FIXED KRMF706ESS01 Freezer coils constantly freezing over, all parts test "OK". Other issues as well.

[rgonyer]

Model Number

KRMF706ESS01

Brand

KitchenAid

Age

1-5 years

Good afternoon, thank you for having this awesome forum.

I've been fighting this issue over a year with no luck.

I've got a KRMF706ESS01 that will consistently freeze the freezer evap coils. The first time this happened, we noticed noise in the freezer cabinet. It turned out to be the fan hitting a block of ice. I took it all apart, defrosted it with a portable heater, and all was well for 4 or 5 months. The same thing happened again at this point, so I took it apart and defrosted again, checked the thermistor values, ohmed out the heater, ran all the tests from the control panel, and all seemed good. Put it back together, and you can guess what happened next

Now this is a monthly occurence.

Additionally, the unit will sometimes not make ice, and /or the ice in the bucket will slowly melt.

Also another problem which seems unrelated is that it will occasionally "lock up", in that the lights don't come on when you open the doors, and the control panel is either out or stuck on one display. Also when it does this, you can hear something from the back of the fridge making a "thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk" sound followed by a pause, then it does it again. Usually turning the breaker off for a minute or two and turning it back on will temporarily solve this problem.

As CWALTON mentioned in another thread, I seem to recall having a Of, Sh, and Lo option with test #38, but now I only have Of and Lo. I wish he had returned to see if the control board solved his issue.

I already bought a fan/thermistor kit, which I thought was for the freezer but it turns out I bought the one for the fridge instead. I did not install it since I don't think that's a problem.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

 

[Jake]

Hi,

Follow the steps I mentioned here in post #14, your model is exactly the same to his:

FIXED - KRMF706ESS01 KitchenAid Refrigerator not defrosting along with other strange problems

A few months ago I noticed freezer was not keeping food frozen. Upon inspection, coils were completely iced up. Defrosted everything and worked fine for a week or two before froze up again. Called KitchenAid hoping it would be a warranty repair. After waiting a month for them to come out, they...

www.applianceblog.com

Is the freezer evaporator fan motor running?

I'm attaching your tech. data sheet below, Do Service Test - 77 Defrost Thermistor--->The board will check the resistance value of the thermistor and display (01 = PASS, 02 = OPEN, 03 = SHORT)

For others following this thread--->This video should give you the general idea of how to remove the back panel inside the freezer:

KitchenAid 5 Door Refrigerator Freezer Evaporator Fan Motor Repla | Repair Clinic

This video provides step-by-step repair instructions for replacing the freezer evaporator fan motor on a KitchenAid 5 Door Refrigerator (Model KRMF706ESS01. Learn more from the experts at Repair Clinic.

www.anrdoezrs.net

Here's the FC fan motor assembly for your model below, See the brass looking thermistor bulb with the clip on it in the photo below? That's your defrost thermistor.



On this model the defrost thermistor comes only with the F(freezer)C(compartment) evaporator fan motor assembly. Its in-stock here: W11249952

If the defrost thermistor passes TEST 77, and the inline fuse is good, you will want to ohm test the defrost heater. Remove the two terminal ends to the defrost heater before ohm testing it.

Make sure you unplug your refrigerator first. Here's the video of how to ohm test your defrost heater:

Fridge Not Defrosting? Defrost Heater Testing, Repair | Repair Clinic

Refrigerator not defrosting? Freezing food? This video provides information on how to test a defrost heater on a refrigerator. Learn more from the experts at Repair Clinic.

www.anrdoezrs.net

Here's the freezer evaporator coil defrost heater for your model:
Defrost Heater Assembly WP12729128

If the defrost heater ohms good, then the only part left is the main control board being the culprit to this auto defrost problem.

Here's the main control board for your model:
Refrigerator Control Board WPW10675033


Jake

 

[theking72]

Hi Jake,

I am having the same issue as above. My model number is a little different though. It is a Kitchenaid KRMF706EBS01. Evaporator ices over every month about and I have to manually defrost. Heater checks good as well as Thermistor. Is mine also a control board? Is it the same part number? Thank you.

 

[rgonyer]

Hi Jake,

I am having the same issue as above. My model number is a little different though. It is a Kitchenaid KRMF706EBS01. Evaporator ices over every month about and I have to manually defrost. Heater checks good as well as Thermistor. Is mine also a control board? Is it the same part number? Thank you.

In my case, I put the new main control board in and I have not had any issues since. It's only been about 3 months though. I believe your fridge is the same but in black, so it should be the same part but definitely verify on a page like Appliancepartspros.com​

 

[Jake]

Excellent @rgonyer Glad to hear the new main control board fixed it.

Thanks for the update!

 

[Jake]

Hi Jake,

I am having the same issue as above. My model number is a little different though. It is a Kitchenaid KRMF706EBS01. Evaporator ices over every month about and I have to manually defrost. Heater checks good as well as Thermistor. Is mine also a control board? Is it the same part number? Thank you.

Yes, your model uses the exact same main control board.

Here's the main control board for your model:
Refrigerator Control Board WPW10675033

 

[theking72]

In my case, I put the new main control board in and I have not had any issues since. It's only been about 3 months though. I believe your fridge is the same but in black, so it should be the same part but definitely verify on a page like Appliancepartspros.com​

Excellent. Thank you for the quick response. I will update after replacing the control board.

 

[theking72]

Yes, your model uses the exact same main control board.

Here's the main control board for your model:
Refrigerator Control Board WPW10675033

Thank you for responding so quickly. I will order this board and replace.

 

[theking72]

One quick question. Is this the board on the back of the Fridge?

 

[rgonyer]

One quick question. Is this the board on the back of the Fridge?

Yes it is. Once you get behind it there's a little access panel on the left hand side you can remove and it's very easy to replace.
Keep in mind- I have heard that this does not ALWAYS fix the problem, but it seems like most have success with it.

 

[theking72]

Yes it is. Once you get behind it there's a little access panel on the left hand side you can remove and it's very easy to replace.
Keep in mind- I have heard that this does not ALWAYS fix the problem, but it seems like most have success with it.

Okay great. Well I tried the other suggestions and nothing else worked. This seems to be the final test. Did you defrost it before installing the board?

 

[rgonyer]

Okay great. Well I tried the other suggestions and nothing else worked. This seems to be the final test. Did you defrost it before installing the board?

I actually did a few manual defrosts from the control panel before changing the board rather than tearing the freezer all apart again.

 

[Jake]

Yes, @rgonyer is correct, the board is in the back of the refrigerator.

RepairClinic has a video of it:

https://www.repairclinic.com/PartDetail/Control-Board/WPW10675033/4449160

Yes, defrosting the evaporator coil is very important to do before you replace the board.

 

[theking72]

I actually did a few manual defrosts from the control panel before changing the board rather than tearing the freezer all apart again.

How did you do a manual defrost? Was it test 38? Mine just doesn't do anything when I try that test. or is there another test or combo of buttons to do it with? Thanks for the help.

 

[rgonyer]

Yes, test 38. Once you scroll to 38, it should display OF (for off). If you then press the Temperature button, it will display Sh (for short defrost). At that point it should be in defrost mode, just leave it there and after some period of time the display will return to normal. I did this every day before I left for work for a couple weeks and we haven't had an issue since.

 

[theking72]

Okay I replaced the board last night and so hopefully all stays well. I did the test 38 two times yesterday like you said and when I opened up the evaporator it wasn't super iced up anymore so that was easy to defrost.

So you did the test everyday after you replaced the control board too or you were doing that before hand?

 

[rgonyer]

Okay I replaced the board last night and so hopefully all stays well. I did the test 38 two times yesterday like you said and when I opened up the evaporator it wasn't super iced up anymore so that was easy to defrost.

So you did the test everyday after you replaced the control board too or you were doing that before hand?

I was doing it before hand, and I did it for a few days after but have not done it for the past couple of months.