Ice maker shows a defrost or de-ice error, heavy frost on evaporator plate, cycles abort

Safety first: Unplug the unit and allow hot components to cool before testing. Avoid damaging refrigerant lines.

Steps to check:

• Manual defrost: Turn off the ice maker and leave the door open to melt accumulated frost. Do not use sharp tools to chip ice from the evaporator plate.
• Access heater: Remove the interior cover to expose the evaporator plate and heater assembly. Inspect the heater for breaks or burn marks.
• Test heater continuity: Disconnect the heater leads and measure resistance with a multimeter. An open circuit indicates a failed heater that must be replaced.
• Check defrost thermostat: Many Grundig units use a thermostat or thermal fuse in series with the heater. Test for continuity at freezing temperatures. Replace if open when cold.

Note: If heater and thermostat are good, the control board may not be energizing the defrost circuit and should be evaluated by a technician.