Refrigerator making noise/ ice maker not working properly

[Nova]

Six days ago, my refrigerator started making an unusual noise - a breathing noise. (Model # FRS26R4CW3.)  My sister says it sounds like someone's stomach growling loudly. The noise occurs every 25-30 seconds and lasts for 2 seconds each time. Yesterday, I noticed that the ice maker wasn't making very much ice. Normally, it drops down a tray of ice every hour or so, but now it takes about 6-7 hours to drop down a tray of ice. Plus, I normally can hear when the tray fills with water but I am not hearing it anymore. But obviously water is getting in the tray somehow because it makes little ice. (It still makes the breathing sound.)  Any idea what could be the problem?

[AJ]

What is the temperature in the freezer and refrigerator?

[Nova]

Both are set at the factory setting 3 1/2. They seem to be cooling/freezing properly.

[AJ]

No, what is the temperature.
The freezer should be 0-5 Deg. F. and the refrigerator about 38 Deg. F.

[Nova]

Frig= 45, Freezer= 20.
This is not good.

[Nova]

Actually the frig about 50.

[AJ]

Sometimes if they are low on refrigerant they will make unusual noises. 

Could you remove the back plate inside the freezer and take a photo of the evaporator coil so we could see what the frost pattern on the coil looks like?

How old is the refrigerator?

[Nova]

I believe 9 years.

[JWWebster]

This is probably a defrost issue. Have you got frost on the back wall of the freezer? Remove the panel and inspect the evaporation compartment for ice. Look for a swollen or failed defrost termination thermostat (clik pik to enlarge) This dude shuts down the heater element during defrost cycle which last for 21 minutes. The heater only stays on till 50f is reached inside the evap compartment. Then the frost is supposed to melt during the 21 minutes. If the heater fails to come on due to being bad or having an open defrost heater termination thermostat then the defrost will not be done and ice will build, fan will start to howl as ice builds up near it, etc. Warm temps in the fresh side and frost in the freezer results. If both the terminator and heater are good, then the defrost timer is not advancing or the newer defrost control has died. The termination thermostat must be 25f or less to check it for a closed condition. At room temp it will be open.