrigerator-fan-motor.html

If the compressor is not running this page will help http://appliance-repair-it.com/GErefrigeratorrepair.html

There could be a defrost problem, look on the back wall of the freezer to see if it is covered with heavy frost. If so your problem is that it is not defrosting. This page will help http://appliance-repair-it.com/GE-refrigerator-repair.html

Same thing with our GE Eterna Series - off and on for the last two weeks. Took back panel off, looked around, vacuumed dust build up off of the fan blades, etc.; everything worked fine for five good days. Then frig went out stopped cooling. Off and on for the last week. Unplugging it works for a day then back to not freezing and or colling.

This is a good indication of a failed fan.
The freezer compartment gets first crack at the compressed coolant and a fan distributes some cooled air to the refrigerator side. When the fan fails, the fridge suffers.
Sears parts department has thousands of illustrated breakdowns of many appliances and if yours is one of them, you can see the location of the fan for DIY purposes and often how to access it.
They also have (for listed appliances) the mfr.'s part number and the failed part can often be ordered right from the page on which it is displayed.
Sears Parts Direct
If you can ferret out the part number, you might check listings in your area for Johnstone Supply which supplies trades people with a huge variety of replacement parts and the prices are often 40-60 under dealer prices for the same items and have never turned me away as a non-professional DIY person.

Most times on that model the defrost heater and defrost thermostat will need to be replaced. The timer is built into the mother board and for some reason they are not the most likely reason. The defrost heater has a glass tube around the element and easy to spot if burned out. If you replace one part you should replace both. Now is a good time for you to do a little reading about your model. I will give you a link to the service manual and a page with a tech sheet, Sea Breeze

First this refrigerator has very low consumer rating. They are plagued with problems with very poor company backing. But without be able to diagnosis the problem in person I would say it's the mother board. And you may find that GE has a new updated board for your appliance. I would go to Amazon.com and search for your motherboard for your refrigerator and read the reviews. Some people leave some great idea. Plus it you bought this refrigerator brand new you can fight with GE to send you a new board.

Just click below;

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR REFRIGERATOR?

For a detailed Refrigerator illustration, click below.

Side by Side
Freezer on Top
Freezer on Bottom
Under counter
Warning! To avoid personal injury or even death, always disconnect your appliance from its power source--that is, unplug it or break the connection at the circuit breaker or fuse box--before you do any troubleshooting or repair work on your appliance. Also, because some components may have sharp edges, use caution while working on your appliance.

It's stopped completely
It's not cool
Cooling is poor
It's noisy
It leaks
The freezer compartment is icing up
The food in the refrigerator freezes
There's water dripping inside the refrigerator
The refrigerator never cycles off
The ice maker has a problem
There's an ice- or water-dispensing problem

Hope this may help;

DON'T FORGET TO RATE:

the back panel inside the freezer has screws in it. take out the screws to remove that panel. the coils are behind that. melt all the frost. youll see one or 2 heating elements in there also. replace the elements. its a common ge problem. this will fix the problem