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Spivkurl
Electroacoustic inventor



Registered: 08/26/17
Posts: 945
Loc: Minnesota, the next state...
Last seen: 3 years, 7 months
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Replaced five parts in kenmore fridge, still frosting up
#24821329 - 12/02/17 01:35 PM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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I've found the Shroomery people to be highly intelligent and self sufficient, so I thought I'd ask here before replacing duplicate parts in my refrigerator.
Recently I've been having issues with my Kenmore Model 253.64532600 refrigerator. It doesn't defrost, and the freezer fills with frost near the coils. This causes the fridge portion to not cool, since it is only a baffle that directs cold air from the freezer to the refrigerator.
I replaced the fan motor, temp control, defrost timer, defrost thermostat, and defrost heater from parts on ebay. The only suspect is the defrost heater, but it shows below 50 ohm continuity (41 ohm). It had tape to seal tears in the bag.
It ran for three weeks, colder than ever, and now frost is building up like before in about three weeks.
Seems like I got one of the many used defrost heaters for this model, but it's hard to be sure.
Does anyone have experience with this sort of repair. I though this multiple replacement would have sorted everything, but the problem still happens. It seems like the defrost heater is commonly sold as used, but the ebay auction listed it as "brand new."
I have some knowledge of electrical and electronic work, but this is not testing as expected. I have installed new multi-floor wiring, breakers and outlets, as well as building mains powered electronic musical instruments... yet this is baffling me.
Any help would be much appreciated. It seems like the heater should be OK. The defrost timer passes the test of turning clockwise to enable the defrost cycle. Yet the fridge runs almost constantly, the frost builds up, blocks the baffle, and the temperature rises day by day.
Thanks in advance!
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   *ALL POSTS CREATED BY THIS USER ARE FICTIONAL IN NATURE, AND ARE THE PRODUCT OF LUCID DREAMING. THEY ARE NOT TO BE TAKEN AS REAL OR TRUE.
Edited by Spivkurl (12/02/17 01:39 PM)
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Grey Fox

Registered: 01/22/15
Posts: 2,652
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Re: Replaced five parts in kenmore fridge, still frosting up [Re: Spivkurl] 1
#24843931 - 12/13/17 01:28 PM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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I had similar issues with a Frigidaire side by side that was frosting up on the freezer coil while the fridge side couldn't keep cold.
Turned out that the compressor was low on coolant. An appliance repair guy told me it would cost $600 for him to trace the leak and recharge the coolant. I ended up fixing it myself for about $30.
If you go to an appliance parts store you can purchase a piercing valve for the compressor line. At Napa you can purchase refrigerant, the gauge and line for the refrigerant, and an adapter to go from the refrigerant gauge to the piercing valve. Then you can recharge the compressor yourself.
I did that repair almost a year ago and the fridge is still working great. Best luck!
-------------------- IT WAS ALL A DREAM
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Spivkurl
Electroacoustic inventor



Registered: 08/26/17
Posts: 945
Loc: Minnesota, the next state...
Last seen: 3 years, 7 months
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Re: Replaced five parts in kenmore fridge, still frosting up [Re: Grey Fox]
#24844097 - 12/13/17 02:52 PM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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Grey Fox, thank you for your response!
It is interesting to read about your experience. This was a pretty cheap fridge, so I could totally see them cutting corners on the amount of refrigerant it was charged with initially. One of the problems is that we do not seem to have a serious appliance parts store, but I'm sure I can find the piercing valve online somewhere.
I moved the food to our other fridge, and defrosted again after writing this message. Mostly to buy us some time. At this point, it is still cool enough (37-38F or so) in the fridge portion, however the frost is building up again on the coils.
Does the piercing valve then stay in the line, allowing later use, or is it necessary to seal up the line after the recharge? If you have any links to a walkthrough or tutorial for this repair, please let me know.
600$ is half of my disability income for the month, so learning to do it myself will be far better. I will definitely look into this sort of repair, and see what I can learn! It's much appreciated!
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Grey Fox

Registered: 01/22/15
Posts: 2,652
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Re: Replaced five parts in kenmore fridge, still frosting up [Re: Spivkurl]
#24844186 - 12/13/17 03:40 PM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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Google "recharge coolant refrigerator" and videos will come up on YouTube. Peircing valve is a few dollars and it remains mounted on the line once you install it (otherwise all the coolant would leak out again). Refrigerators are made so cheaply now. Many of them are manufactured borderline undercharged but you don't notice it until the compressor has some years of wear and tare. The hardest part to find is the adapter to go from the peircing valve to the auto coolant gauge but a large Napa should have it behind the counter.
-------------------- IT WAS ALL A DREAM
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Spivkurl
Electroacoustic inventor



Registered: 08/26/17
Posts: 945
Loc: Minnesota, the next state...
Last seen: 3 years, 7 months
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Re: Replaced five parts in kenmore fridge, still frosting up [Re: Grey Fox]
#24844299 - 12/13/17 05:01 PM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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Thank you so much! This is definitely something I will try!
With the "new" defrost heater testing in range, the defrost thermostat seeming fine as well, and the defrost timer switching like normal, it seems like it very well could be a refrigerant issue.
You rock!
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Grey Fox

Registered: 01/22/15
Posts: 2,652
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Re: Replaced five parts in kenmore fridge, still frosting up [Re: Spivkurl]
#24844433 - 12/13/17 06:11 PM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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-------------------- IT WAS ALL A DREAM
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Spivkurl
Electroacoustic inventor



Registered: 08/26/17
Posts: 945
Loc: Minnesota, the next state...
Last seen: 3 years, 7 months
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Re: Replaced five parts in kenmore fridge, still frosting up [Re: Grey Fox]
#24857710 - 12/20/17 12:19 PM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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GreyFox, is this the kind of piercing valve which you spoke of? Seems like it has attachments for various sizes of compressor line tubes...
BPV31 SUPCO
Just hoping to get a thumbs up on that before I place an order. I found a step by step instruction for the recharge, so I should be able to stop by an auto part store and get the rest of the supplies.
Thanks again for your assistance!
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Grey Fox

Registered: 01/22/15
Posts: 2,652
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Re: Replaced five parts in kenmore fridge, still frosting up [Re: Spivkurl]
#24861021 - 12/21/17 08:41 PM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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That looks right. Depending on the thickness of the copper line you use the insert that makes the valve fit properly. Once the valve is mounted on the line you tighten down on the center screw with the allen wrench to pierce the line. Then you loosen that center screw a little to use the valve. When you're done using the valve you retighten the center screw again. Good luck!
-------------------- IT WAS ALL A DREAM
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Grey Fox

Registered: 01/22/15
Posts: 2,652
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Re: Replaced five parts in kenmore fridge, still frosting up [Re: Grey Fox]
#24861052 - 12/21/17 08:55 PM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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But don't mount it on the line until you have the adapter and auto coolant recharge line/gauge. You're going to have to show the guy at Napa the piercing valve in order to get the correct adapter. Once you pierce that copper line the valve can't be removed.
-------------------- IT WAS ALL A DREAM
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Spivkurl
Electroacoustic inventor



Registered: 08/26/17
Posts: 945
Loc: Minnesota, the next state...
Last seen: 3 years, 7 months
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Re: Replaced five parts in kenmore fridge, still frosting up [Re: Grey Fox]
#24861082 - 12/21/17 09:14 PM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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Oh you rock, you have helped me mucho! Now it's ON! Thank you!
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Grey Fox

Registered: 01/22/15
Posts: 2,652
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Re: Replaced five parts in kenmore fridge, still frosting up [Re: Spivkurl]
#24861099 - 12/21/17 09:25 PM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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No problem. I hope you get that fridge working right again.
-------------------- IT WAS ALL A DREAM
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Spivkurl
Electroacoustic inventor



Registered: 08/26/17
Posts: 945
Loc: Minnesota, the next state...
Last seen: 3 years, 7 months
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Re: Replaced five parts in kenmore fridge, still frosting up [Re: Grey Fox]
#24891371 - 01/05/18 07:57 AM (6 years, 24 days ago) |
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I have procured all of the necessary gear to do this recharge, thanks to your advice! The guy at the auto parts store was very helpful, and even threw in for free the adapter which connects between the hose/guage thingy and the piercing valve. So, if this all goes well, I will only have spent about $35!
I'm giving the fridge one last manual defrost before I do this, since the buildup was collecting in the freezer again. Probably won't actually do the work for a couple of days, since I'm probably going to fast and do some ayahuasca or gymnopilus tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes though.
Thanks for your help Grey Fox!
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Grey Fox

Registered: 01/22/15
Posts: 2,652
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Re: Replaced five parts in kenmore fridge, still frosting up [Re: Spivkurl]
#24891418 - 01/05/18 08:31 AM (6 years, 24 days ago) |
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Defrosting the freezer is a good idea. Once you install that piercing valve you basically create a low side port just like you have on your auto AC system (make sure you pierce the low side). I found the reading on that gauge to be pretty useless. Keep giving it a little more refrigerant until the line gets cold to the touch. If the line starts to ice over that means you overcharged it. Best luck with your repair and with everything else.
-------------------- IT WAS ALL A DREAM
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Spivkurl
Electroacoustic inventor



Registered: 08/26/17
Posts: 945
Loc: Minnesota, the next state...
Last seen: 3 years, 7 months
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Re: Replaced five parts in kenmore fridge, still frosting up [Re: Grey Fox]
#24891542 - 01/05/18 10:07 AM (6 years, 24 days ago) |
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Thank you for the tips! I will keep that in mind.
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Bodhi of Ankou
*alternate opinion blocks path*


Registered: 06/02/09
Posts: 24,778
Loc: Soviet Canukistan
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Re: Replaced five parts in kenmore fridge, still frosting up [Re: Spivkurl]
#24892675 - 01/05/18 07:28 PM (6 years, 23 days ago) |
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Are you sure you're using the correct refrigerant? Some of them run colder then others.
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Grey Fox

Registered: 01/22/15
Posts: 2,652
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Re: Replaced five parts in kenmore fridge, still frosting up [Re: Bodhi of Ankou]
#24893154 - 01/05/18 11:21 PM (6 years, 23 days ago) |
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It should be marked on the compressor. They are almost always R134a.
-------------------- IT WAS ALL A DREAM
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Bodhi of Ankou
*alternate opinion blocks path*


Registered: 06/02/09
Posts: 24,778
Loc: Soviet Canukistan
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Re: Replaced five parts in kenmore fridge, still frosting up [Re: Grey Fox]
#24893158 - 01/05/18 11:23 PM (6 years, 23 days ago) |
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If some dingleberry comes through and recharges it with a different refrigerant though that could easily account for the problems he's running into. I've seen it happen before, and he's already run through 5 different repairs so this might actually be the case here.
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Spivkurl
Electroacoustic inventor



Registered: 08/26/17
Posts: 945
Loc: Minnesota, the next state...
Last seen: 3 years, 7 months
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Re: Replaced five parts in kenmore fridge, still frosting up [Re: Bodhi of Ankou]
#24893540 - 01/06/18 06:54 AM (6 years, 23 days ago) |
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Quote:
Bodhi of Ankou said: Are you sure you're using the correct refrigerant? Some of them run colder then others.
It is definitely r134a, and this fridge has not been recharged since we bought it new. As far as I've read, most fridge compressors made after 2000 are charged with r134a. Ours is tagged as that type.
The auto parts guy was concerned about that, and was convinced that auto AC systems use a totally different type from fridges. Everything seems to match up though.
The odds are, that this box was just built on the cheap and not fully charged to begin with. It was the cheapest auto defrost we could find at the time, and we had already lived seven years with basically an "ice box" ... you know, where the freezer is just a metal case which builds up frost around the whole thing, and when it's humid out, you end up having to manually defrost every week or two. That sucked... we nearly stopped eating anything but dry goods!
Thank you for your concern! I am confident that this will go well. If for some reason this does not solve the problem, then probably the defrost heater I bought was defective.
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TheStallionMang
Do U know who yur fuckin with?



Registered: 10/18/17
Posts: 4,528
Loc:
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Re: Replaced five parts in kenmore fridge, still frosting up [Re: Spivkurl]
#24896230 - 01/07/18 11:38 AM (6 years, 22 days ago) |
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I've dealt with this a on a couple fridges by replacing the heating element and the timer that runs it. Sounds like you did that but maybe the used parts weren't good. Anyway, here's a link to a site that has got my out of a few jams - https://www.repairclinic.com/ Good luck
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Spivkurl
Electroacoustic inventor



Registered: 08/26/17
Posts: 945
Loc: Minnesota, the next state...
Last seen: 3 years, 7 months
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Re: Replaced five parts in kenmore fridge, still frosting up [Re: TheStallionMang]
#24896270 - 01/07/18 11:52 AM (6 years, 22 days ago) |
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Quote:
TheStallionMang said: I've dealt with this a on a couple fridges by replacing the heating element and the timer that runs it. Sounds like you did that but maybe the used parts weren't good. Anyway, here's a link to a site that has got my out of a few jams - https://www.repairclinic.com/ Good luck
Thanks for the assistance!
I do know that the new timer is good. I can advance it and put it into defrost. The new heating element I got reads within spec, though it will be one of the first things I re-do if this doesn't work.
If this recharge does not solve my problem, I will keep looking... however I feel pretty confident that this will help considerably.
I appreciate your suggestions!
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