MAYTAG refrigerator is not cold enough

[lw1990]

I have a double door (side by side) refrigerator made by Maytag, it runs about 6 years. and recently, the temperature in refrigerator (right side) is not cold (>55 degree). I checked the temperature setting, door seals, condenser coils.... They are all working fine. And the freezer is slower on freezing the food, (A piece the meat needs 48 hours to be totally frozen)
Is that meaning that the refrigerant is low or leaking?
Can I buy refrigerant in a shop and charge by myself or do I need to call service of qualified technician?

Thanks.

[woodchuck]

If this problem started just the past few weeks I would suspect the defrost system. The coils behind the inside back of the freezer are probably iced up thus preventing cold air circulation. To troubleshoot the defroster check the defrost timer, defrost heater and defrost thermostat at this troubleshooting site (http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/appliance/refrigerator/diagrefrigerator.php)

[lw1990]

Thank you woodchuck,
Yes this problem started in last 2 weeks. I believe that Maytag made this ref. with a auto defrost function in 2001, but I found that there is ice inside the freezer at lower back part.
Sometimes I can hear the defrost is working (the sizzling noise from the ref.), but also I can hear the ref. is running all the time. I'll check the defrost part first.

Thanks.

[woodchuck]

If you eliminate all other possibilities you might be low on freon. At one time your could buy the R22 to recharge the compressor and yours may have a type that you can buy but but if it's low you have a leak somewhere and it'll keep leaking.A qualified technician is supposed to fix the leak before he charges the system to protect the ozone.

[lw1990]

Thank you woodchuck,
Yes I checked the defrost system, the problem is there. The coils are iced up and became a big piece of ice.
For this Maytag double door ref., where is the defrost timer and defrost thermostat. I found the defrost heater.

Thanks.

[woodchuck]

I'm not sure but I think this will apply to yours. DEFROST TIMER (http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/appliance/refrigerator/check/defrosttimer.php) THERMOSTAT (http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/appliance/refrigerator/check/defrosthermo.php)

[garak112]

If it is similar to the three maytags in my neighbours and my house the defrost timer is behind the plastic cover in the fridge compartment. It is on the right hand side and his hidden by a metal plate.

The thermostat is a small black cyclinder that is clipped on to the back of the freezer unit, above the coils, should have 2 wires coming out of it going to a square board that everything connects to.

The heaters are 2 glass tubes that look like long lightbulbs. and are halfway down and at the bottom of the coil arrangement.

That is how it is arranged on my Maytag from the same age anyway.

[rvlibertad]

[SIZE=7][QUOTE=lw1990]I have a double door (side by side) refrigerator made by Maytag, I OWN THIS HOUSE FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW OLD THE FRIDGE MAY BE, BUT IT LOOKS PRETTY NEW. and recently, the temperature in refrigerator (right side) is not cold (>55 degree). I checked the temperature setting, door seals, condenser coils.... IS JUST NOT COLD AT ALL. do I need to call service of qualified technician? I REALLY DON'T WANT TO PAY THE TON OF MONEY THEY CHARGE IF I CAN HELP IT, PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO FIX IT OR WHAT PARTS TO BUY.[/SIZE]

Thanks.[/QUOTE]