Hi folks, got to say this forum is worth the Premuim Membership. Like other repair forums, it has saved money by being able to find the cause and do it myself. So my word of appreciation to Jake and the others.
Here's the problem.
-Kenmore/Whirlpool Refrig. Model 106.505909003 model year 2001 (been repared twice before, once for the difusser, if I remember correctly)
-FF side is not cooling running around 40-50F
-Air diffuser is not blowing air into FF side
-Freezer stable at 10-12 F
-Had serious ice up on freezer coils
-Occasional Clicking noise around the temperature controls/ice maker indicator on FF side, (at least it seemed to come from there.)

Done/Tried/Checked:
-Cleaned condensor coils
-checked condensor/fan (seems good)
-Defrosted freezer coils
-Freezer coils seem to have normal frost, not severe as of now
-got dried ice in FF side to keep foods cold

Possible fix:
Air difusser
Defrost Themostat/Timer
Start Relay
Evaporator Fan/motor
Other?
I'm leaning towards air difusser as the main problem, but am concerned the start relay or evapator fan maybe the problem, so that's why I"m posting.
Am I on the right track?

a couple of other things, I cannot find the owners manuel for this model on line. We have the paperwork somewhere, but am finding more information this way right now. Whirlpool doesn't recognize this model and Sears.com is worthless for finding the model and on line manuels and so on.
Help is appreciated.
Again, great forum that really helps.

Hi,

Please double check your model#.

Yes, it sounds like your air diffuser is bad, get a pencil or pen and put it in the air diffuser to see if the vents inside open and start blowing air out.

Jake

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Sorry, Jake. The model # is:106.50593003, threw an extra 93 in there by accident.
Here's what happened yesterday(Monday)
Freezer started warming up a bit in the evening, around 26-30F Could have been from the kids getting ice cream, etc.
Of course no cool air in FF side

did this today (Tuesday)
- unplugged unit
-Took out everything to get to freezer coils
-defrosted the coils with hair dryer
-Checked the difusser for ice blockage
-checked difusser from refrig side

Found this situation
-Fan freezer working fine
- no ice blockage to difusser
- frost/ice on coils not too bad for couple of days of running, could be wrong, there was some ice more than frost on the bottom of coils.
- frost on front of freezer panel in line with the freezer coils, (warning sign?)
-right side plug of difusser unplugged, plugged it back in

After defrost and replacing everything, here what has been happening
* 5 F in freezer at 4:30 pm
* no air through difusser, after plugging in second plug, a little bit of air, but no real strong blowing of air into refrig
* 20 F at the difusser vents at 4:30 pm

Possible solution:
Air difusser (pretty certain of at least this)
Defrost thermometer
Defrost control board

Am I right in being concerned about the frost on the front of the back freezer panel in line with the coils?

Lastly, what combination of model numbers work on Whirlpool.com to find the manuals? Get this when I type in the correct model #: Owners Manuals (0)
Jake, I appreciate the comment, hopefully it is only the air difusser, or is the frost a sign of something else?
Again, great forum, learn a lot from these types of forums in how to save money.

Here's the owners manual for your model:
http://www.managemyhome.com/mmh/lis_...M/L0707423.pdf

Yes, but when you looked at the evaporator coils, did ALL of the coils have a thin layer of frost on them?

Did you put something in the air diffuser vents and had them wide open and still hardly any air was coming out?

Take your middle shelf out of your refrigerator section, then on the left side wall you should see a vent, pop that vent off and check for ice blockage, thats the return air vent, and I've seen them plug with ice and cause this situation as well.

Here's the air diffuser for your model:
Air diffuser assembly
2209751

Jake

__________________
Appliance Repair School 1987-1988
Star Appliance Tech. 2 yrs. 1988-1990
Wards Appliance Tech. 11 yrs. 1990-2001
Sears Appliance Tech. 4 yrs. 2001-Oct. 2005
Jake's Appliance Repair Nov. 2005-present

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Hi, the SXS is still not working properly. Been watching and figuring options for the last month. The SXS still ice ups in the freezer section coils mostly on the botom area about every 6-8 days.
Melt the ice and the SS frig cools to low 30's F, freezer goes to 0 F or lower until ice returns.
Air flow seems good enough in the frig to bring the temps to 30's F. Might have been wrong on orginal thoughts of getting enough air flow even though it is never a blast of cold air.
I am still getting a 1-2 second clicking noise in the front frig area up top by the door every at regular time periods.
Did find the defrost element (cylinderical part just below the fan) was lose on top. Could take off the top part of the cylinder.
After 6-7 days the frig air flow stops, while freezer fan still blows in freezer like normal.
I am a bit confused, thinking it's the defrost element, but the clicking sounds has me worried as well.
Advice? Frost build up is even on the coils in the freezer. Just heavy ice on the bottom of coils.
One other thing,
after one defrost episode, we now have an ice maker that does not dispense ice. Makes plenty of ice, water dispensor works fine, lights work, but no auger movement, no motor noise at all to make the ice come down the shute.
Suggestions on this and the first problem?

Hi,

I'm not quite sure whats causing the first problem, but the 2nd issue with the ice dispenser, There's a test you can run to check for voltage at your dispenser motor thats located inside the freezer door starting on Page# 5-11 here:
www.applianceblog.com/manuals/in-door_ice4322658A.pdf

Jake

__________________
Appliance Repair School 1987-1988
Star Appliance Tech. 2 yrs. 1988-1990
Wards Appliance Tech. 11 yrs. 1990-2001
Sears Appliance Tech. 4 yrs. 2001-Oct. 2005
Jake's Appliance Repair Nov. 2005-present

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Actually now that I'm thinking about the first problem again, that clicking sound is likely your relay on your adaptive defrost control board thats going bad.

Here's the one for your model:
Manufacturer's Number: 4388932



Jake

__________________
Appliance Repair School 1987-1988
Star Appliance Tech. 2 yrs. 1988-1990
Wards Appliance Tech. 11 yrs. 1990-2001
Sears Appliance Tech. 4 yrs. 2001-Oct. 2005
Jake's Appliance Repair Nov. 2005-present

If you need more repair advice help on your appliance, click Here

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Jake, sorry dragging this out but I'm not home as much as I'd like right now so when I get home I try to do as much as I can and I'm under orders to get this cooling/freeze up issue taken care of now. LOL
(Also, logged on this morning, wrote a reply like below, tried to post it, and was told I was logged off. That has happened three times over the last months. Is there a time limit on how long you have to write a response?)
Got two concerns and want to clarify the sound I'm hearing.


The sound I'm hearing up in the front top refrig section is a two part sound, sounds like something is trying to start up but can't. It is more like a switch sound than a click, in that it sounds like the old clicker toys. Lights dim briefly when the switching sounds are going on. It happens every 4-6 hours I'm guessing. It just happened now and after the double switch sound stopped, the compressor comes on just fine and freezer and refig cools down perfect until the ice build up happens on the bottom coils. The rest of the coils are fine, frost but no ice.


Concerns
1. I got the control board from Appliance Part Pro's, and tried to replace the control board. It is located in the top front of the refrig, correct? Where the switching on-off sound is coming from?
I removed all screws that I could see, but the white panel does not want to come off the frame of the refrig.
Suggestions on what to do about this, is there snap connectors as well? I am afraid of breaking the panel cover. Suggestions would be appreciated on what to do to remove the panel.

2. The defrost thermostat in the freezer, a cylindrical part (black on top and metallic on bottom) seems to be broken. The black top piece can be easily removed from the bottom part. It looks like it was epoxied together and I can take the top piece off where the wires are located. I can see the contacts on the top part and the bottom part. This definitely looks broken to me, am I right about this?
Could this be the problem? Thermostat not working would not allow for a defrost, and not allow the control board to work or am I off base off here?

Again, I'm sorry about dragging this post out, but I got few days at home and want to knock this out this weekend.
Just need to know how to take the panel off for the control board without breaking it and if the thermostat is broken as I am able to take it apart top and bottom.

When you login do you check the "remember me" checkbox next to the login box?

Always make sure its checked to stay logged-in.


#25 trim just un-snaps
http://content.searspartsdirect.com/lis_png/PLDM/P0105064-00010.png
don't worry you won't break it. Get a flathead screwdriver and just pry at a corner then it all will un-snap, and the screws are underneath it.

Then remove the #3 screws.

Ill post the answer to the 2nd concern in abit.

Jake

__________________
Appliance Repair School 1987-1988
Star Appliance Tech. 2 yrs. 1988-1990
Wards Appliance Tech. 11 yrs. 1990-2001
Sears Appliance Tech. 4 yrs. 2001-Oct. 2005
Jake's Appliance Repair Nov. 2005-present

If you need more repair advice help on your appliance, click Here

Look-Up & Order Parts

Shop Home Appliances

Yes, it sounds like your defrost thermostat is broken, that would cause it not to auto-defrost.

Here's the defrost thermostat for your model you can order:
Manufacturer part#2321799 is RepairClinic item#1399517
2321799

Jake

__________________
Appliance Repair School 1987-1988
Star Appliance Tech. 2 yrs. 1988-1990
Wards Appliance Tech. 11 yrs. 1990-2001
Sears Appliance Tech. 4 yrs. 2001-Oct. 2005
Jake's Appliance Repair Nov. 2005-present

If you need more repair advice help on your appliance, click Here

Look-Up & Order Parts

Shop Home Appliances