Hotpoint FFM70 fridge/freezer problems

[jimmyboy]

hi I was given a hotpoint FFM70 fridge/freezer that wasnt working, when i turn it on the high temp light and food defrost light is on, I can reset the food defrost light but it comes on a little while later, at first the inside of the fridge wall does get a film of frost on but a little while later it isnt cold anymore and the freezer just blows cool air but not freezing, I have done a self check on the fridge but it says the the four sensors are ok, but since doing the check which i done last night, the high temp light has turned off but leaving the food defrost light on, but now the freezer is a lot cooler, infact it has frozen a container of water i put in there, but the fridge is still warm! the grill on the back is luke warm and the compressor does get quite hot but not too hot to touch when it runs.
Now if the self check says the sensors says they are ok, does it mean that the pcb could possibly at fault or maybe it needs re-gassing?
the fridge is reading 15.6 deg and the freezer is reading -11.4 (after being in there 10 mins)

[jimmyboy]

Re: Hotpoint FFM70 fridge/freezer problems

ok a bit of a update!

I have taken the pcb out and there are three sensor wires going into it on one plug, I have tested the resistance on the sensors and the seem to be showing the right reading for the temp, so I have been looking further and see that its got a aweco valve to divert the refridgerant either to the fridge and freezer or just the freezer, now when I first turn the fridge on after being off for a while, the back wall of the fridge does get cold and has a thin film of frost on, but a little while later the fridge wall is warm and just the freezer is working fine, so it seems to me that the divertor valve is not functioning correctly! Now I presume that the valve is controlled by the pcb panel by what ever the fridge temp sensor is telling it?
But as I had left both doors open and had the appliance switched off and a temp guage reading the same temp for both compartments, the resistance for the fridge compartment (I think!) was reading around 18k and the freezer compartment was reading around 16k and the freezer evapourator (i think!) again around 16k.
How reliable are the aweco valves and do they fail? it seems that at first it is diverting to the fridge so I presume its ok, so that either leaves the fridge temp sensor or the pcb.
Sorry for this long post but Im sure it will halp me and then others! 😆

[spimps]

Re: Hotpoint FFM70 fridge/freezer problems

The solenoid on the valve can fail,plus sometimes the valve can jam internally.
Is there still the correct charge in the system?could be a reason but you will need an engineer with gauges for this.
Think the valve is normally shut until the sensor demands cooling in the fridge.Most trade guys would have a circular magnet to drop over the solenoid shaft with the coil removed to check if it is mechanically OK.

[alicz@another.com]

Re: Hotpoint FFM70 fridge/freezer problems

We are having the same problem with the Freezer high temp light staying on and parts of the freezer defrosting – what is the issue?

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