Kenmore Coldspot Fridge won't turn off, model M106.86087761

[mm]

Sears Kenmore Coldspot fridge won't turn off, model M106.86087761

I tried to drink some apple cider and noticed it was frozen. :)

20 degrees in the fridge, 20 below zero in the freezer.

I turned off the breaker for 6 hours, and the temp rose a lot, 10 above in the freezer and 35 in the fridge.

Turned on the breaker again and temp going down again, to what it was before.

I assume this is the thermostat and there's nothing to do but replace it.

What I don't understand is why the webpages often refer to the "defrost timer", even when the problem it is discussing is "Fridge won't turn off". Is that another name for thermostat? That doesn't seem right.

[jeff_wisnia]

The defrost timer is a separate unit from the thermostat.

It's function is to periodically )like once a day or so) turn off the refrigeration compressor and turn on an electric heater which melts any frost off the refrigeration coils.

A thermostat on that coil senses when it's no longer at freezing temperatures (i.e. no more ice on it) and restores the normal refrigeration cycle.

If the defrost timer fails, the refrigeration coils frost up so much that the ice on them blocks the air flow and cold air can't be blown ny the fan where it needs to go. Since that means the refrigerator doesn't get cold enough the compressor just keeps running forever trying to make it colder, but to no avail.

Capice?

Jeff

[mm]

Yeah. Thanks. I also see why my problem and that problem get the same description. Won't turn off. But in my case, the fridge is very cold and in the other case, it's not.

I guess I need a new thermostat.

[Ed Pawlowski]

What other case? The freezer and fridge are about the right differential. Try bypassing the defrost timer first and see what happens.

[mm]

The case Jeff described where the defrost timer had failed. He said "If the defrost timer fails, the refrigeration coils frost up so much that the ice on them blocks the air flow and cold air can't be blown by the fan where it needs to go. Since that means the refrigerator doesn't get cold enough the compressor just keeps running forever trying to make it colder, but to no avail."

Okay. Although I had the electricity off for 6 hours and there was no water on the floor from melting ice that was on the coils.

Thanks.

[hrhofmann]

It sounds like the thermostat is stuck with the contacts closed. Try unplugging the unit for 1/2 hour every hour and see if the temps come up but still have the temperature differential. Or, just take the thermostat apart and see if the contacts open or close, or use a multimeter to see if the contacts open or close without taking the actual thermostat apart. Just be careful to remove power first. before measuring.

[mm]

Thanks. I'll do that. This is quite a weekend. The fridge broke on Friday and I found a hole in the furnace on Sunday**. Also last Friday a week ago the computer monitor broke (although in that case, I already had a 2nd-hand replacement.)

**If you're curious, there is a thread about that about 7 threads down. :)