ET22DKXAW02 Whirlpool Fridge / Freezer combo is freezing / unfreezing constantly.

[CDMontague]

Serial for this Model is EC2316595

Here's what I got: 

I inherited this fridge from someone else. They did a remodel and were going to chuck it....and I said "Fantastic, thats my garage fridge". And so it has worked perfectly for 1.5 years in that capacity (I'm in VA, climate is very moderate both ways, so I have not seen any of the too cold / too hot climate effects on the garage fridge) until about....lets say 2.5 weeks ago. I don't really have an inflection point, just I noticed it wasn't as cold as before at some point, and then it continued to get warmer and warmer. Had to chuck everything in the freezer and worst of all, my Dogfish Head Ales are simply not up to optimal coldness levels. 

Diagnostics: 

The unit isn't in some stuffy corner. In fact, I wheeled it to the middle of my garage so I could mess with it.
Fans work. I've cleaned them both. 
Coils are clear of crap. 
Lights work, and do not stay on when the doors close.
Gaskets are cleaned and seem to be in good working order. 
Dials in the main fridge to control temp in Freezer / Fridge are dialed to cold. 
The vents at the top of the freezer are not obstructed in any way. There is not too much food in either area - in fact there is very little in either now. 
The drip pan is not full, and is in fact bone dry.

What I've noted:

* About 2.5 weeks ago, on three separate (non-sequential) occasions, I noted water on the floor by the unit. I cleaned it up, and it did not return immediately. It was not colored, or think - I'm fairly certain it was just water, and it was not a lot. Not certain what to make of that. But it does seem to line up timewise. 

* After cleaning the coils on Saturday, I threw a cup of cold water in the freezer. Over the course of a few hours, it froze - progress, I thought. I then threw another in on Sunday. By Monday morning, both cups of water were room temperature. As I write this, the freezer is probably the temperature I'd expect the fridge to be, and the fridge is practically matching the outside temp. 

* The above sort of mirrors what I've been seeing for about two weeks - The unit will be cold for a few days, and then completely thaw out, and then be cold for a day, and then be warm again - to me, these errors in function seem extremely cyclical in nature. 

Thats about what I can think of. I perused basic troubleshooting like most idiots would do, and now I'm out of my depth. Fine AB veterans, I say "HELP!!!" 

Cheers,

Chris

[LearningTech]

Sounds like the cold control, or defrost timer.

 It common for the control to get stuck off, you can usually jar it and it will kick on. Needs to be tested when in a failed state.

or defrost timer not turning back on after going into defrost again needs tested when in failed stat to be sure, more likely Thank you ecold control (https://www.searspartsdirect.com/part-number/1123212/0046/106.html?modelNumber=ET22DKXAW02&categoryName=Top-Mount Refrigerator&brandName=WHIRLPOOL)

[CDMontague]

Thank you for the response - that is interesting. Any thoughts on the best way to proceed here? Which might be the most likely to be dead and therefore my first test?

I mean short of replacing the part, which I assume I could purchase and figure out how to install on the fly. 

[CDMontague]

If this is helpful, here are some shots of the inside of the back of my freezer:

[Lighthouse]

Frost pattern looks good. My first suspect would be the thermostat. Pull the panel down and see if it has black dust under the thermostat. If you can catch it in the failed state tap the thermostat and see if the compressor kicks in. If it does the the thermostat needs to be changed. Could also be a failing start relay on the compressor. 

[Budget Appliance Repair]

My bet would be on the t-stat - with that good of frost pattern the compress seems to be doing it job when it starts up, (very seldom - I've never seen it but had one with a bad start relay when I arrived and customer said they got it working a few times by giving the start relay and compressor a good jolt).

Do as Lighthouse says, wait tell it starts warming up again and gently open the refrig door so as not to jolt the t-stat then give the t-stat panel a good rap with the back of your hand - if the compressor and fans start up then it's a slam dunk that the t-stat is the problem.

[CDMontague]

Thanks for the replies, Sirs Lighthouse and Budget Appliance Repair! 

I'm planning on following your instructions to the letter and will report back. 

Cheers,

Chris

[CDMontague]

I've gone ahead and ordered the correct replacement part (pre-emptively) because I believe you are correct. I will undertake these tests tonight and report back. 

Thanks,

Chris