I need to defrost my freezer and have never done it. I want to do it right. Are there any suggestions?

This model has trouble with ice building up behind the freezer doors preventing them from closing all the way. You may need to defrost.

You should never need to advance your defrost timer. If your defrost is not working properly, the coil in the freezer compartment will ice up, blocking all airflow. All of your cooling is done there, even the refrig area, so you will never get down below appx. 40-45 degrees.
my first suggestion is to look at the back panel in your freezer for frost/ice build-up. If yes, unplug the unit, open the freezer compartment and let it thaw overnight. If it starts cooling properly, you have a defrost problem. It may be a bad timer(often), thermostat(less frequent), or bad defrost heater(even less).

This sounds like a typical defrost problem. You either have a bad defrost heater or bad defrost thermostat. You can check both of these if you have an ohm meter and see which one is bad, however, when I change a defrost heater I always go ahead and change the thermostat as well. If you just defrost the fridge it will freeze up again until you fix the problem. good Luck!

although you could just close the door and it should right itself,could it be the right time for a total defrost and clean.all the drains/vents.....auto defrost only does the inside of the unit,

You most likely have a defrost cycle problem. Either a bad defrost heater, timer or thermostat. Jenn Air has put an Adaptive Defrost circut in the top of the Refrigerator section. You can find troubleshooting directions at ACMEHowTo.com

I suggest checking the defrost circuit. Make sure the drain in the back of the freezer is clear first. Then check the defrost timer, switch, and heating element using a volt meter. You can download a schematic from the Sears/Kenmore website.

it sound like you need to access the evaporator unit in the freezer and see if its iced up and the defrost is working,this can be done by taking cover plate off in freezer section,if its iced up defrost it,clean condenser coils under refrigerator of dust,then turn unit on and see if it cools right again,also if it works for a while then does it again the defrost timer that power the heating coil below the evaporator coil may be bad or the element itself may be bad that defrosts the coil

Hello pumpguy2
Welcome

You said, you have a Kenmore bottom Freezer Model 596.73503201. It works fine but the freezer has stopped defrosting. Any suggestions?

It is supposed to be auto or self defrosting.
What do you mean you are getting ice forming in the freezer?
Waiting for your response and more detailed explanation.
Huuum

install a defrost drain tube heater call sears for a part number have the model handy befor calling

Hi, This is my suggestion to check the defrost timer. "I would suspect the defrost timer. Remove everything and place in coolers or another refrigerator. Unplug the refrigerator. With doors open let it sit for aprox 6 hrs. A fan blowing into the freezer section will help. Plug back in and see if it works good again. If it works good for a couple of days and problem returns, Replace the defrost timer." Sound like you have already done my little test so the defrost timer needs replaced. NOTE: Refrigerators are well insulated and it takes several hours to completely defrost one so you may want to try it again. Also, I believe the clicking you hear is the fan blade hitting ice. Hope this helps. Let me know. kstfas