Kitchenaid KBFS22EWMS4 Jazz Board Buttons Not Working

[claydont]

Hello All, First Time Long Time...

Kitchenaid KBFS22EWMS4: The Jazz Board will allow me to lower the refrigerator temperature but no other buttons are responsive. That's the current main problem. Please help me figure it out.

Quick backdrop: Filter replacement light came on about a month or two ago . We didn't change the filter (squeezing every covid-19 crisis penny we have). Then, I randomly tried to up the fridge temp from factory 38 degrees to 39 and the + button didn't respond. I hit the (-) minus button and the temp went down. I tried the + again and still no response. After testing all the other buttons, I ended up hitting the (-) minus button enough to end at 33 degrees, so I stopped and started researching. After a couple of days with no answers I found the steps to service test. I got an "FDH" code = Freezer defrost sensor did not get over 40 degrees in defrost. Then, a couple days later I'm seeing "FD" on the jazz board. Super trouble. Keeps forcing defrost. I juggle unplugging and replugging just to get a few seconds of cooling initiated after replugging, but fridge still eventually goes back to "FD". I saw a video showing unplugging the jazz board and holding the + button for the fridge temp while replugging the jazz board in and it allowed me to increase the temp up to 37 degrees. I unplugged and replugged the fridge. Now, steady 37 degrees, no more "FD", but I know there is still an underlying problem because the jazz board will still only let me decrease temp. Someone(s), please help me with the steps to find out how to diagnose. I appreciate the time anyone has taken to read this post, and will be truly grateful for any helpful responses.

Clay

[16345Ed]

FYI. Jazz boards don’t have temperature displays. Only number settings. 

[precision1971]

Sounds like your control is in forced defrost mode. The tech sheet says how to get into it but not out of it.

[claydont]

Thanks for clarifying. Please insert the name of whatever panel shows temperature displays, I’ll be more than happy to edit original post. What should I call it?

[claydont]

1 hour ago, 16345Ed said:

FYI. Jazz boards don’t have temperature displays. Only number settings. 

Thanks for clarifying. Please insert the name of whatever panel shows temperature displays, I’ll be more than happy to edit original post. What should I call it?

 

[claydont]

1 hour ago, precision1971 said:

Sounds like your control is in forced defrost mode. The tech sheet says how to get into it but not out of it.

Thank you for the reply. The control is no longer in forced defrost mode, it is holding steady at 37 degrees in fridge and 0 degrees in freezer. But all buttons are non-responsive except for the (-) minus refrigerator button. Trying to find original problem.

[precision1971]

13 hours ago, claydont said:

Thank you for the reply. The control is no longer in forced defrost mode, it is holding steady at 37 degrees in fridge and 0 degrees in freezer. But all buttons are non-responsive except for the (-) minus refrigerator button. Trying to find original problem.

Your welcome

Weird...

[claydont]

22 hours ago, precision1971 said:

Your welcome

Weird...

It is definitely weird. I was curious if having the little red light indicating I need to change the water filter illuminated for many weeks may have added just enough uncommon heat to that board to accelerate some oxidation on the board where the green harness connects. Or the added heat produced moisture. I remembered seeing a post from Master Samurai that mentioned cleaning connections with an eraser and testing before jumping to replacing the circuit board. 

Quote

But these serial communications error codes all have one big thing in common:

They are almost NEVER caused by a bad circuit board! Instead, they are exactly as the error code description says: a COMMUNICATIONS error between two boards. In other words, a bad connection.

Oh, I know— you’ll hear some guys swear it was a bad board because they replaced the such-and-such board and it fixed the problem, so it had to be a bad board. But I’m here to show you that in 99.9999% of these cases, the board itself is perfectly functional but the real problem is the CONNECTIONS to the board.

“Uhh, howzzat, Samurai Smart-ass Guy?”

Ahh, Grasshoppah, make still your mind and the Samurai shall reveal the truth unto thee. And the truth shall make you free. Come with me now on a journey of Total Appliance Enlightenment™…

Given that I was able to get the temp "setting" up button to increase from 33 degrees to 37 after unplugging what I think was the harness supplying power to the board and then holding the + button down while replugging the harness (Thanks to youtube video maker of: "Whirlpool Gold Refrigerator Temperature Control Panel Quick Fix"). I've left it alone for a couple of days and the buttons still don't work, and I figured I'd come ask the experts if I should try to pop it all open again and see if there are connections that I can clean at the green harness. I am only assuming that that is the control one, but I am no tech at all, not even an assistant to an assistant to a driver of tech's best friend. I can barely get a meter reading. So I truly appreciate any and all advice. Thanks to you all.

[claydont]

I just opened it back up to try and clean the contact points. I removed what I think is called the jazz board. I didn't see any obvious corrosion or oxidation. I cleaned all the pins at harness connections. Still no dice. I see where the green harness goes behind the panel where the buttons are pressed, but it looks inaccessible. Anyone have suggestions? Thanks for any help or references to other posts.