20 Most Recent Maytag 19.6 cu. ft. / 555 liter Upright Freezer MQU2057A Questions & Answers

The evaporator coil behind the cover on the back wall inside the freezer will ice up under normal conditions. Every 8 to 10 hours for around 20 minutes the defrost timer (or in most newer models the electronic adaptive defrost control) will turn the defrost heater on to melt the built up ice. There is a defrost thermostat which prevents the heater from overheating the freezer by breaking the heater circuit when the temp reaches close to 32 degrees F. The entire cooling system shuts off during the defrost cycle and starts back when the timer advances through the cycle.

If this ice is not melted it will continue to build up until the air can't flow over the coil to circulate the cold air through the freezer and into the fridge. The temperature change in the fridge is usually noticed first followed by the freezer.

If the defrost thermostat is bad, it can prevent the heater from coming on OR it won't turn the heater off when it gets too warm. It is clamped to the evaporator coil at the top to sense the temp. If it appears to be misshapen it is bad.
With an ohm meter it should show continuity when cold and none when warm.
You can also bypass(disconnect the two wires plugged into it and twist them together) the thermostat to see if the heater comes on then. If it does then you know the thermostat is bad and needs replaced.

The defrost heater is located on the evaporator. It is in a tube which is at the bottom and can also go up the sides of the evaporator. On some types you can see a burnt spot if it's bad. With an ohm meter it should show continuity from end to end when disconnected from the wiring in the freezer. You can also test the wiring for voltage when it's in the defrost mode.

If you have a defrost timer you can test it. It can be located under the fridge behind the kick panel on the front. Some are in the fridge with the controls at the top. You can turn the defrost timer till it clicks and everything shuts down. The heater should now come on. If it does, replace the timer because that means the timer is not running. If it doesn't, check the heater and defrost thermostat. Turn the timer again till everything starts back up to end the defrost cycle.

Part 15 on this Diagram is your timer You can also see your evaporator and heater also.

Hi yestermorrow,

Thank you for using Fixya. A nifty idea you can try is to adjust your front level feet upwards. This will allow the door to lean against the fridge. It does not need to be adjust upwards too much though. It is a solution that will make sure the door seals against the fridge, as well as not having to replace anything.

Another thing you MUST do is run boiling hot water all over the seal (Remember towels for the spillage) This will allow the rubber to expand, and become soft for extra sealing.

To answer your question regarding how it locks, it locks with suction. If the seal is sealing all around the door area (Soft seals a must for good sealing), it will create a semi-vacuum area inside the fridge (Thus the sucking sound when opening a fridge door)

I really hope this has helped you. :-)

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Most parts are obsolete, and the timer is expensive! https://www.repairclinic.com/ProductDetail/96494?page=3 Timer-Def Part Number:WP3-81329 In Stock, 1 available Note: (Series: B2) $82.10 Add to Cart 16 Defrost Heater Part Number:W11175809 In Stock Note: (Series: B2) The defrost heater keeps the cooling coils from frosting over. $71.30

its the fan

thermostats are usually a "on/off" switch just as a simple light switch. Ohms on a defrost timer is not very specific. It is basically a switch that turns heaters on and off while keeping the compressor off during the defrost cycle. Your thermostat may be sticking/hanging up.

I have had a few of these, and others of the same ilk. Your problem should be air leakage into the machine. Take a thicker piece of paper, not cardboard, and try to slide it around the gasket where the door gasket contacts the front of the freezer. The gasket should be firm enough to prevent the paper from sliding. Wherever you can move the paper, you could have a air leak. Most of these have no adjustment in the latch to tighten the door. Sometimes a new gasket will solve the problem, sometime a new door will. P.S. Twice I have tied a new freezer to a refrigerator dolly to move it and have accidentally warped the door, and they cannot be straightened. :-( God bless your efforts.

Here are some short videos on how to fix your problem... Frigidaire Upright Freezer Not Freezing Repair Help 297250000 Fix freezer not freezing but still cold

repairs should be performed by a qualified technician. if there isn't ice in the ice bucket located in the freezer you have a water flow problem. if there is water going to the filter and nothing out of the freezer then you have a clogged freezer replace it. if these things are ok then yes it could be the electronic control. filter failure is a common problem.

thermostat