Zanussi Frost free – ZX55/4W – Fridge warm after 1 month.

[walnut]

Had a call about the above fridge freezer.
Customer says that the fridge goes warm about a month after a defrost.
Does anyone know the most likely cause?
This model has a mechanical defrost timer.
Any advice gratefully received.

[bendaireboy]

Re: Zanussi Frost free – ZX55/4W – Fridge warm after 1 month

it sounds as if the battery cell is becoming blocked with ice,similar fault to most modern frost free’s,when either the heater fails or sensor’s fail ,also see if the defrost timer is working ,if battery becomes blocked the fan’s cannot force air into fridge hthus it warms up 🙂 regards nige

[expertcat]

i beleive there is a modification regarding the motor cowling in the freezer causing evaporater to block up

[farmboy]

Re: Zanussi Frost free – ZX55/4W – Fridge warm after 1 month

I think the mod that expertcat refers to is for the models with the evaporator in the roof of the freezer.

Check the return air duct for ice build up, its right behind the evaporator at the bottom & looks identicle to the one behind the r/h salad drawer in the fridge. The r600a versions of these used to suffer from problems with the defrost heater – Zanussi modified them to a slightly more powerful one to overcome this.

[walnut]

Re: Zanussi Frost free – ZX55/4W – Fridge warm after 1 month

Thanks for the reply’s.
I was wondering if putting an adjustable defrost timer, set to a shorter interval would do the trick?
I think this unit has a vt9 stat fitted, would fitting a Vx0 with the higher defrost temp work?

[farmboy]

Re: Zanussi Frost free – ZX55/4W – Fridge warm after 1 month

It’s not a thermostat fault so i would leave it as it is, fitting a VXO will probably make the whole thing too warm

[walnut]

Re: Zanussi Frost free – ZX55/4W – Fridge warm after 1 month

I’ll try fitting new defrost timer and see if it does the trick.

[admin]

Re: Zanussi Frost free – ZX55/4W – Fridge warm after 1 month

Hi Walnut

I take it you have tested the element and thermal overload already ?

If so then is the build up actual ice at the bottom of the evaperator or fine snow evenly spread over the evaperator or a build up of snow on the top of the nevaperator ?

bryan

[walnut]

Re: Zanussi Frost free – ZX55/4W – Fridge warm after 1 month

The snow lay all around, thick and crisp and even.
All over the evap.
What do the three types tell you?

[admin]

Re: Zanussi Frost free – ZX55/4W – Fridge warm after 1 month

Hi walnut

that may well point towards a fan failure which is not being activated by the door switch due to door dropping or a failure in the defrost circuit,heater,thermal overload.

If there was snow all on the food also then that itself would point to a faulty seal.

bryan

[walnut]

Re: Zanussi Frost free – ZX55/4W – Fridge warm after 1 month

Thanks for the advice.
What does ice on bottom of evap or snow on top of the evap signal?

[farmboy]

Re: Zanussi Frost free – ZX55/4W – Fridge warm after 1 month

Walnut, you will find the defrost timer round the back of the unit, turn it until it clicks this will switch the compressor off and the defrost heater on. After a few minutes the heater should be warm and if surrounded by ice/frost then you may hear some cracking sounds too. If the heater comes on then the heater & thermostats are ok. The defrost timer should give off a faint ticking sound when running so check for it while its on defrost.

The fan will run regardless of the door switch so if the compressor is running then so should the fan.

As I posted earlier check the return air duct up behind the freezer evaporator, it is easily missed if its iced over, also check the defrost drain for blockages. If there is ice on the bottom of the evaporator but not in the drain area then again check the air return as any ice build up in this area will stop the airflow in the fridge.

[admin]

Re: Zanussi Frost free – ZX55/4W – Fridge warm after 1 month

Hi

Ice on the bottom is due to coming out of defrost too early,move the sensor from the centre of the evaperator to the top of the evaperator and that will normall cure icing up on bottom of the element.

bryan

[Author]

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