Whirlpool refrigerator stopped working, repair or replace?
#1
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Whirlpool refrigerator stopped working, repair or replace?
hello
my 13 year old whirlpool refrigerator model# ET1MHKXMT stopped working, the light is on but there has been no motor activity and the temperature is gradually rising. the only odd symptom i had noticed over the last 6-8 months is that on occasion the freezer would rise to about 20-30 degrees-F before eventually cooling down to normal operation
my questions
1) what do you more experienced guys think the issue might be, and is this something i could try fixing myself?
2) is it worth trying to repair a unit thats 13 years old?
thanks in advance for your help.
my 13 year old whirlpool refrigerator model# ET1MHKXMT stopped working, the light is on but there has been no motor activity and the temperature is gradually rising. the only odd symptom i had noticed over the last 6-8 months is that on occasion the freezer would rise to about 20-30 degrees-F before eventually cooling down to normal operation
my questions
1) what do you more experienced guys think the issue might be, and is this something i could try fixing myself?
2) is it worth trying to repair a unit thats 13 years old?
thanks in advance for your help.
#2
If you're happy with your fridge... keep it and fix it. (I would)
Your fridge uses a mechanical thermostat. When you set it colder the fan inside the box, the fan underneath and the compressor should all run. Are any of those running at all ?
Turn the thermostat off and then back on to the coldest setting...... listen closely at the thermostat..... do you hear a faint click ?
If no click... leave thermostat on coldest setting and try carefully tapping on the knob and see if that causes a reaction.
You more than likely have one of two problems.... a bad thermostat or a bad defrost timer and the unit is stuck in defrost.
Your fridge uses a mechanical thermostat. When you set it colder the fan inside the box, the fan underneath and the compressor should all run. Are any of those running at all ?
Turn the thermostat off and then back on to the coldest setting...... listen closely at the thermostat..... do you hear a faint click ?
If no click... leave thermostat on coldest setting and try carefully tapping on the knob and see if that causes a reaction.
You more than likely have one of two problems.... a bad thermostat or a bad defrost timer and the unit is stuck in defrost.
#3
Some additional information.
This is an exploded view of the inside of the fridge. The defrost timer is in the center plastic section right behind the fridge temperature control. The defrost timer has a place on the side of it where you can use a screwdriver to advance it.
The defrost timer is # 4 and the thermostat is # 13.
Parts for Whirlpool ET1MHKXMT00: Liner Parts - Appliance Parts Pros
This is an exploded view of the inside of the fridge. The defrost timer is in the center plastic section right behind the fridge temperature control. The defrost timer has a place on the side of it where you can use a screwdriver to advance it.
The defrost timer is # 4 and the thermostat is # 13.
Parts for Whirlpool ET1MHKXMT00: Liner Parts - Appliance Parts Pros
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thanks PJ prior to reading your post i was researching around on "youtube" and your assessment seems to be spot on
with the refrigerator still in the "non working state" i did the following
1)twisted the thermostat to the highest setting but nothing happened, i did however hear a slight static noise?
2)twisted the defrost timer and sure enough the unit came alive. with the unit working again i advanced/decreased the thermostat and it clicked on and off as you described so presumably the thermostat is good, just wondering though.. should i be concerned about the static noise i heard from the thermostat when turning it in the non working position? should i replace that also even though it appears to be working fine?
btw-i assume a faulty defrost timer might have caused the periods of "freezer temperature" increase i was noticing?
also..
1)is there also a thermostat associated with the defrost timer or is that just one contained part?
2)i am guessing that by advancing the defrost timer screw it simply rotates around and that no settings are being changed correct?
finally
i did nothing so far other than advance the defrost timer switch and the unit appears to be working normally as always, however now i might be imagining things, the unit appears to be running longer and more often (again it might be my imagination)
the defrost cycles aside what percentage of the time on average does a normal refrigerator run?
BTW
the link you provided "appliance parts pros" lists the defrost timer for $20 compared to $42 from repair clinic and $60-$70 from a local supply house.
what a difference, is this your preferred vendor for appliance parts?
thanks
with the refrigerator still in the "non working state" i did the following
1)twisted the thermostat to the highest setting but nothing happened, i did however hear a slight static noise?
2)twisted the defrost timer and sure enough the unit came alive. with the unit working again i advanced/decreased the thermostat and it clicked on and off as you described so presumably the thermostat is good, just wondering though.. should i be concerned about the static noise i heard from the thermostat when turning it in the non working position? should i replace that also even though it appears to be working fine?
btw-i assume a faulty defrost timer might have caused the periods of "freezer temperature" increase i was noticing?
also..
1)is there also a thermostat associated with the defrost timer or is that just one contained part?
2)i am guessing that by advancing the defrost timer screw it simply rotates around and that no settings are being changed correct?
finally
i did nothing so far other than advance the defrost timer switch and the unit appears to be working normally as always, however now i might be imagining things, the unit appears to be running longer and more often (again it might be my imagination)
the defrost cycles aside what percentage of the time on average does a normal refrigerator run?
BTW
the link you provided "appliance parts pros" lists the defrost timer for $20 compared to $42 from repair clinic and $60-$70 from a local supply house.
what a difference, is this your preferred vendor for appliance parts?
thanks
Last edited by diy409; 11-12-15 at 01:25 PM. Reason: addition
#5
The defrost timer is just a timer controlled switch. Every XX hours it turns off the compressor and fans and turns on the defrost heating element. The defrost heating element has a thermostat on it and is located in the freezer. That stat keeps the heating element from melting the freezer plastic parts.
You should be able to hear the timer motor running in the defrost timer. If not... it sounds like the timer went bad and will need to be replaced.
By turning the defrost timer by hand you are just advancing the mechanism manually. The actual defrost time is permanently set by design.
The main thermostat would appear to be ok. Let it run a few days and see what happens.
I have no preferred vendor. I give equal time to the companies here. You can also use the part number and check on amazon.
Most of the online parts companies offer a 365 day warranty/return policy. If you buy the part and it was not the problem..... you can return it. That is sometimes worth a few extra bucks.
You should be able to hear the timer motor running in the defrost timer. If not... it sounds like the timer went bad and will need to be replaced.
By turning the defrost timer by hand you are just advancing the mechanism manually. The actual defrost time is permanently set by design.
The main thermostat would appear to be ok. Let it run a few days and see what happens.
I have no preferred vendor. I give equal time to the companies here. You can also use the part number and check on amazon.
Most of the online parts companies offer a 365 day warranty/return policy. If you buy the part and it was not the problem..... you can return it. That is sometimes worth a few extra bucks.
#6
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thanks for your help pj
i checked around with local supply houses and the part needed to be ordered by them anyway, average cost $60-$70, average cost on line was about $40 or so w/o shipping. i just wanted to get the job done so i bit the bullet and ordered on line and paid the $25 for overnight shipping. no matter how you cut it i see i was going to pay close to $70 anyway so why wait.
ever since i turned the timer screw when the problem first occurred it hasn't shut down again long enough to drop the freezer temperature. i can only suspect the timer was weak or sticky and that would account for the intermittent periods of the freezer dropping to 25-30 degrees over the past 6 months?
i checked around with local supply houses and the part needed to be ordered by them anyway, average cost $60-$70, average cost on line was about $40 or so w/o shipping. i just wanted to get the job done so i bit the bullet and ordered on line and paid the $25 for overnight shipping. no matter how you cut it i see i was going to pay close to $70 anyway so why wait.
ever since i turned the timer screw when the problem first occurred it hasn't shut down again long enough to drop the freezer temperature. i can only suspect the timer was weak or sticky and that would account for the intermittent periods of the freezer dropping to 25-30 degrees over the past 6 months?
#7
The timer has a set of contacts in it that can go bad. Those contacts open and close several times a day. Usually it's the timer motor that goes bad and the timer is left in the defrost position. Just moving the timer around can realign the contacts and it will work normally..... at least for a while.
However.... the thermostat has the same basic contacts in it but they open and close many more times a day.
However.... the thermostat has the same basic contacts in it but they open and close many more times a day.