Refrigerator Defrost System: Replacing Refrigerator Parts-Finishing

Replacing Refrigerator Parts: Finishing

"A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS"

View of Freezer Department--Heater element in red--Plastic connector at the top

Note the position of the wires

After all of the ice melts and you have dried the interior of the freezer with a cloth, inspect the wires and note how they are threaded through the coils. Take a photo if you are not sure or draw a diagram on paper.

TOP of coil

Plastic Harness Connector

To remove the refrigerator defrost heater element assembly, unplug the plastic connector at the top of the coils (near the thermostat) by squeezing the connector lock handles with your index finger and thumb while gently wiggling the connector. Do not pull by holding the wires!

Hold the male plastic connector with one hand and the female plastic connector with the other, then pull. The plastic connector is keyed so that it only goes in and out one way, so you don’t have to worry about the wire position.

See a close-up of the connections at the bottom of this page. Also: see the Testing section for more photos of the connector.

BOTTOM of coil

Coil Clip held with Needle-Nose Pliers

A small metal retainer clip holds the bottom of the refrigerator defrost heater element to the coil. Use needle-nose pliers to grasp the front and pulled the top part towards you. Remember how this is held in place so that you can replace it. The refrigerator defrost heating element should drop down. Slowly unweave the wire from the coil.

To install the new refrigerator defrost heater assembly, reverse the steps that you just did in taking the old one out. Thread the wires through and around the coil and be careful not to cut the black wire insulation on the air fins of the coil. Make sure the connector plug has enough slack to reach the wiring harness and thermostat without stretching. Check to make sure the black wires run through the holes cut in the black insulator/spacer at the top right side of the coil.

Snap the metal retainer (coil) clip, that holds the heater element, to the bottom of the coil. Make sure the defrost heater element is under the coils and will not touch the rear freezer wall or front metal panel when replaced.

Snap the connector plug to the refrigerator wiring harness. Remember, it is keyed and can only go in one way. Snap the thermostat (with clip) on the tubing. Check your work over to see that it is neat and no parts are sticking out.

OKAY--WE'RE ALMOST DONE!

Replace all parts

Replace the panels, shelves and ice maker bucket. Replace the black cardboard rear panel and put the refrigerator plug in the electrical outlet. Check your refrigerator stand alone thermometer. Depending on your settings, the refrigerator temperature should return to normal (37-41º F) in the refrigerator section and 0-10º F in the freezer in a few hours. The EPA recommends keeping refrigerators at 37º F and freezers at 3º F.

I hope this solves your problem!

Additional Photos

Connector to Wiring Harness

This is a close-up of the wiring connection to the wiring harness. Note the position of the wires around the coils and the thermostat on the tubing.

Defrost Heater Wiring and Freezer Thermostat

Note the thermostat to the left. The bottom clip snaps on the tubing.

The Finished Product

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Refrigerator Parts--Defrost System

Heater, Thermostat, Timer/Adaptive Defrost Control

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FINALLY--INSTALLING THE NEW ONE