FIXED GE side-by-side refrigerator GSS23GSKNCSS not cooling properly

[erdos]

Model Number

GSS23GSKNCSS

Brand

GE

Age

1-5 years

I have a GE side-by-side refrigerator that's not cooling properly. The temp were set to 0/37F for freezer/fridge respectively. but it rose to mid 20/low 40F.

I took out the evaporator coil cover in freezer and observed the evap coil were covered with ice, after doing some reading online, I tested defrost heater, measured resistance varied bet. 37ohms and 53ohms, hmm, easy! So i thought and bought a new defrost heater online to replace it. afterwards it's getting better, after 24 hrs of running, freezer/fridge stabilized to 8F/40F with set temp at 0/37F, it doesn't seem the new heater is running given the evap coils is frosted.

I looked at both thermostat and evaporator fan in the freezer, and thermostat doesn't bulge, one of indicator it's going bad, evaporator fan is spinning with power on. i hesitated to replace the temp sensor and termostat without continuity test since they might be turned out good as defrost heater.

My questions:
1 it is possible to test temp sensor and thermostat without cutting the wires?
2. how to test the main control board for this model? is there a schematic/wiring diagram available online? I couldn't seem to find wiring diagram after opening back control panel and compressor department.

 

[Jake]

1 it is possible to test temp sensor and thermostat without cutting the wires?

Not without the schematics, and I can't locate them for your model online. All machines come with them, look behind your lower bottom kickplate grille or underneath the refrigerator door upper hinge cover for the schematics sheet.

Yes, it does sound like possibly the evaporator thermistor or control board is bad. You can ohm test the evaporator thermistor is a glass of ice water, waiting at least 5 minutes, then it should read about 16.3k ohms.

Here's the evaporator thermistor for your model:
WR55X10025 Temperature Sensor


If you can't find your schematics, then you will need to cut the wires to ohm test the evaporator thermistor, but don't cut the wires too close to the sensor end.

2. how to test the main control board for this model? is there a schematic/wiring diagram available online? I couldn't seem to find wiring diagram after opening back control panel and compressor department.

Same answer as I posted for question 1.

Not without the schematics, and I can't locate them for your model online. All machines come with them, look behind your lower bottom kickplate grille or underneath the refrigerator door upper hinge cover for the schematics sheet.

 

[erdos]

thanks for the reply!

I looked at kickplate grille, it seems to have something underneath, but I'm not sure how to access it since there's no room for me to fetch it from bottom.

I unplugged the fridge, cleaned the condenser. Re plugged in and have the fridge running in the past couple days, temp is stablizing to 2/37F (not bad at all), I also leave a piece of paper under the defrost heater, it doesn't seem to get wet. So I'm not sure the heater is turned on periodically.

here's a picture showing back of freezer side.

 

[Jake]

The evap. coils are starting to get too much frost on them, the defrost heater should have turned on by now, how is it this morning?

 

[erdos]

as of 630pm, coils are still covered with frost, the temp for both freezer and fridge are good at 0/37F.

could this caused by loose connection?
I'll leave the evaporator coils cover off to observe further.

 

[Jake]

could this caused by loose connection?

Possibly yes.

I'll leave the evaporator coils cover off to observe further.

Its better to put it back in place loosely, as its very important for the defrost cycle to work properly with it in place.

 

[bigbuck]

Uses this tech sheet:

 

[Jake]

Thanks bigbuck.

 

[erdos]

Uses this tech sheet:

thank you!

It looks that the heater would be turned on every 96hrs according to the sheet - and i've turned it on since last Thursday. I might need to test evaporator thermistor and heater connection as next step.

 

[Jake]

I might need to test evaporator thermistor and heater connection as next step.

I agree with you on that!

 

[erdos]

just to report back:

I ran the resistance test from connector on the main control board: resistance across defrost heater (new) and evaporator thermostat is 26.4 ohms, resistance for evap thermistor submerging in ice water measured at 13.64k Ohms ( a bit lower than suggested 16.3k since i first held the water cup with my hand for 5 mins, then freed hand to measure resistance). i inspected the main board and there's no visual damage to it. So I put the evaporator cover back and plugged in the fridge, ran a 'defrost state toggle' test from diagnostic mode, all fans immediately turned off and compressor stopped running, I can hear hissing sound coming from defrost heater behind the evaporator cover. After a few hours, temp stabilized at 0/37F.

I'll see whether defrost issue remains.

 

[Jake]

I can hear hissing sound coming from defrost heater behind the evaporator cover.

That indicates the evaporator thermistor and defrost heater are working fine.

 

[erdos]

the frost problem is back for the fridge last weekend.

back panel is covered in thick ice, and temp for freezer and fridge have been rising to 28/43F with set temp 0/37F. I ran the thermistor self test from panel and it pass for all 4 thermistors. Running Toggle frost test, compressor and evap fan were turned off, but I don't observe the heater turn on. not sure I can trust self test for thermistors from front panel. also when I last checked evaporator thermistor with icy water, it seemed ok.

Should i consider replacing the main control board now?

 

[Jake]

Yes, if the evaporator thermistor and defrost heater both ohm test good, then the only part left that controls the defrost cycle is the motherboard.

Here's the motherboard for your model:

GE WR55X40445 Board T Main Sxs Ss (AP7187861) - AppliancePartsPros.com

Board t main sxs ss WR55X40445 / AP7187861 made by GE

click.linksynergy.com

 

[erdos]

I bought a new main control board and installed in the fridge last weekend. it took a day or so for the fridge to reach set temperature 0/37F. I left the freezer back panel cover off in order to observe. frost had been accumulating over 3 days without a sign of defrosting. last night, when I pressed freezer door switch a couple of times to turn off freezer LED light for a better look of the frost pattern, the heater was turned on and melting the frost on the evaporator coil in a span of 22 minutes. Hopefully this means fridge is fixed.

thanks for all the help provided by Jake and bigbuck!

 

[Jake]

Glad to hear that.

Thanks for the update!