Kenmore Coldspot Fridge won't turn off, model M106.86087761

Posted by mm on October 24, 2009, 11:23 pm

Sears Kenmore Coldspot fridge won't turn off, model M106.86087761

I tried to drink some apple cider and noticed it was frozen. :)

20 degrees in the fridge, 20 below zero in the freezer.

I turned off the breaker for 6 hours, and the temp rose a lot, 10
above in the freezer and 35 in the fridge.

Turned on the breaker again and temp going down again, to what it was
before.

I assume this is the thermostat and there's nothing to do but replace
it.

What I don't understand is why the webpages often refer to the
"defrost timer", even when the problem it is discussing is "Fridge
won't turn off". Is that another name for thermostat? That doesn't
seem right.

Posted by jeff_wisnia on October 25, 2009, 12:45 am

mm wrote:

> Sears Kenmore Coldspot fridge won't turn off, model M106.86087761
>
> I tried to drink some apple cider and noticed it was frozen. :)
>
> 20 degrees in the fridge, 20 below zero in the freezer.
>
> I turned off the breaker for 6 hours, and the temp rose a lot, 10
> above in the freezer and 35 in the fridge.
>
> Turned on the breaker again and temp going down again, to what it was
> before.
>
> I assume this is the thermostat and there's nothing to do but replace
> it.
>
> What I don't understand is why the webpages often refer to the
> "defrost timer", even when the problem it is discussing is "Fridge
> won't turn off". Is that another name for thermostat? That doesn't
> seem right.

The defrost timer is a separate unit from the thermostat.

It's function is to periodically )like once a day or so) turn off the
refrigeration compressor and turn on an electric heater which melts any
frost off the refrigeration coils.

A thermostat on that coil senses when it's no longer at freezing
temperatures (i.e. no more ice on it) and restores the normal
refrigeration cycle.

If the defrost timer fails, the refrigeration coils frost up so much
that the ice on them blocks the air flow and cold air can't be blown ny
the fan where it needs to go. Since that means the refrigerator doesn't
get cold enough the compressor just keeps running forever trying to make
it colder, but to no avail.

Capice?

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10e12 furlongs per fortnight.

Posted by mm on October 25, 2009, 1:07 am

On Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:45:54 -0400, jeff_wisnia

>mm wrote:

>> Sears Kenmore Coldspot fridge won't turn off, model M106.86087761
>>
>> I tried to drink some apple cider and noticed it was frozen. :)
>>
>> 20 degrees in the fridge, 20 below zero in the freezer.
>>
>> I turned off the breaker for 6 hours, and the temp rose a lot, 10
>> above in the freezer and 35 in the fridge.
>>
>> Turned on the breaker again and temp going down again, to what it was
>> before.
>>
>> I assume this is the thermostat and there's nothing to do but replace
>> it.
>>
>> What I don't understand is why the webpages often refer to the
>> "defrost timer", even when the problem it is discussing is "Fridge
>> won't turn off". Is that another name for thermostat? That doesn't
>> seem right.

>The defrost timer is a separate unit from the thermostat.
>It's function is to periodically )like once a day or so) turn off the
>refrigeration compressor and turn on an electric heater which melts any
>frost off the refrigeration coils.
>A thermostat on that coil senses when it's no longer at freezing
>temperatures (i.e. no more ice on it) and restores the normal
>refrigeration cycle.
>If the defrost timer fails, the refrigeration coils frost up so much
>that the ice on them blocks the air flow and cold air can't be blown ny
>the fan where it needs to go. Since that means the refrigerator doesn't
>get cold enough the compressor just keeps running forever trying to make
>it colder, but to no avail.
>Capice?

Yeah. Thanks. I also see why my problem and that problem get the
same description. Won't turn off. But in my case, the fridge is very
cold and in the other case, it's not.

I guess I need a new thermostat.

>Jeff

Posted by Ed Pawlowski on October 25, 2009, 1:14 am

> Yeah. Thanks. I also see why my problem and that problem get the
> same description. Won't turn off. But in my case, the fridge is very
> cold and in the other case, it's not.
> I guess I need a new thermostat.

What other case? The freezer and fridge are about the right differential.
Try bypassing the defrost timer first and see what happens.

Posted by mm on October 25, 2009, 1:31 pm

wrote:

>> Yeah. Thanks. I also see why my problem and that problem get the
>> same description. Won't turn off. But in my case, the fridge is very
>> cold and in the other case, it's not.
>> I guess I need a new thermostat.

>What other case?

The case Jeff described where the defrost timer had failed. He said
"If the defrost timer fails, the refrigeration coils frost up so much
that the ice on them blocks the air flow and cold air can't be blown
by the fan where it needs to go. Since that means the refrigerator
doesn't get cold enough the compressor just keeps running forever
trying to make it colder, but to no avail."

> The freezer and fridge are about the right differential.
>Try bypassing the defrost timer first and see what happens.

Okay. Although I had the electricity off for 6 hours and there was no
water on the floor from melting ice that was on the coils.

Thanks.

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