EI28BS56IS5 Electrolux Fridge warm, freezer not defrosting

[ApplianceFirst]

Model Number

EI28BS56IS5

Brand

Electrolux

Age

6-10 years

So I am working on a refrigerator, the complaint is that the fridge part is warm. Upon, checking it I noticed a few things...

1) freezer backwall seems pretty frozen, doesn't appear to be defrosting (the freezer evap fan IS running normal)
2) the temp readings on dispenser read 0 and 38 (what they are set on) however after working on it with both freezer and fridge open for quite some time (20 minutes maybe), the freezer still says 0, but the fridge was on 40. The fridge was way above 40 when I started anyway.

At first I was thinking defrost heater and bimetal, possibly a damper assembly, but could this be a control issue?

Thanks for any pointers in advance.

 

[Shawnryan111]

You have a defrost problem. It can be the heater the thermostat or the control as you say. You can check the heater and the thermostat easy enough with an ohmeter. The thermostat should be 0 ohms if it is cold. The heater should be something like 20-40 ohms.

I wouldn't worry about the temperature readout right now.

 

[ApplianceFirst]

When you say the bimetal should be 0, you mean open when cold? I should get a closed resistance reading when warm? Would this apply to the Thermistor in the fridge section as well? I think I might want to test that as well...

 

[Shawnryan111]

The defrost bi metal should be closed (at or close to 0 ohms) when it is cold. Open when it is warm.