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Frequently Asked Questions About Domestic Refrigerator Repair:

Concern for no reason on a cycle defrost design?

Hi there, I have a GE TDX9 cycle defrost fridge. The problem is that it runs fine and cools to the correct temp. However after it cools and shuts off. It will not run again unless I wait a few minutes and then turn the temp control knob to stop and then back to 5 or so. I have checked the thermostat and it is OK when it is operating. (infinity at stop and 0 ohms at 5-7) the overload circuit and the start relay also check out. The compressor is fine also. I am guessing that this is a problem with the defrost timer but it does not say in the schematics on the back of the fridge where this is. So I have no idea how to test it. I should mention that both evaporator plates in the freezer and the fridge ice up almost instantly after turning the fridge on.
I would appreciate any help you may be able to give. Thank you

The lower section of these designs work on a principle called heat leakage defrost. This means that the control has a long attenuation period (the temperature variance between cut in and cut out) so the plate in the bottom can defrost each off cycle. I'm wondering why this even concerns you that it
stops unless..... is it not cold enough in the lower section set on 5 to 7? By design it should stay off until it needs to cut back in.

Also your hermetic system is fine if both evaporator plates ice up quickly and these units use no defrost timer on them. I’ll attach an article that explains their operation.

Note: You can read the article sent about the Two Cabinet Design in Section 2. Another email was received on this clarifying what the problem was…..

The problem is that it will not turn back on at all once it reaches the correct temperature. Even after the temperature rises well out of the proper range. For example right now it is at a little above 50 degrees F in the freezer and the fridge.

Good, thanks for the enlightenment. So these designs could be called—a hermetic system with a control on it. If the compressor is starting and running the full cycle it is obviously a cold control problem. Installing a new one should solve the problem. If the original part is no longer available a universal one is available in a kit, try part number VT9.