Amana Freezer won't defrost

[pyrobob]

I have an Amana top mount refrigerator with the freezer on the bottom . It won't do an automatic defrost. I have checked the heater coil and defrost thermostat and both seem to be working just fine. I have tracked the problem to one of two boards (I think) Either the low voltage or the high voltage pc board. I don't want to just replace them both as they are a little over $100 each. Also I haven't had any luck with the online repair diagnostics (for a fee) Anyone have experience with this? Model #B136CAL1.

Thanks

Bob

[Dan]

Bob-I've had a couple of refrigerators over the years (including my present amana) with defrost problems. In both cases it was the defrost timer, an electric clock switch that turns the defrost on & off. On these, you can check this by manually advancing the timer until it goes into defrost. On my ~8 year old Amana, the timer can be advanced at a recessed screwdriver-slotted red knob on the ceiling of the frig portion just behind the panel with the temp controls. If yours has this, advance the knob & see if the defrost turns on (you can tell because the switch clicks & if the compressor is running at the time, it shuts off). Easy & cheap to replace, if that's the problem. Also if the thing's iced up you can defrost it a couple times this way & get air moving again until you can replace the part.

Dan

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[pyrobob]

Dan Thanks for the reply. My model does not have controls inside, they are on a separate panel above the door. As far as I can tell, there is no defrost timer or adaptive defrost control on this particular model. Defrost apparently is controlled by one of two pc boards in the works on top of the frig. My method now is the "Bob-defrost" I take the freezer panel off and shovel out the ice and use a hair dryer about once a month or whenever the freezer alarm goes off.

Thanks

Bob

[Dan]

Bob-Sounds like they replaced the mechanical timer with a timer circuit then. Obviously MUCH less TROUBLE PRONE ;-) I wonder if instead of shoveling out the ice, you could periodically energize the heating element with an externally positioned switch? If you wanted to be really ambitious, you might even rig up your own timer, once you determine how often & for how long defrost needs to occur. Might also try posting on sci.electronics.repair, I know there are some appliance types on there.

Dan

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