Wide by side refirgertor side not getting cold

Luispinto243 --
The heat exchanger is in the freezer side of a refrigerator. If the cold air pathway has gotten frosted-up, or the blower is not working, the fridge side will get warm. If possible, fully defrost the unit and the frost/ice build-up will thaw-out and the fridge will start working again. Adjust the thermostat to the energy-saving position. Trying to lower the temperature will not fix the problem. If you are still having problems, write back. -- SWT

Hi,

Cooling is poor For an overall understanding of how refrigerators should work, read about refrigerators in the How Things Work section of our website. A refrigerator or freezer that is cooling, but cooling poorly, may have a problem in one of several areas:

Evaporator coils
Condenser
Poor cooling is often the result of a heavy frost build-up on the evaporator coils or a condenser that is clogged with dust, lint, and dirt.

Evaporator coils Poor cooling is often the result of a heavy frost build-up on the evaporator coils. You can't see these coils without removing a panel on the inside of your freezer. A sure sign that there is a build-up is the presence of any frost or ice build-up on the inside walls, floor, or ceiling of the freezer. Such a frost build-up usually indicates a problem in the self-defrosting system or damaged door gaskets.

The refrigerator is supposed to self-defrost approximately four times in every 24 hour period. If one of the components in the self-defrosting system fails, the refrigerator continues to try to cool. Eventually, though, so much frost builds up on the evaporator coils that the circulating fan can't draw air over the coils. There may still be a small amount of cooling because the coils are icy, but with no air flow over the coils, cooling in the refrigerator compartment is quite limited.

Here's an inexpensive, though inconvenient, way to determine if the problem is with the self-defrosting system. Remove all of the perishable food from the refrigerator and freezer, turn the thermostat in the refrigerator to Off, and leave the doors open for 24 to 48 hours. (Be sure to have several towels ready in case the melting frost and ice causes the drip pan to overflow). This allows the refrigerator to defrost "manually." When the frost and ice build-up has completely melted away, turn the thermostat back to a normal setting. If the refrigerator then cools properly, it indicates a problem with one of three components in the self-defrosting system:

• The defrost timer



• The defrost thermostat (also called the bi-metal switch)



• The defrost heater

If it still does not cool properly, there may be a problem with the refrigerant level or the compressor. You may need to consult with a qualified appliance repair technician to further diagnose the problem

Condenser Self-defrosting refrigerators all have a set of coils and a cooling fan, usually under the refrigerator, that need to be cleaned regularly. If these coils get coated with dust, dirt or lint, the refrigerator may not cool properly. The coils may appear to be a thin, black, wide radiator-like device behind the lower kick-panel. To clean them, disconnect the refrigerator from the power source, use a refrigerator condenser brush (see the Appliance Accessories section) and your vacuum cleaner to clean the coils of any lint, pet hair, etc. You may not be able to get to all of the condenser from the front, it may be necessary to clean the remainder of the condenser from the rear of the refrigerator.

More likely a defrost heater. Look inside the freezer at the back wall. Any frost there? If so, turn off refrig., unload freezer, take back panel off inside freezer, and use a hair dryer to melt off the frost. Replace the defrost heater located at the bottom of the frosted coils. (New heater may appear different than original, but instructions are included) If you don't have the defrost heater on hand, just manually defrosting the coils and re-starting the refrig will get is cooling again for at least a week before problem will re-occur. (this give you enough time to get the replacement part)

also perhaps the defrost timer is bad, not allowing the defrost heater to come on and melt the ice as it should? Or the defrost heater itself could be bad -

low on freon or plugged to the point of where the frost stops on the evaporator. Evaporator should fully frost up on all coils...

Try to remove rear wall of freezer to check frost pattern. An even but light patter of frost on full coil is normal. Coils full of frost with aluminum almost fully hidden generally means defrost problem. Heavier frost on the bottom coils and gradually tapering off as you go up until the top coils have no frost usually means a leak of freon or a bad compressor.

do you have frost on your freezer side i think you have a defrost issue it has a heater thermostat and timer if you got frost take the back freezer panel off and than on the uper part of your coils you'll see a round part that hooks on the refrigirent line its all silver plated around except the bottom is blue usually if that looks like it broke as in exploded and is falling appart thats what you need if it looks ok check the ressistance on your heater if ressistance reads infinite than you need a heater but of it reads a number than replace the defrost timer and defrost thermostat even though it might not seem broken sometimes they work sometimes dont right befire they are about to go bad all the way 
good luck 

Sounds like a defrost problem or dirty coils under the machine. Check to see if there is any frost buildup in the back wall of the freezer. If so, it is not defrosting as it should.

• possible causes:

1. bad defrost timer/control board
2. bad defrost heater (in freezer)
3. bad thermo switch in freezer

If you don’t know what these are then unplug the machine and let the ice melt in the freezer overnight with the door open. Then try it the next day, if is cooling fine then you need to have a service person replace one of the above items. 

Sounds like a defrost problem or dirty coils under the machine. Check to see if there is any frost buildup in the back wall of the freezer. If so, it is not defrosting as it should.

• possible causes:

1. bad defrost timer/control board
2. bad defrost heater (in freezer)
3. bad thermo switch in freezer

If you don’t know what these are then unplug the machine and let the ice melt in the freezer overnight with the door open. Then try it the next day, if is cooling fine then you need to have a service person replace one of the above items.  

Sounds like a defrost problem or dirty coils under the machine. Check to see if there is any frost buildup in the back wall of the freezer. If so, it is not defrosting as it should.

• possible causes:

1. bad defrost timer/control board
2. bad defrost heater (in freezer)
3. bad thermo switch in freezer

If you don’t know what these are then unplug the machine and let the ice melt in the freezer overnight with the door open. Then try it the next day, if is cooling fine then you need to have a service person replace one of the above items.