GE SxS fridge not cooling

[tonyj]

I am having issues with GE side by side fridge not cooling.  I pulled the cover off the evap in the freezer section and the coils were frozen over.  I defrosted them and then ran through the diagnostics testing.  Here are the results:
Test 0-2, pass
0-3 fail
0-4 fail
0-7 results: 1 and 5 fail, 2,3,4 pass.

Any thoughts?  

Model gss22wgph

[JWWebster]

Must be a bad termination thermostat or maybe a heater gone out.



Fealess leader's PSS service manual

[tonyj]

thanks for the response.  Would that cause the bad communication between the temp control panel to dispenser board and dispenser board to the main control board?  Those failed during the diagnostic testing.  The other failures were fresh food top thermistor and freezer thermister. 

[ryan111]

I personally think the diagnostic test on these refrigerators is almost useless. If it is frosted up it will be the defrost thermostat, evaporator thermistor, defrost heater or the main board. These are talked about on the video. This page will also help   http://www.appliance-repair-it.com/GE-refrigerator-repair.html

[tonyj]

I did the resistance tests per the video and the first one, between center lead on blue connector and orange wire on white connector was open.  The test between J1 connector - 4th and 5th wires was about 17k ohms and the last check on the heater was open.  So, I'm going to go with a bad heater.  Should anything else be replaced when replacing the heater? 

[ryan111]

Sounds like the heater is bad. All you have to do is replace the heater and it should be ok. The new heater is going to be different but follow the instructions that come with the new heater and you should be fine.

[tonyj]

By different, do you mean there are two heaters in the assembly (part # WR51X10101)?  I looked up the part on geapplicanceparts.com and the picture of the new heater assembly shows two heaters.  Just want to make sure since the original one is a single heater.  

[AJ]

By different, do you mean there are two heaters in the assembly

If you enter the part number into our own parts search box located on the left side towards the top you would have got more information about the new defrost heater.

Or just click on this part number: WR51X10101

Defrost heater kit - *Note* Redesigned heater kit now uses two heating elements to give a better defrost cycle. It replaces the single element that was used on some models

[JWWebster]

Wow cool design on them new heaters. First one I have seen. Probably do a better job than the old one I imagine.

[ryan111]

By different, do you mean there are two heaters in the assembly (part # WR51X10101)?  I looked up the part on geapplicanceparts.com and the picture of the new heater assembly shows two heaters.  Just want to make sure since the original one is a single heater.  

Yes, that is what I was talking about they went to the double heater because the single heater was failing too often.

Basically all you have to do is reroute the wire on the left to the right because on the double heater both wires connect to the same side. On most models the wire will reach around with no problem but some models the wires are not long enough. However with the new heater you will get a wire extension that you can use if you have to. If you don’t need the wire extension simply discard it.