Caple Defrost System Failure

Freezer interior heavily frosted; thick ice on rear panel and drawers difficult to open

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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

Burnt‑out defrost heater, Open defrost thermostat/thermal fuse, Faulty defrost sensor (NTC), Defective defrost control on main PCB

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety: Unplug the freezer before removing internal panels. Water from defrosting can create slip hazards; use towels.

Immediate action:

  • 1. Manual defrost: Empty the freezer into cool boxes. Unplug and leave the door open until all ice has melted. Do not use knives or sharp tools to chip ice.

Diagnosis after defrost:

  • 2. Access evaporator: Remove the internal rear panel to expose the evaporator, defrost heater, and thermostat/sensor.
  • 3. Test heater: Disconnect and measure resistance; an open circuit indicates failure.
  • 4. Test defrost thermostat/fuse: Check continuity when cold; replace if open.
  • 5. Test defrost sensor: Measure NTC resistance and compare to spec; replace if out of range.
  • 6. PCB check: If all components test good, the PCB may not be initiating defrost cycles and will need replacement.

After repair: Reassemble, power on, and monitor for several days. Frost should remain light and even, not thick and solid.

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Repair Difficulty

Hard 4/5

Required Part

Defrost Heater
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