Freezer warm but refrigerator section still somewhat cool, ice cream soft or melted.

Safety first: Unplug the refrigerator and remove freezer contents before accessing the evaporator.

When the freezer warms while the refrigerator remains cooler, the evaporator may be blocked by frost.

• Inspect evaporator: Remove the rear freezer panel. If the coil is encased in solid white frost, the defrost system is not working.
• Manual defrost: Use towels and a fan or a hair dryer on low (kept moving and away from plastic) to melt frost. Do not use sharp tools.
• Test defrost heater and thermostat: With frost cleared and power off, test the heater and thermostat for continuity. Replace any open components.
• Check thermistor: Measure evaporator thermistor resistance and compare to specifications. Replace if out of range.
• Control board: If all components test good, the main control may not be initiating defrost and should be replaced by a technician.