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Why does my Fridge stop cooling and warms up in a recurring cycle?

WHIRLPOOL GI7FVCXWY01: Refrigerator stops cooling and warms up in a recurring several day cycle (no Fridge fan when warm). Freezer is working fine. , so I think the compressor is ok. Cycle is something like this: Fridge works fine for 3-6 days, then spends a day or two in a dormant warming period. The icemaker is located in the Fridge compartment, so it stops making ice when in the dormant/warming cycle. This cycle has repeated several times at this point. Have replaced Fridge Blower/fan and circuit board but problem continues. The unit has a separate fan/blower in freezer and fridge and both seem to be working. Thank you for any ideas/insight you might share!

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Hi @tdobb ,

Is it only the fridge compartment that gets warm or does the freezer compartment warm up also in the ‘dormant period”?

Is the compressor running in the “dormant period”?

If both compartments warm up and the compressor is not running it seems as though there may be an intermittent problem with the defrost thermostat, part#14 - unit parts diagram.

This thermostat essentially times or controls the duration of the defrost cycle.

The defrost cycle occurs approximately once every 10 hours and takes about 20 minutes to complete. i.e. every ~10 hours the control board turns off the compressor and evaporator fan and turns on the defrost heater to melt any accumulated ice from the evaporator unit.

The defrost cycle is ended when the temperature in the freezer has risen to the defrost thermostat’s preset release temperature. It releases and this signals the control board to turn the heater off and turn the compressor and evaporator fan on again to drive the temperatures in both compartments back down to their set operating temperatures. When the temperature in the freezer compartment drops back to the defrost thermostat’s preset operating temperature, it re-operates in preparation for the next defrost cycle.

It may be that the defrost thermostat is intermittently not releasing to end the defrost cycle so the compressor and evaporator fan will not be restarted and the temperatures go up.

Here’s a video that shows how to test the bi-metal defrost thermostat

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3 Comments:

Thanks so much Jayeff! I follow your logic and will use your input to troubleshoot further. Take care and thanks again, Tom

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Mine does that but the compressor keeps running

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@bradwilson55498

What is the model number of the refrigerator?

Are both the refrigerator and freezer compartments warming up or only the refrigerator compartment?

Can you hear if the evaporator fan located inside the freezer compartment is running when the compressor is running?

It will run as long as the compressor is also running, however it should stop if you open a door (either door) and start again when the door is closed.

If you can't hear it there may be a defrost problem

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tdobb will be eternally grateful.
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