Maytag freezer on top not cold enough

[JulieP]

Hello, I have a Maytag fridge with a top freezer. Model # MTB195DEB. It was purchased December 1999 (so about 12 1/2 years old). A few weeks ago our freezer door was left open for a few hours and it has not been working properly since then.

We have pulled it out and vacuumed off the coils in the back and we also defrosted it too. There was a small amount of ice built up on the top right corner of the freezer. When we took off the back of the inside of the freezer there was a lot of ice built up in the same spot (where the light goes).

Since this happened I have not heard it making it's self defrosting noises, but that may be because it's not getting cold enough. I put a thermometer inside and it's only getting to -2 C at it's coldest setting. Previous to this we had it set at the 1/2 way point.

What should we try next? (I do need to try the gasket test with the dollar bill mentioned.)

I will be going camping on Sunday so if there is no response right away it will be about 10 days before I can reply to your suggestions. Thanks

[jeff1]

Hi,

There was a small amount of ice built up on the top right corner of the freezer. When we took off the back of the inside of the freezer there was a lot of ice built up in the same spot (where the light goes).

Was/is the evaporator fan motor running?

jeff.

[JulieP]

Where is that fan motor located?

[jeff1]

MTB195DEB

That may be MTB1956DEB

Where is that fan motor located?

In the freezer behind the false back wall.



[IMG]http://www.***************************/dbImages/i/00002028/Evaporator-Fan-Motor-61004888-00610783.jpg[/IMG]
Motor, evaporator (freezer) fan Manufacturer Number 61004888

jeff.

[JulieP]

It is blowing cold air out into the freezer if that is the evaporator fan motor.

[jeff1]

If the fan is working, the evaporator/cooling coils would have to be inspected for a frost pattern...all evenly frosted, 1/2 frosted 1/2 bare, ball of ice, etc. False back wall ( #2 ) is removed to inspect the coils.

jeff.

[JulieP]

We removed the false back and we had a large build up of frost in the upper right hand corner where the light is. But in my photo I don't show any frost on the coils. Trying to remember if I took the photo just as I started defrosting it or into the process.

[jeff1]

Where is the pic?

Frost in the corner while the rest of the coils are bare with the refrigerator running would indicate a system problem.....leaker, restriction, inefficient compressor or any combination of those.

jeff.

[JulieP]

I hope that works, I couldn't see to copy it and paste it into here. But like I said I can't remember how far into the defrosting process this is.

Thanks for your help!

[JulieP]

And it seems to be working okay - the food that's in there now is frozen, but according to the therometer it's not as cold as it should be.