Refrigerator shows E3 and may not defrost properly, with ice building up on the rear wall of the freezer.

Safety: Unplug the CDA refrigerator before accessing the freezer evaporator area.

Steps:

• 1. Inspect for heavy frost: Remove freezer drawers and check behind the rear panel. If the panel is heavily iced over, the defrost system is likely compromised.
• 2. Access the evaporator: Carefully remove the rear internal panel. Use towels to catch melting ice. Do not force the panel if it is frozen in place; allow it to thaw.
• 3. Locate the defrost/evaporator sensor: On CDA frost-free models, the evaporator NTC is clipped directly to the evaporator coil or housed in a small plastic clip attached to the tubing.
• 4. Check positioning and wiring: Ensure the sensor is firmly clipped to the coil and not hanging loose. Inspect the cable for cuts or brittle insulation.
• 5. Test the sensor: Disconnect the sensor and measure resistance. Compare to fridge/freezer NTC values (several kΩ at room temperature). Replace if open or shorted.
• 6. Replace if faulty: Install a new CDA evaporator/defrost NTC sensor, clip it securely to the evaporator, and route the cable as originally installed.
• 7. If sensor is OK: The issue may be with the main PCB's sensor input. This requires professional diagnosis and likely PCB replacement.

Tip: After repair, fully defrost the unit (doors open, power off for several hours) before restarting to clear any residual ice.