GM Frigidaire defrost problem

[rll70sman]

Hi all. I have a 1974 era GM Frigidaire fridge that no longer defrosts the freezer compartment. I suspect it needs a replacement defrost thermostat, timer, or both. Does anyone know the part numbers or a source where I can look them up? The model and serial numbers are listed below. Thank you!

Rob

Model: FCD-150
Serial: 50AG9484

 

[carmine]

I had a defrost issue with a '64 Frigidaire that turned out to be a switch that acts as a failsafe to prevent the defroster from running if the freezer tempgoes too high. Mine failed "open" so the defroster would never work. A few parts stores told me "too bad, it's dead, junk it", but for $25-30 I found a switch with the same eletrical characterisitics and it works fine now.

I can't search for the thread on my phone, maybe somebody could help?

 

[norgeway]

Just be glad!

It failed off, I have seen a bunch of these with melted plastic in the freezer where the heater hung up in the on position.

 

[retromania]

Some time in the early 70's, out '67 Frigidaire developed a defrosting problem. Our appliance repairman installed a heater in the roof of the refrigerator compartment that took care of the problem. Whether that was actually the fix it needed or not I don't know, but it ran fine with no problems until 1988 when it was replaced with a Whirlpool. Frigidaire put out some really nice refrigerators!

 

[philr]

Andy, the problem you're talking about is due to wet insulation that drips in the refrigerator section.

Heaters do work to solve this problem and my 1966 Frigidaire top freezer was fixed that way. To fix my '65 that had the same problem, I decided to replace the foam insulation instead of adding a heater. I wasn't sure if it would work or not and I took quite some time to try to shape the insulation like the original one so the air would flow under it and so the collecting pan under the evaporator would sit in it but two years later and no issues, I think it worked!

 

As for Rob's problem, did you have your fridge for a long time? Did it ever defrost the freezer by itself? The model number you gave looks like one for a Cycla-Matic fridge with a manual defrost freezer.Does it look a bit like this one (with a cold plate at the back of the refrigerator section and no airflow circulation in the fridge or the freezer?

 

 

 

[this post was last edited: 12/8/2013-17:22]

 

[philr]

The 1970's Frost-Proof top-freezer models look like either of these:

 

 

 

[philr]

Does it have a square or rectangular badge on the door? What does it say?

 

[rll70sman]

Frigidaire badge

Phil,

The first picture you gave looks like my fridge. In fact, it was so well taken care of that the paper label describing the features is still stuck inside the door. I just checked it, and there is mention of Cycla-Matic defrosting in the fresh food compartment. As soon as I read that, it dawned on me that this model requires manual defrosting in the freezer as you say. The rectangular badge on the fridge door only says "GM Frigidaire." There is no reference to "Frost-Proof." So, with that said, I probably don't have a problem after all. The fridge has always worked great. It's just that the freezer is getting pretty caked with frost buildup.

Thank you for your help!

Rob

 

[combo52]

Non Defrosting Frigidaire Refrigerator

You may be right Phil, Andy if the freezer has frost on the ceiling of the freezer section it is a manual defrost ref. And if the ref does not say Frost-Proof on the outside of the door you may have to defrost it. To defrost these you need to turn off the dial in the refrigerator section and remove all food from the freezer, then place two large kettles of boiling water in the freezer and wait for the frost to melt. When all frost is loose and gone DRY the inside of the freezer with an old bath towel.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing is NOT to use anything metal to try to remove frost, the inside of these freezers is very soft and thin aluminum and even a blunt butter knife can put a hole in the cooling plates and that will be the end of this refrigerator.

 

[washer111]

Agree with John

Do everything Combo52 (John) mentioned above. 

 

If the freezer has some odour, after the ice has melted you can clean with some warm water mixed with baking soda. Most refrigerator manufactures recommend this, as it deodorises the fridge section. Be sure to give plenty of drying time even after towelling up, as additional moisture load will cause a more rapid buildup of frost. 

In fact, you can even leave a box of baking soda in the freezer to help keep odours out - same with the refrigerator section.

 

I will add though that if the freezer came with a plastic scraper, you could use that. Although with the fridge being so old, it might be best to avoid doing that all together and just letting it defrost naturally. If you were really impatient, you could use a hairdryer, but remember not to get it wet!

 

[rp2813]

Might there be a drain in the bottom of the freezer to save the trouble of having to sop up the water?  My '57 GE Combination has a drain in the freezer bottom that directs water into the same trough that catches the refrigerator section's condensation, which trickles down to the fridge floor where it's routed into another drain that empties into a pan behind the grille.

 

I use an infrared "Red-E-De-Frost" heater in my freezer (these devices turn up in thrift stores) and all I have to do is plug it in, close the door and come back in 30 to 45 minutes to wipe down the interior after all ice has melted and run down the drain.  I'm careful not to position it too near plastic materials like the inner freezer door.

 

[combo52]

Great Defrosting Tips

However I would be very careful with the electric defroster, these have destroyed MANY refrigerators, and unfortunately Frigidaire did not provide the neat defrost drain that GEs had.

Nice thing about a manual defrost freezer is odors are nearly as much of a problem as in FF freezers where spills can get into vents and under the floor etc.

Forget the baking soda, it is almost WORTHLESS, if you really want to deal with odors buy activated charcoal, the only real good that BS does is enrich Arm&Hammer, LOL.

 

[retromania]

That refrigerator is long gone! It was what Phil described. It had something to do with moisture and the heater contraption that was installed in the roof of the refrigerator section was a perfect fit. Almost as thought it was manufactured by GM just for that purpose. It did not look after factory. That refrigerator was frost-free. Thanks.

 

[rp2813]

Manual Defrost Heaters

John's correct about being careful.  I found another defroster that's thin and flat to fit in smaller spaces.  I used it to defrost our simulated woodgrain GE 3.5 c.f. office fridge and failed to consider that the evaporator was open at the top.  Within a few minutes the liner above the freezer was melting away.  Glad I checked on how it was doing.

 

Too bad about Frigidaire not having the same drain system as GE.  Without that, I'd not like my Combination as much as I do.

 

[polkanut]

We have a circa 1972 Frigidaire Cycla-Matic in the basement that currently needs defrosting.  What I do is tie the freezer door handle to the basement stair railing, unplug the fridge, and let it slowly defrost at room temp.  After about 2 hours or so I take the blunt end of a paint stir stick and gently work it between the build up and the roof of the freezer compartment.  It almost always comes off in large chunks.  Then everything gets wiped down and a quick dry with a hair dryer.  Works like a charm every time.