Café Defrost System Failure

Thick ice buildup on the evaporator coil behind the rear interior panel

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Safety Warning

This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.

If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.

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Possible Causes

Defrost heater burned out, Defrost thermostat stuck open, Defrost thermistor failure, Main control board not initiating defrost

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety first: Unplug the freezer before removing panels and working near the evaporator.

  • Manual defrost: Remove food and shelves, then take off the rear interior panel. Allow the ice to melt completely or use a hair dryer on low to speed the process.
  • Test defrost heater: Once exposed, disconnect the heater leads and check for continuity. Replace the heater if open.
  • Check defrost thermostat: When the evaporator is cold, the thermostat should show continuity. Replace if it remains open.
  • Inspect thermistor: Measure resistance and compare to spec. Replace if out of range.
  • Control board: If all components test good, the main control board may be failing to start defrost cycles and should be replaced.
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Repair Difficulty

Hard 4/5

Required Part

Defrost Heater
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