4 replies to this topic

[Budget Appliance Repair]

Whirlpool top freezer with all electronic controls and thermistor in refrig for refrig temp and a thermistor in the freezer in place of the defrost bi-metal.

 

Mod# WRT579SMYW00

Ser# VS12869002

 

This is the first of these newer style all electronic controls that I've worked on so had no idea of how to put into defrost to try and test the defrost system.  Looked for the tech sheet in the control box area and under front behind kickplate and couldn't find it so went about defrosting and trying to figure out the problem.

 

After defrosting, I find no defrost bi-metal but instead a thermistor which read 970 ohms the first time I checked it just after I had removed all the ice from around it and it basically fell off the suction line.  I reattached it to the suction line, (it was really loose), and took another reading and the resistance was going up - read around 1700 ohms.   After I took it out again and squeezed the mounting clip tighter so that it would hold onto the suction line better, it was reading around 2600 ohms which is where it seemed to hold at, (this is all while warm - forgot to check the thermistor again after defrosting and starting it back up).

 

I have no idea what the specs on the freezer defrost thermistor should be.

 

When I finally found the tech sheet, (they are hiding them in the compressor compartment clipped to the back rail behind compressor cover), and found how to put into diagnostic mode all outputs worked except of course defrost - don't know if the diagnostic mode defrost check requires the thermistor to be cold or not, (heater didn't come on/ zero amps during defrost test/ heater ohms out OK at 36.5 ohms).

 

The tech sheet says that if there are failure codes to be displayed they will show by blinking the LED1-4 lights after step 7.  If multiple failures are detected the major fail is shown. It doesn't show any error code were all four LED's would be flashing at the same time, which is what I get.

 

Hopefully someone can get me a service manual for these, (I requested one in the manual request section), or at least the specs on the thermistors.

 

Some input from others that have worked on this newer style unit would also be greatly appreciated.

 

Attached is this tech sheet: W10414768, (page 2 only, page 1 is over 200kb and page 3 is just the wiring diagram)

Attached Files

•  Tech Sheet - W10414768 pg2.pdf   71.63K   6 downloads

Edited by Budget Appliance Repair, 21 December 2012 - 07:44 AM.

[RegUS_PatOff]

all I could find so far ...

 

Whirlpool Fridge Top Mount WRT579
Parts List & Diagrams
Tech Sheets

http://appliantology...p-mount-wrt579/

[Budget Appliance Repair]

Thanks RegUS, but I have all that info already.   I'm really looking for the service manual that will explain the diagnostic service program in more detail and in specific the specs for the thermistors which is very important info to know but not included on the tech sheet where it is needed.

[Budget Appliance Repair]

OK, one week latter and it has frozen up again, I knew it would since I didn't fix anything and knew it was a defrost problem.

 

Haven't been able to get any help here and did extensive internet searching and couldn't find anything on this unit.

 

Knowing it was a defrost problem and the thing has a thermistor in refrig and freezer I did a resistance check on both thermistors when I arrived this time to get a base point to work with since I have no idea what the specs should be.

 

Refrig section @ 55 and thermistor read around 3500 ohms and went down to 3330 ohms and going lower as the door was open and I was checking.

Freezer @ 15, (most likely a little colder at thermistor behind evaporator panel), and thermistor read 503 ohms.

 

Jumped the defrost heater to assist in defrosting this time and when all finished defrosting took another reading of thermistors, didn't take temp readings, (everything was pretty much room temp at that point).

 

Refrig thermistor now read 437 ohms

Freezer thermistor now read 455 ohms

 

It appears the ohms should raise as the temp goes lower/colder, refrig reading of 3330-3500 ohms at 55 degrees tells me with the freezer thermistor reading 503 ohms the board would definitely think it was already warmed up in freezer and no need to defrost, (I still have no idea if it should go into defrost in the diagnostic mode if the freezer section is already warm or if like in a standard bi-metal controlled defrost termination no defrost even in diagnostics if warm or thermistor is bad).

 

So, I'm going to replace the freezer thermistor and hope for the best.  The main worry I have is the error code that flashes after coming out of step 7 of the diagnostics, (all four LED's 1-4 blink at the same time and there isn't any mention of an error like this or how a combination of errors would read out).

 

With this new info does anyone else have any more input, think I'm on the right track, recognize the temp and ohm readings to match a known chart of temps/ohms for some other thermistor?

 

Some more info that might be of use to find help is the user interface is referenced as "Opal UI" and the control board is referenced as "Hercules3" on the tech sheet.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!!!!

Edited by Budget Appliance Repair, 28 December 2012 - 08:48 AM.

[Budget Appliance Repair]

Here's the part# and a picture of the freezer thermistor if that might help some one recognize it and find a temp/ohm chart.

 

Part# W10383615