Neither freezer or refrigerator cold enough

[jimwest]

Frigidaire FPCE24VWFLO, 1989, side by side.

At max settings after 24 hours, freezer is 16 and refrigerator is 38 degrees. I've checked all I know to check. Evaporator/Condensor (?) fan behind freezer coils is operating. Coils are on back of unit and are clean. Good air flow.

If I turn freezer contol to max, then it will get down to 7, but refrigerator will be in 40's and 50's. To get above reading, I must have ref. set to max and freezer to minimum. I've removed the freezer control and can see it is simply a sliding door between the two.

Checked the temp control with ohm meter. Inifinity and 2.4 readings when turned from off to max. I keep reading about a second fan, but can't find any. Unit shuts off after reaching above temps. Does not run continuously.

Seems I could jumper the temp control and unit would run continuously and I could see if temps improve and that would tell me if thermostat control is bad. ?????

[woodchuck]

Just to clear things up in my mind. Have both fans been checked? One in the freezer blowing air into the fridge and one usually under the fridge blowing air across the condenser coils. These are the ones that get all covered with dust. The fan should be running whenever the compressor is. I've seen freezers without a fan but not a side by side.
The coils inside the freezer behind the back wall are not covered with ice buildup?

[jimwest]

Coils inside freezer behind panel are clear. The fan I see running is right above that and blows into freezer and refrig. and is clean.

I do not hear or see any other fan.

All the "coils" are on the back of the frig.

I am not sure what to call the rows of tubing on the back, but that is what I am calling the "coils".

Only water drip tray is underneath.

Seems if I jumper the two wires that came off the thermostat, and let the unit run for a few hours, I should see proper temps, if the compressor and gas are okay ??????????

[woodchuck]

This site (http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/appliance/refrigerator/check/tempcontrol.php) tells how to check using your method with the ohm meter. But your other method would tell you for sure and I don't think it will hurt anything to try that. Let us know what you find.

[richapplyguy]

Short the cold control and after 1/2 hr. pull back freezer panel and descibe the frost pattern.

[jimwest]

I removed the thermostat and jumpered the leads together. I let the unit run for 24 hours straight, and could only get temps of Freezer - 20 and Ref - 34.

So I guess it is off to the recycling center.

Thanks for the help and advice.

[rixitfixit]

Yep...if you checked everything else before by-passing the thermostat and your temp still didn`t pull down after 24 hours it`s either low refrigerant,or bad valves in your compressor.Your freezer temp should be zero,and your refrigerator compartment should be forty.Your ice maker defrost thermostat(if you have an ice maker) won`t go into harvest unless your freezer is at the most ten degrees.
There is a very rare chance of your defrost element being constantly on because of some freak timer malfunction,but I doubt it.Anyway,it usually takes an Amprobe to find out---the element draws about three amps.
Do yourself a favor and get a replacement...and that will be one less problem in this world you`ll have to worry about for a dozen years,or so. :)