Freezer displays AL05; interior light works but cooling is poor or absent.

Safety first: Unplug the freezer before accessing the evaporator or electrical components. Water from defrosting can create slip and shock hazards.

• Check for heavy frost: Remove baskets and inspect the rear internal panel. If it is heavily iced over, the defrost system is likely not working.
• Manual defrost: Empty the freezer contents into a cooler. Leave the door open and allow the unit to defrost fully (this may take several hours). Use towels to collect water. Do not chip ice with sharp tools.
• Access evaporator and heater: Remove the rear inner panel to expose the evaporator and defrost heater (often a metal or glass-encased element at the bottom or woven through the coil).
• Test defrost heater: Disconnect heater leads and measure resistance with a multimeter. An open circuit indicates a failed heater that must be replaced with an Ignis-compatible defrost heater.
• Check defrost thermostat/fuse: Locate the defrost thermostat (bi-metal) clipped to the evaporator tubing. At freezing temperature, it should show continuity. Replace if open when cold or physically deformed.

If heater and thermostat are good, the defrost control (timer or main PCB) may be faulty and should be diagnosed by a technician. Continued operation with AL05 can lead to complete airflow blockage and loss of cooling.