FIXED KitchenAid KBFS22ECMS00 Freezer not defrosting

[EchoBase]

Model Number

KBFS22ECMS00

Brand

KitchenAid

Age

6-10 years

My French door KitchenAid refrigerator does not defrost on its own. The fridge is from 2014 and I bought the house with the fridge a year ago. I didn’t have any issues for the first few months, but then the back of the freezer started frosting up. The frost and ice blocked the vents and caused the fridge to warm up inside and the freezer to cool even more. I defrosted it with a heat gun but eventually it frosted over again.
I called in a local repairman and he took off the panel in the back of the freezer, defrosted everything and determined the main control board needed replacing. The repair seemed to fix the issue for a few months but then it started freezing over again.
I brought the same repairman back and he determined the defrost thermostat needed replacing, and if that didn’t work then the main control board would need replacing again.
Replacing the defrost thermostat is within my abilities so I ordered the part and replaced it.
I also tested the defrost heater resistance and it was 30 ohms. The evaporator fan appeared to be working normally. Within a few weeks of replacing the defrost thermostat the frost came back.
I have tried running the long and short forced defrost but I couldn’t see any evidence of ice melting. I can hear relays engaging and fans turning on when the forced defrost starts, but it stops as soon as the fridge door is closed (or door switch pressed). Does the fridge door need to remain open for the forced defrost cycle?
I have tried running through some tests in the Service Test Mode, but I’m not exactly sure what I should be looking for.
Before ordering another $350 replacement main control board for the second time in less than a year, are there any other tests I should be doing?
Thanks,
Mike

 

[Jake]

Hi Mike, that tells us the defrost thermostat and defrost heater are ohm testing fine, so the only other part in the defrost circuit that would cause this problem is the control board that is the culprit, because its not telling the defrost thermostat and defrost heater to turn on to defrost.

Check with that tech about the control board he replaced and see if it has a warranty on it from where he got it from.

All parts from AppliancePartsPros and RepairClinic Always has a 365 day warranty on ALL parts.

Here's the control board for your model:
WPW10317076 Main Control Board


RepairClinic ships to Canada: https://www.repairclinic.com/PartDetail/Control-Board/WPW10317076/1876651

Does the fridge door need to remain open for the forced defrost cycle?

No, it should be closed.

Forced Defrost Mode:
The forced defrost function is performed using the Freezer display and Refrigerator keypad. Enter the Forced Defrost Mode by performing the following sequence of events:
1. Press and hold the Door Alarm Keypad .
2. Press and hold Refrigerator Temperature DOWN /- Keypad.
3. Release the Door Alarm Keypad and wait 3 seconds. Fd appears in Freezer display.
4. Press the Refrigerator Temperature DOWN /- Keypad again. Sh appears in right display.
5. Press again to force defrost Fd and Sh will flash in display indicating unit is in defrost.

Service Test Mode:
The service test functions are performed using the refrigerator display and keypad. Enter the Service Test Mode by performing the following sequence
of events:
1. Press and hold the Door Alarm Keypad.
2. Press and hold Refrigerator Temperature UP / + Keypad.
3. Release the Door Alarm Keypad and wait 3 seconds.
4. The Freezer display will display SE confirming entry in the Service Mode.
5. Press the Refrigerator Temperature UP /+ Keypad again to confirm entry in the Service Mode.
6. Display will show 101 in left display and numeric or dashes in right display.
7. Press Freezer Refrigerator Temperature UP / + Keypad and Freezer DOWN /- Keypad to toggle through Service Test numbers.
8. To exit service test mode, open and close refrigerator door or hold door alarm for 3 seconds.
Service Test - 101 Defrost Heater & Defrost Circuit
--->Press the Refrigerator Temperature UP /+ keypad and Refrigerator DOWN /- keypad to energize or de-energize the Defrost circuit. The display will read OFF when de-energized, OP when energized with open defrost thermostat and CL when energized with closed defrost thermostat.

 

[EchoBase]

Hi Jake. Thanks for all the information!
I haven't got a hold of the tech yet, but I do know that the control board he replaced was the temperature control board inside the fridge with the temp displays (WPW10428901) and the other control board you mentioned (WPW10317076) was not replaced. I will order the board you mentioned.
I tried Service Test - 101 Defrost Heater & Defrost Circuit again and the display read OP when energized. The freezer is currently frosted up, so I can't say for certain if the defrost thermostat is reading correctly. I tested the original defrost thermostat (removed from the fridge) with a DMM and it opened and closed at the correct temperatures. I will try manually defrosting the freezer and run the service test again.

 

[Jake]

the other control board you mentioned (WPW10317076) was not replaced. I will order the board you mentioned.

Ok good, because that's the board that controls the defrost cycle.

I tested the original defrost thermostat (removed from the fridge) with a DMM and it opened and closed at the correct temperatures.

Yes, that means its good.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[EchoBase]

Happy New Year!
I received the new control board and got it installed in the back of the fridge. I ran a forced defrost and started to hear some ice cracking right away in the back of the freezer.
It has been a few days with the new control board and so far the frost has disappeared around the freezer vents and has not returned. I can still see some ice through the vents, so I'm thinking I might need to take the panel off to manually melt the ice around the evaporator.
I wasn't able to see any visual indication of burnt out components or failed parts on the old control board, so I'm not certain what went wrong. At least my fridge seems to be back in working order!
Thanks for all of your help!

 

[Jake]

Happy New Year!

That's great news.

Thanks for the update!

I can still see some ice through the vents, so I'm thinking I might need to take the panel off to manually melt the ice around the evaporator.

Yes, its best to defrost the entire evaporator coil first whenever a new defrost circuit part gets replaced.