whirlpool refrig.

[stephenbig]

 I put a new start switch on the compressor.  Now ice on the back of the freezer.  The temp. in the refrig. is at 50 degrees and the freezer is at 8  degrees.  model # is gd5shaxlq02  25 ft  side by side

[AJ]

Hi stephenbig

Sound like you got yourself a defrost problem with your refrigerator.

There is a electronic control board for the defrost system in your refrigerator.

The electronic control board is one of three parts that make up the defrost system on your refrigerator.

The other two parts are the heating element and the defrost thermostat.

The heater and defrost thermostat are located inside the freezer behind the plate on the back wall were you see it frosting up.

They are easy to check with a ohm meter.

The thermostat should check closed (shorted) when it's covered in frost like it is now.
The heater should have some resistance. If it check open with the meter it is bad.

If both the heater and defrost thermostat check ok with a meter then I would go ahead and replaced the defrost control board.

I don't see very many bad heating elements on these.

Lots of times you can see that the defrost thermostat is bad because the back of it will be popped out like the one on the left side of the photo below.

[AJ]

btw: you will have to manual defrost the refrigerator before you run it again with any new parts.

There will be to much ice built up for it to defrost on it's own even after it is repaired.

[stephenbig]

thank you for the help.  I checked the heating element and it read 24 ohms.  while the thermostat was on defrost read out of range.  I can unplug the heating element and the refrig. comes on. I plug the right side only and it blows the breaker. Also where is the mother board for the defrost?

[AJ]

where is the mother board for the defrost?

That is located in the top of the refrigerator section were the freezer and refrigerator controls are.

You can enter your model number in the search box on the left side of our site and get the parts diagram.

[stephenbig]

  Hey AJ,  thanks for the help on the main defrost board.  But you didn't answer my question about the short when the refrig. is plugged in with the white wire on the defrost element plugged on the element.

[AJ]

But you didn't answer my question about the short when the refrig. is plugged in with the white wire on the defrost element plugged on the element.

Did not know what to tell you about that.

I checked the heating element and it read 24 ohms.

The heating element checks ok.

while the thermostat was on defrost read out of range.

Do you mean the thermostat was open when it was cold? If so it is not working.
The temp should be stamped on the side of the defrost thermostat. It should be closed when at that temp.

If not then the heater will not get any voltage to it during the defrost cycle.

Did you look at the defrost board?
Check to see if anything looks burnt up on it. Look at both sides for the board.

I put a new start switch on the compressor.  Now ice on the back of the freezer. 

Did all your troubles happen at once?
Did have a power surge at the house or anything else that would have cause so many problems all at once?

[stephenbig]

  hey AJ
          Here we go.  I went and bought bimetal ther. , a new thermostat, and freezer control board.  Since the defrost element read 23.8  ohms   I plugged in the refrig. and it threw the breaker.  I took a test light and check for a short on the white wire.  It shows no short  I went back and checked the compressor .  Run-start read 10.2   Start-com 7.6   Run-com 3.7    No grounds on the compressor.   HELP!!!

[stephenbig]

  Hey AJ, 
     Here's what i found out while a go.  I had my hand on the front of the refrig. between the doors.  The part that runs from top to bottom that both doors close against .  It was hot. And I do mean hot.  More to the bottom than top.  It started about 3/4th of the way down then got hotter toward the bottom.  What could cause that?  Are there some wires in that area?

[Pegi]

Sounds like hot freon in the yoder loop, see if the condensor fan motor is running by the compressor or if the condensor coil is clogged..

[stephenbig]

  AJ,
     Last night everything ran alright.  As long as the defrost heating element isn't plugged in on the white wire.  It run alright.  The compressor came on and shut off the way it should.  Temp. in the refrig. was 40 degrees and freezer was 4 degrees.  I am taking the heating element out today and the man at Mid-South said he could check it for me.  He said they could read right and still be bad.
                                         thank you very much

[stephenbig]

  how do I take the defrost element out of this refrig.