Jenn-Air JCD2389G Side by Side Refrigerator Logo
Paul Lange Posted on May 10, 2009
Answered by a Fixya Expert

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Light on in fridge but no compressor sound or clicks or fan

20 year old Whirlpool side by side. Well maintained when we bought the house. Inside light comes on but nothing from the compressor, relay or fan when thermostat turned up. The fridge just stopped working. Unplugged for 2 hours and plugged back in and still nothing. Looking for a good place to start- relay or thermostat control. Also what is the real risk of not grounding the capacitor if I use insulated tools to remove the terminal connectors? This does NOT have ice maker or door ice/water dispenser. Thanks to all who read.

  • Paul Lange May 11, 2009

    I tried the "easy" fix you sent me, but that didn't work. Tomorrow I will try to locate the defrost timer assembly and check that. I do want to say that I would have ignored that area and concentrated on something with the compressor/fan/relay but with this advice I will look closer at this system as it makes sense since the fridge "just stopped working" Thanks very much. Will let you know the outcome.

  • Paul Lange May 11, 2009

    Update- The problem was the defrost timer. This fridge was made in 4/1988 and it had the old style analog timer and not the new adaptive board timer so I was lucky to be able to get the part and make the repair for about 30 bucks and a little time.

    I located the timing unit at the top of the fridge right next to the thermostat control. 2 screws to pull down the control panel (pull out towards the front of the fridge) and 2 screws holding the timer in place.

    Thanks to all that helped steer me in the right direction- that's you Mobilian- thanks very much.

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1 Answer

Dan Webster

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  • Jenn-Air Master 8,221 Answers
  • Posted on May 10, 2009
Dan Webster
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That dude is probably stuck in the defrost mode.
OK try this:
1. Unplug refrigerator
2. Turn Cold Control to “off (Compressor is off)
3. Plug in refrigerator
The defrost cycle has now been initiated. The DTT has a bypass/test point for diagnosis. To terminate defrost manually:
1. Unplug the refrigerator
2. Turn the cold control “on” (Compressor is on)
3. Plug in the refrigerator
The defrost cycle is terminated and refrigeration cycle resumes.
Replace the dang adaptive defrost if you cannot get any response.


If you need further help, reach me via phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/dan_73bbd84fe1d95b61

  • Dan Webster
    Dan Webster May 11, 2009

    Ain't no defrost timer on this ice box. I done already scoped it out. It has an adaptive defrost timer. A mexitronic wonder that is mounted next to the cold control. The powers that be wanted to find a nice place for a printed circuit board to be placed so the mounted it in a cold wet nasty enviornment. Might as well have mounted them delicate mexitronics in antartica or greenland.Would have been way better to mount it under the icebox like the old days. LOL.

  • Dan Webster
    Dan Webster May 11, 2009

    An adaptive defrost timer counts the number of times the compressor kicks on and shuts down. It also has another countdown number and that is how many times the door is opened and closed. The designers figured if the door was opened 200 times then it was time to defrost the ice box no matter how many times the compressor ran and shut down. It was a crappy design so they abandoned it for a full fledged computer board mounted in the rear of the ice box. Ridiculas.You can buy an adapter to convert that puppy back to the standard 8 hour 21 minute defrost timer of old if you prefer amigo. Check with your friendly appliance parts store near you.

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