Whirlpool GI5SVAXVL00

[Paulcalif]

My Refrigerator fresh food compartment was too warm and the freezer was not cold enough. The refrigerator never shut off, and there was no water coming out of the door. I could hear the solenoid click when I actuated the water paddle.  I thought either the damper was bad or the thermistor in the fridge. I pulled out the damper and it was closed (I thought I might find it stuck open). I opened and closed the damper/vent a couple of times and it seemed fine but I didn't know how to test it electrically. I pulled out the thermistor and tested it at ambient, and in ice water against the specs. It seemed close but not within specs. I don't have my good meter with me and I don't have a thermometer I trust. But I figured I would replace the thermistor and see what happened.

I replaced the thermistor (after searching for it forever). The fridge shut off, I figured success! Put everything back together. The next morning, I came out to a flooded kitchen floor. The fresh food section and the freezer were both flooded. The coils on the right side were covered in ice where I assume water had overflowed into the freezer compartment from the fresh food section above. I defrosted everything with a hair dryer. I figured that it was probably working correctly since there was no ice close to the heater. I thought that there had probably been a lot of moisture/ice built up in the fridge since it had been so cold and it had melted and flowed into the fridge and freezer compartments. Put it all back together, and this morning I have more water, but not as much as the yesterday. So it might be fixed???

But- I am afraid that maybe the water solenoid is leaking by just a little and there is a crack in the water reservoir. I think I hear a very faint noise when the water is turned on but it stops when I turn it off. It's so faint that I'm not sure.

Here is where you flame me - I have a home warranty that expires TODAY. I wasn't going to renew it because it's $610 and there is a $75 copay with each repair. I haven't used it in 2 years. I have turned in a claim but I can still cancel it if I get it fixed before they send someone out.

Thanks in advance for any and all advice. 

Paul

[Paulcalif]

I forgot to mention that the water in the door started working the next morning after the temperature had come back down.

Update: I have a stethoscope. Put that on the back of the fridge and heard a drip drip drip. Turned the water of under the sink and released the pressure, and the drip stops. I haven't torn into the back yet but I assumed that the solenoid was before the reservoir, is that correct? If it is, then it appears that I have two more problems. The Solenoid is leaking by and there is a leak inside somewhere. 

I think the thermistor was bad and it caused the fridge to get too cold. The reservoir froze, expanded, and cracked (or the tubing). Maybe the water in the tubing froze into the solenoid and damaged it too??? I know that's a stretch. 

Anyway - if it was someone else's fridge, it would be a fun puzzle - but it's not!

[16345Ed]

Part number: WP12956202

Part number: 67006322

 

[AccApp]

Your water leak issue is secondary to your main problem, not cooling properly. From your description it may be a defrost system issue. I’d keep the water and ice shut off until you solve the not cooling issue. 

[16345Ed]

38 minutes ago, AccApp said:

Your water leak issue is secondary to your main problem, not cooling properly. From your description it may be a defrost system issue. I’d keep the water and ice shut off until you solve the not cooling issue. 

I may have misunderstood...

i thought it was warm, he replaced thermistor and it started cooling again, but then the water leaked and froze. 

 

 

[AccApp]

The not shutting off thing is what I found most troubling in his post. If the thermistor was faulty it would stop running and still be warm.