Frigidaire upright fridge Mod# MRT12CRFW-1 not defrosting

[appliance_grasshopper]

Dear guru and students

Even when I manually turn on the defrost cycle the defrost element never gets enough power/voltage as the defrost thermocouple seems to be stuck in the open postion, even when I put the thermocouple in a cup of ice water. Do I have a bum thermocouple or do I just thave to wait for the freezer to get really cold.

Humbled Grasshopper

[RegUS_PatOff]

[user=26573]appliance_grasshopper[/user] wrote:

... Do I have a bum thermocouple ...

yes, or you could bypass it for testing ..

[appl.tech.29501]

Yep, bypass to test at Regs, suggested...ice water ain't cold enough....or just wait till the freezer gets to 0 degrees and put into defrost ...do an amp. Test on the heater wire.....should draw amps immediately.

[appliance_grasshopper]

Grasshoppers and Masters,

I found a thermocouple that closes at 40F and opens at 60F my old one close at 20F and opens at 60F. However, I discovered looking at the evaporator coils that it looks like the refrigerant has leaked out. Does anyone know what type of refrigerant this model uses and should I try and patch the leak and/or charge up/top up the coolant or is this something I shouldn't bother with and just get a new unit.

The "Grasshopper"

[appl.tech.29501]

do not attemp to repair this unit unless you are certified and qualified....needs to be done by professional, but not worth it, your looking at $400-$600 for repair

and no, that defrost thermostat wouldnt work

[RegUS_PatOff]

[user=26573]appliance_grasshopper[/user] wrote:

... looking at the evaporator coils that it looks like the refrigerant has leaked out..

picture ?