refrigerator problem

glennster

Well-known Member
ok have an amana side by side fridge freezer. it started having wide temp swings. freezer will be below zero for a few days, then warm up to 30 or so degrees, then half a day later drop back down. fridge side does the same thing. its about 15 years old or so, doesntt seem to have any computers in it. vaccumed and blew out all the dust bunnies. both temp switches are set up to just about maximum. any ideas??? fridge is empty now .
 
unplug and thaw it out. defrost element burned out although I think then it would freeze up and just be warm. sticky defrost timer most likely, does this timer have a manual advance? if so try doing manual defrost cycles for a few days. I was given a refrigerator one time that showed these symptoms and just cleaned and lubbed the dirty timer, used it for 5 years after
 
It will take some close watching, but try to catch it in the act.

When the temp rises, check to see if the compressor is running, condenser fan (if equipped) is running, condenser coils are warm. There is also a transfer fan inside, be sure it is running.
 
leroy, it has 2 temperature control knobs inside the fridge section, one for the freezer and one for the fridge. no other control inside the fridge. where would the defrost timer be? the cooling fan in the back of the fridge runs, and there is a small fan inside the fridge section about waist high that pulls air from the freezer and blows on the shelf door where milk is stored. all the coils and compressor area are clean and dust free.
 
Should be a wiring diagram either in an envelope or glued on the back that should show location of defrost timer.

There are a number of on line sites that will show parts and locations.

Of the two temp controls, one is a temperature control that turns compressor on and off. Other is an air control that controls amount of air flow between the freezer section where cooling takes place and the refrigerator section.
 
I'll bet you dimes and dollars the defrost timer is going bad. It is behind the lower panel under the doors. It will if like most have 4 wires going to it and also a way to work it manually. What happens if the thing freezes up and then the fan cannot move air around so it warms up. So I bet the timer is sticking at times so it warms up and then the timer moves again and it cools off. I have a Frigidaire I have to keep an eye on due to timer problems
 
just got back, check out posts by old, markiz41 and rvirgil ks they covered it pretty well. usual locations for timer is bottom front behind kick panel or on back top or bottom leroy
 
On older models the defroster was underneath, newer models it's inside in the fridge part, not the freezer.

I picked up a defroster timer for my sister's fridge two months ago from sears online for about $40. It took a week to arrive from Chicago, but they had two fridges, one in the kitchen and one in the utility room so they wait.

The same part locally cost $95 including tax and could of had it the next day. They wanted to save money so they could wait.

Very easy to change out if it's in the fridge side.
 
I had one do that once. It turned out there was a temperature sensor which was supposed to be attached to the underside of the top freezer compartment. It came loose and after reattachment it worked fine. Since they are all so different, this might not help.
 

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