Kenmore Freezer Not Chilling

[stma]

13 month old upright Sears Kenmore Self Cleaning freezer: I noticed was running 24/7 and not fully freezing food..i pulled everything from the freezer for a closer look..i noticed a side to side split in the lower back wall...The area inside the 1/4 inch split was load with solid ice....i took a hair dryer and melted the ice and suck out the water with a shop-vac....i taped the split thoroughly with duct tape hoping this would solve the issue...
however, the freezer is still not "freezing" and still running all the time...i pulled the unit from the wall and noted that the compressor IS running and very warm to touch.......Prior to this problem, the outside side walls would be quite warm..Now, they're cold to touch....
Is this freezer shot OR is there another "fix" i can try ???

(Norrmal interior temps: Between 2-12 degrees....now does not get past 26 degrees)
ANY (and ALL ) help would be appreciated..

[stma]

from post above:
Model number: Sears 25326432100

[RegUS_PatOff]

[QUOTE=stma]... Sears Kenmore Self Cleaning freezer:..[/QUOTE]
I wish I had a Self-Cleaning Freezer :)
Take a peek at the Evaporator Coils in the Freezer. Frosted / clogged or clean ?

[stma]

Sorry: FROST FREE !!!! :>

Coils are encased inside the back wall of the unit..... i have no way of telling...
with that said, how easy a job is it to pull the "skin" off the inside back wall ?? The back is curved, contoured, with corner mouldings etc ...>

Thanks...

[stma]

RegUS_PatOff.....Going back to my original post, the inside of the 1/4" crack (that runs along the bottom back wall) was loaded with solid ice....even the drain hole was filled with ice as well...

Is This a "tell-tale" sign that in fact, my coils are iced up ?? Is this 1/4 tear in the wall causing the ice build up ?? As stated, the fan is constantly blowing....but the air coming from the opening is only reading 26 degrees ////

As i'm typing this post, my thoughts are that the ice build up behind the wall actually caused the tear itself..(I thought it was caused by jamming something into the freezer).....IF the ice DID cause the tear, this means that the self-defroster is not "de-frosting"

ANy thoughts ??

As always, thanks for the help....

[RegUS_PatOff]

Frigidaire Sears Kenmore 253.26432100 Parts Manual (ftp://ftp.electrolux-na.com/ProdInfo_PDF/StCloud/5995468187.pdf)

and if you need it:


Frigidaire Service Manual (http://www.frigidaire.com/tip/servicecd/Content/Freezers/Electronic%20Controled%20Freezer%20Service%20Manual.pdf) [SIZE=3]85 MB[/SIZE] (Includes Upright Freezer with Standard Electronic Control)

[stma]

Thanks so much...
Actually, I took the panel off the back of the unit...the coils were slightly frosted but no big deal...I "hair-dryer'ed" the frost off and placed everything back together...
Unit is 100% better...outer side walls are warm to touch and i'm getting sub-zero temps again....
Just wondering how long it will last with that tear in the back wall...

Would that tear frost up the coils ???

Thanks for all your insight..
Steve

[stma]

A quick shout out to:
RegUS_PatOff
Grand Master

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP