Heartland "3100" top freezer. Thermostat for freezer is barely turned on and machine runs long time. Air flow is not obstructed. Also believe system is not self defrosting.

would check ur freezer thermistors and cold control thermostat as well as air flow damper vent

Lastly check the cold control thermostat with a meter for both OHMS and volts ( VOLTS is a live test with fridge plugged in so be careful) It must show 110 volts. An open or thermostat that reads infinity will not allow the proper cooling and defrosting cycles to operate and may in fact stop anything from happening as if there is no power to the unit?

ALSO CHECK THE AIR FLOW VENT SYSTEM At times it can get stuck to far closed or open. Some units feature a digital electric adjusting vent system while others are manually set. Check for any ice build up or other obstruction in the vent damper, see if u can manually open or close it. Some times when u have the settings set to the highest it closes off one area while allowing to much cold air flow to the other area!

Ice build up is either obstructed air flow. Too much stuff in the freezer. The freezer evaporator fan is not working or the defrost system is not working. Check obstructions to air flow first and see if the fan is running. If the fan is not running, you mostly likely have a dead fan motor. Not an easy fix for average person.

http://www.partselect.com/Schematics/GE/00113789i02.gif
look at number 304. Ice more than likely has formed and not letting air flow from the freezer to the fridge.

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jason_4570d45317834dd3

If the freezer is working that is a good sign. Here are what might be the problems; 1) Ice build up in the freezer will block air flow to the refrigerator and thus causing it to get warm and stay warm. If you observed a build up of ice in the freezer, it means that your defrost heater and/or your defrost thermostat is bad. In any case, replace both.
2) The evaporator fan plays an important role in circulating cold air in both freezer and refrigerator compartment. Listen for the evaporator fan and make sure that is running. If you can hear it, it has gone bad and will have to be replaced.
3) if any of the above applies, the lower or upper air dampers may be obstructed. Check and make sure that they are open.
4) Too much food or stuff in the freezer may also be the culprit. If there is too much stuff in the freezer, you might want to remove some them to make way for air to flow in the refrigerator compartment.
I hope this will help solve the problem. Do not forget "Feedback"
Jacques

Usually there is a air flow problem from it not defrosting(all the evaporator coils are frosted up with moisture preventing air flow-defrost problem ) or the fan motor is not turning in the back of the freezer section above the evaporator....
All of the cooling in the top or refrigerator section is done by air flow circulating across the coils in the freezer to get temps down to 38 degrees or so. You have to listen for the fan running in the freezer section, feel for air at the top back of the refrigerator(the damper control) Sometimes a bi-metal thermostat in the defrost circuit is also used in series with the evaporator fan motor, if it is open the fan will not run........(this I have seen) Also check the vents for the return air to the freezer(behind the crispers are not covered accidentally) Hope this helps........

Hello there:
Here is a few things to check to make sure the referigerator is working properly.
The first thing to check is the overall internal refrigerator temperature (see the Appliance Accessories section for a refrigerator/freezer thermometer). The proper temperature should be between 35 and 42 degrees. Here are some things to try: If your refrigerator temperature is closer to 35 degrees, try turning the temperature up slightly. If you find that the temperature varies a lot from the top shelf to the bottom (where it is coldest), try putting produce and other sensitive products on a higher shelf. If the temperature is too low and you can't make it warmer by adjusting the thermostat, you probably have a defective thermostat. If so, you need to replace it, because they cannot be repaired. Other possible problems are a leak in the sealed (refrigerant) system, cold air migration (in side-by-side models) or a defective air damper. These problems can be quite difficult to locate and correct, we recommend you contact a qualified appliance repair technician.
If the tube or channel is clogged or obstructed, the water backs up and leaks into the inside of the refrigerator compartment. Then the water builds up at the bottom, inside of the refrigerator. When the water has built up for a time it may spill out of the front of the door opening. To fix this problem, clear the drain tube or channel and allow the defrost water to flow down to the drain pan. The refrigerator never cycles off The thermostat cycles the refrigerator on and off. The refrigerator normally runs as long as the temperature inside the refrigerator is higher than the set temperature. If the temperature inside the refrigerator is cold enough and the thermostat still does not cycle off, the thermostat may be defective. If so, you need to replace it, because it cannot be repaired. If the thermostat is not defective, you may have a problem with the sealed (refrigerant) system,

1ST OPEN FREEZER DOOR AND HOLD THE DOOR BUTTON IN WITH THE DOOR COMPLETELY OPEN UNTIL YOU HEAR THE FAN RUNNING, MAYBE 5 TO 10 MIN. THE FAN SHOULD RUN FAST NOT SLOW. WHEN YOU HEAR THE FAN RUN FAST YOU KNOW IT IS WORKING PROPERLY. IF IT RUNS SLOW CHANGE FAN MOTOR.
CHECK FOR CLOGGED DRAIN HOLE AND BLOCKED AIR FLOW DUCT IN THE TOP PART OF THE FREEZER. IF THIS IS BLOCKED WITH ICE DEFROST WITH HOT WATER UNTIL BLOCKAGE IS REMOVED. IF THE FAN IS RUNNING PROPERLY, AND ALL IS CLEAR THEN THE AIR WILL FLOW DOWN TO THE FRIDGE. ALSO MAKE SURE YOUR FREEZER IS NOT JAMMED FULL OF FOOD AND THAT ALL VENTS ARE CLEAR OF OBSTRUCTIONS. SET YOUR DIALS ON THE PROPER SETTTING. IT TAKES ABOUT 24 HRS. TO ADJUST. IF DEFROST WAS BAD IT WOULD NOT BE COOL UP TOP.
THE DEFROST OR THERMOSTAT CONTROLS THE TIMING OF DEFROST MODE WHICH IF BAD THE COMPRESSOR WOULD NOT WORK AND THUS NOT COOL AT ALL.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHAT BRAND TO USE CALL A COMPANY NAMED WILMAR OR HOME DEPOT SUPPLY, TELL THEM THE PART # IF YOU WANT TO REPLACE YOUR THERMOSTAT AND THEY CAN TELL YOU WHAT ONE YOU CAN USE WIT YOUR RCA..I'M PRETTY SURE YOU CAN USE FRIDGIDAIRE OR GE HOT POINT WITH MINOR IF ANY ALTERATIONS. TRY WHAT I SUGGESTED 1ST BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE THERMOSTAT OR FAN.

At the refrig controls , the freezer control , controls how much air goes into the refrigerator section . Open the refrig door , and up at the top left , put your hand over the damper (air vent) . Turn the freezer control from high to low , and feel the difference in the air flow . If you turn your freezer control to a lower setting , less cold air will enter the refrig . Think of it as : the freezer control adjusts the temperature , and the refrig control , tells how long to run the compressor . In actuality , this is how it works . However , with the dial (refrigerator thermostat) in the off position and refrig still running , this indicates a bad thermostat . Pt # 2198202 .

That model has a electric powered damper that opens or shuts to reduce or increase the flow of cold air from freezer. Sometimes they stick open and will not close. It's quite expensive to replace. And the temperature control board is also expensive. I believe it's time to talk to the Landlord and get them on the project. Thanks, Sea Breeze

Is has something to do with the flow of air from the freezer compartment into the fridge department. First make sure the thermostat on the fridge side is set to colder, then check out for obstructions in the air passage ways, you may have to remove your food for a better view. One's at the top, one is at the bottom. the other thing, try to find out if the fan within the freezer is running as it's supposed to, since it's what takes care of circulating the air throughout the fridge. One common source of blockage is accumulated ice in the freezer side which blocks off the opening into the fridge side. The openings are meant to stay clear.