I have a side by side GE/Hotpoint model # HSS22IFMCWW.

Sunday I noticed that the frig side was getting warm, up 55-60 degress.
I serched this site and got some answers. (thanks) I had frost build up on the freezer side back wall. Seemed like the classic defrost timer problem.
I called the local repair guy, he pulled the panel off on the back of the wall of the freezer and told me that the coils were all iced up and he has replaced this "module" a lot. I asked him to explain what he called a "module" He said there is a switch that kicks on and off every few hours that turns on the heating coil to keep the frost build up down on the cooling coil so air could flow to the frig, side of the box. He said it was pretty expensive that the part installed was $118.00! . Now i was leary but I needed the refer fixed. When I called up for the service call I was told it was a $54.00 charge labor for the 1st hr. and parts. So I was leary as to why this part installed was $118.00 plus the $54.00. After he left I got to reserching on the net and the most expensive defrost timer / defrost thermo. was $24.00 bucks!

I got on the phone with the repair guy and tried to get him to tell me what the part number was ect. of the part he replaced. He was really giving me the double talk, i told him i understand your in bussines to make a living but i didnt want to get screwed. He said it was a "module" I told him that he told me it was the switch that cycled on the heating coil to make the heater come on to defrost the cooling coils. He said yes, I said that is a defrost timer and they only Cost $24 bucks. He told me he would have to call me back etc...and never did. Needless to say i stopped payment and re-wrote a check for the service call and the $24.00 bucks. My question is am I right, isn't this guy ripping me off?

I don't see any defrost timers etc. for my unit that cost $118.00

Any help would be apprecited.
thanks!!

Hi,

Except your refrigerator doesn't have a defrost timer....it has an electronic mother board for running and defrosts....

Main control board - $94.65

Unknown to us what part(s) he replaced. Didn't he quote you a price before the repair? Did you ok the price?

jeff.

__________________
http://www.applianceaid.com/
Appliance Repair Aid
http://www.jrappliance.ca
JRAppliance

That main control board was not what he replaced, It must have been the defrost thermostat. Cost. $6.95-$17.95. The unit does have a defrost thermostat correct?

I understand your plight here, the only thing that I can see here on your behalf is that he couldn't give you the part #. But to this you had already agreed to the repair cost which is a verbal contract and endorsed by a check that you signed.

Some service calls are more expensive than others.

Lesson to be learned here is always ask for the bad part being replaced and call around for the most reasonable service rate you can find.

Good luck

Yupper, the unit will have defrost heater(s), defrost thermostat and defrost thermistor.

I tend to agree.

All service places should leave the old part behind...it is useless to me unless the part is an exchange part ( rebuilt transmission, rebuilt timer, etc ).

jeff.

__________________
http://www.applianceaid.com/
Appliance Repair Aid
http://www.jrappliance.ca
JRAppliance

the main issue I would like to know is a theromstat, timer etc. could never cost $118.00 for the part? This is where I have been ripped off, regardless if I signed a check this is morally wrong and bad business. I wrote the guy a new check for the service call and the part as listed on the GE website. Is this not fair? I can't see why the guy would have issues since he knows he tried to screw me over. I dont think he is going to take me to small claims for an issue under $200.00 and knowing how he tried to gouge me.

Hey bud,

The service call at 54 bucks and a mother board at 118 sounds right.

More commonly, the defrost heater wr51x10053 is the culprit on these models. When I was an independent servicer, I would charge about 50 to diagnosis/trip fee, 40 for the heater and about 50 for the hour I was there defrosting the unit.

The thermostats in this model are set to trip at such a high temperature that I've honestly never ever seen one fail. If I'm not mistaken, the rating on them is like 140 F which is outlandish for a def. thermostat.

I can understand your frustration, but I think all the techs on this board will agree that while it happens from time to time, most service people are reliable and honest. They have to be because word of mouth travels faster than anything. I've never honestly not given out a receipt listing all my parts used for the service call. Best advice, don't use him again and talk to friends, family, and neighbors to find out who they like. All the techs here on this board do this on their free time just trying to help ya'll out, while still working this for our day job.

My mom thought a service man stole her $300 kitchenaid mixer and found it six months later. At the time it happened though, I literally swore on my left leg that I find it almost impossible to believe a service person would swipe anything...and I was right.

Maybe the guy replaced the heater. It is a time consuming job. While 172 bucks seems high for this area of the country, especially for an independent, it's well within reason for corporate servicers such as sears, maytag, GE and A & E. In the future, go to your appliance manufacturers site to search for the servicers they recommend in your area. There's a good reason they recommend them to their customers....trust

All service places should leave the old part behind...it is useless to me unless the part is an exchange part ( rebuilt transmission, rebuilt timer, etc ).

jeff.[/quote]


I always ask if they'd like me to take it for them. Unless the box is big...lol