Refrigerator Not Cooling - What to Check

How to test the thermostat on your refrigerator. This video will show you how and why you should check the thermostat or cold control on your fridge.
If you refrigerator is not working at all, no compressor and no evaporator fan is running, this is what you should check.

First you want to make sure the refrigerator is not stuck in defrost. Then you want to go ahead and check the thermostat or also called cold control.

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Refrigerator not getting cold at all would be the symptom.

The refrigerator shown in this video is a Frigidaire Top Mount Refrigerator FRT18 Model

Playlist for more Refrigerator Repair Videos

[danbailey]

Yo dude, I can't thank you enough for this vid !! My Dad has cancer and is in pretty bad shape. His house is falling apart around him and I'm doing everything I possibly can to keep him in it. It's where he wants to be. His main sewer line recently backed up and I had to dig up his whole front yard to fix it. He was devastated at the condition his yard was left in so I landscaped his whole front yard for him. Well don't you know, 2 days later his fridge died. He was overwhelmed and extremely depressed at the same time thinking he was going to have to buy a new fridge. Thanks to you and your video, I was able to fix it for him. The relief that came over him was awesome. So again, thanks to you and your video, you helped me and my dad out tremendously. You have no idea. I wish there was something I could do in return for you helping us out. I can't thank you enough. God bless ya man and take care

Dan.

[losapinafeletoa]

OMG!! I just got this fridge (used) last week. I LOVE this fridge! I was so bummed when I came home from grocery shopping & it was off! I thought it was the fan in the back, pulled it all apart & nothing. Found this video, put the back back together, did this and HALLELUJAH!!! I was on the verge of a BREAKDOWN trying to figure this out!! I frickin love YouTube and people like you who are willing to post videos to help!!! Thank you so much!!!

[ejcjones]

I'm a female with little money therefore, I have to learn to do things on my own. Thanks for the tutorial. I wished I would have found your tube sooner because I lost a good amount of food.

[theresistance]

Thank you so much, I've been so upset and overwhelmed all morning, because my refrigerator fan wouldn't work, and my brother and father just kept telling me to vacuum underneath it and figure it out myself... it's been so hot all week... I just want some cold .... I stuck the screwdriver in and twisted it and it came back on.... Seriously, in tears, right now, because I'm so relieved.

[AlmaGomez-vgro]

Great video!!!! Just as we were starting a party at my house I noticed the fridge in the garage was not cooling.. I watched your video and as soon as you showed how to get fix the defroster, I paused the video and ran to my garage. I found a flat head screw driver and turned the thing.. It worked!!!!. I will be having the defroster timer replaced.. thanks for your help buddy!!! Cold cokes and cold beer is a must for a party...lol

[LifeCoachToni]

My fridge was not defrosting. I had a warranty repair man out and after diagnosis he ordered a part. But then after he left my refrigerator didn't come back on at all. He said it would "restart" in 20 minutes. It was after 5PM on a Friday night. He had, from my assumption, put it in defrost and left it there. After an hour I was very upset. Finally I went to the internet. Watching your video I took a flat plier and inserted it as instructed and "voila" the unit came back on. I can't thank you enough. My refrigerator will remain on life support until the new part arrives. My food and sanity survive.

[stevespacher]

Bill, you were right! The defrost thermostats was the problem. Thank You so much. Its great having a working refrigerator again.

Steve

[sherivenezia]

Thank you so much for your video!! I cannot believe I reached the age of 60 withouit knowing that my refrigerator goes into defrost 3 times a day!! I put some fresh groceries in my fridge and I decided to turn my dial to a bit colder and nothing happened, and then I tried to push it to even colder...still nothing! So I decided to sit down and have some pudding and found your video. Just at the end of it as I was deciding that i could, in fact, follow your guidelines...my fridge came on....it must have been in defrost!!! What a relief as money is really tight these days. Thank you again so much. Now I know what to do if it ever does really stop working!!

[jinxon]

Dude....you legit saved my gf a minimum of $120 in repair bills. Fixed fridge...thanks to you!!.

[sharonwalker]

I would like to tell YOU thank you so much. My mother(disabled) called me last week and told me that her refrigerator was not working I been worried and praying about it cause I didn't have any money to get her another one. I went to go visit her today and found your video. Thank you for the simple walk through with instructions. I'm glad to say I was able to fix the refrigerator thanks to YOU. God is good

[erkadrk]

Wow. Seriously thank you so much for this video! My fridge has done this three times in less than 3 months. I was worried that I needed to just get a new fridge. I turned it and it immediately started working and now I know what my next step is. I can definitely say I am subscribed. Thank you!!

[ProbyWaN]

You just saved me hundreds in groceries, and who knows how much in repairs. Thank you, sir!

[ZacharyUTK]

This is a great video! Discovered that my problem was a faulty defrost timer. Thank you so much for your clear explanations.

[DP-hyvh]

Fixed a fridge a couple of days ago. I checked the defrost timer after watching this video. I got a screwdriver, turned the timer and sure enough the fridge works again. Apparently the timer got stuck in defrost. It works fine now. It turns off to defrost like it's supposed to then turns back on after about 30 min.

This video saved me from having to call a repair person.

[coleevans]

As soon as I turned my defroster switch, everything kicked back on. Very informative video. Thank you!

[CB-dqdv]

I've gotta tell you, that you have the best videos out there on fixing a fridge. I've fixed all kinds of appliances, washers, dryers, fridges and YOU are awesome, this video in particular is just the one I need. I've watch a bunch today, yours are clear and very easy to learn and watch from. Thanks so much for sharing them!!! Much appreciated!!!

[mimicthebat]

I AM SOOOO GRATEFUL TO YOU! You helped me find out exactly what happened to my fridge! Thank you so much!

[JohanSalvattore]

I recently got a job as a maintenance tech for apartment communities and I had no experience at all in appliances. Your videos have helped so much. Fixing this type of simple refrigerators is a piece of cake now. Thank you!!

[chrismello]

legit almost just bought a new fridge! but tha ks to bil my fridge was in defrost mode somehow! and now the compressor and fan are back on and my fridge is back to cooling!! wish i could gove u a two thumbs up bro!!! tha ks again

[jimmywilliams]

As n extra test I fo is use a jumper wire to poke down in bothe wires by bypassing the timer if it comes on then thats a nother proof its a bad thermostat. I really enjoy your videos Bill you help me a lot