I have a Hotpoint fridge/freezer ff93 which is about 3 years old.
Unfortunately the top fridge section has stopped working and currently
has a temperature of 18 deg C but the freezer is still working fine.
There is a small vent at the top of the fridge section which normally
has cold air coming out of it but now has nothing coming out of it.
I have removed the cover at the back of the inside of the freezer
section and the cooling fan is working. I have also checked the
compressor fan on the bottom of the unit.
The other end of the vent is in the freezer compartment - I have
tried forcing air through it with a hair dryer suspecting that it
might be blocked but no air comes out of the other end. Is there a
valve of some description in the pipe which could be stuck?
I am unable to get into the rear of the unit as it is a "flat back"
model. Does anyone have any ideas how to progress this?

In message , DBridge
wrote
I have a Hotpoint fridge/freezer ff93 which is about 3 years old.
Unfortunately the top fridge section has stopped working and currently
has a temperature of 18 deg C but the freezer is still working fine.
There is a small vent at the top of the fridge section which normally
has cold air coming out of it but now has nothing coming out of it.
I have removed the cover at the back of the inside of the freezer
section and the cooling fan is working. I have also checked the
compressor fan on the bottom of the unit.
The other end of the vent is in the freezer compartment - I have
tried forcing air through it with a hair dryer suspecting that it
might be blocked but no air comes out of the other end. Is there a
valve of some description in the pipe which could be stuck?
I am unable to get into the rear of the unit as it is a "flat back"
model. Does anyone have any ideas how to progress this?


Are there individual adjustments for fridge and freezer temperatures? If
so, possibly one thermostat has failed. It will be located behind the
temperature control adjuster and have a 75cm capillary tube (looks like
a thick wire) fitted somewhere inside the fridge compartment.

Replacement approx. £10 + p&p from CPC

http://custom1.farnell.com/cpc/searc...nSubmit=Search


http://custom1.farnell.com/cpc/produ...CPC+Catalogue&
category%5Fname=&product%5Fid=WG31636466




--
Alan

"DBridge" wrote in message
om...
I have a Hotpoint fridge/freezer ff93 which is about 3 years old.
Unfortunately the top fridge section has stopped working and currently
has a temperature of 18 deg C but the freezer is still working fine.
There is a small vent at the top of the fridge section which normally
has cold air coming out of it but now has nothing coming out of it.
I have removed the cover at the back of the inside of the freezer
section and the cooling fan is working. I have also checked the
compressor fan on the bottom of the unit.
The other end of the vent is in the freezer compartment - I have
tried forcing air through it with a hair dryer suspecting that it
might be blocked but no air comes out of the other end. Is there a
valve of some description in the pipe which could be stuck?
I am unable to get into the rear of the unit as it is a "flat back"
model. Does anyone have any ideas how to progress this?

The valve in the duct is at the fridge end in the light fitting on the roof.

Peter

Yes there are via some buttons and an LCD display on the top of the FF.

I have found the thermostat under the light housing with the paddle
valve I was looking for. Placing the thermosat next to a cup of tea
(not in it for obvious reasons) I was able to watch the temperature
readout on the LCD panel change. So the thermostat is fine. The valve
is open so I would expect the cold air to be circulating. I shall spend
some more time investigating the vents.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Yes there are via some buttons and an LCD display on the top of the FF.

I have found the thermostat under the light housing with the paddle
valve I was looking for. Placing the thermosat next to a cup of tea
(not in it for obvious reasons) I was able to watch the temperature
readout on the LCD panel change. So the thermostat is fine. The valve
is open so I would expect the cold air to be circulating. I shall spend
some more time investigating the vents.

If the fan in the freezer is running and the flap in the fridge is open then
either the flow or return ducts must be obstructed with ice.

Peter

Peter wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
Yes there are via some buttons and an LCD display on the top of the
FF.

I have found the thermostat under the light housing with the paddle
valve I was looking for. Placing the thermosat next to a cup of tea
(not in it for obvious reasons) I was able to watch the temperature
readout on the LCD panel change. So the thermostat is fine. The
valve
is open so I would expect the cold air to be circulating. I shall
spend
some more time investigating the vents.

If the fan in the freezer is running and the flap in the fridge is
open then
either the flow or return ducts must be obstructed with ice.

Peter

I have tested the flap valve by putting an ice bock on the thermostat
and it closed at the preset temperature and then opened again when the
block was removed.
I shall wait until the food in the freezer has been eaten and then do a
thorough defrost.

In article ,
(DBridge) writes:
I have a Hotpoint fridge/freezer ff93 which is about 3 years old.

I thought Hotpoints all had a 5 year manufacturer's guarantee?
Might be limited after the first year to just labour or just
parts -- can't recall.

--
Andrew Gabriel

Yes it is a 5 year parts only guarantee. I haven't checked but I expect
that hotpoint will charge just to have a look at it.
If it is the case that it is iced up then I would rather just defost it
- I'm still waiting for the food to be eaten.

On Sun, 5 Dec 2004 09:06:31 +0000, Alan
wrote:

Are there individual adjustments for fridge and freezer temperatures? If
so, possibly one thermostat has failed. It will be located behind the
temperature control adjuster and have a 75cm capillary tube (looks like
a thick wire) fitted somewhere inside the fridge compartment.

Replacement approx. £10 + p&p from CPC

http://custom1.farnell.com/cpc/searc...nSubmit=Search


http://custom1.farnell.com/cpc/produ...CPC+Catalogue&
category%5Fname=&product%5Fid=WG31636466

Our fridge failed at the weekend (freezing everything in sight) I saw
this post on Monday, found & ordered the 'stat. It arrived mid-day
Tuesday, ten minute job to fit it. Result - wife over the moon.
I'm popular at the moment. Thanks Alan

--
Andy Minter

The food has now been eaten and I have defrosed the FF. I removed the
back of the inside of the freezer section and then removed the
polystyrene and the metal cover from the cooling fins. I found that
there was ice covering up the return air duct. Defrosted with a hair
dryer, put it all back together and gave the FF a good clean. Repowered
and it is now working fine.
The only remaining question is why the ice was there in the first
place. If the problem re-occurs in the near future I suspect that the
fault will lie with either the defrost timer or the heating element.

We had the same problem with our Hotpoint frost free freezer about 5 years
ago (bought in 1992) and the cause was the defrost timer motor which was not
turning so the cam switch was set for the compresssor & fan to run
continously. We lived with the problem for a couple of years by removing the
motor from the cam switch and then, on a weekly basis, I would turn the
switch until the compressor stopped running and then turn is back, 45
minutes later. I could have bought a replacement unit of about 40 quid but
it was not worth it as we were planning a new kitchen anyway.
I recently aquired a new larder fridge and a chest freezer so we no longer
use the old freezer part anyway and the unit lives in my garage with the
freezer door removed and the top half as a beer store.

Remember the Hotpoint 5 year warranty is only for parts so you WILL have to
pay labour - just make sure that you have the problem diagnosed so they wont
cahrge you fo much faultfinding time

rgds


Steve



"D Bridge" wrote in message
ups.com...
The food has now been eaten and I have defrosed the FF. I removed the
back of the inside of the freezer section and then removed the
polystyrene and the metal cover from the cooling fins. I found that
there was ice covering up the return air duct. Defrosted with a hair
dryer, put it all back together and gave the FF a good clean. Repowered
and it is now working fine.
The only remaining question is why the ice was there in the first
place. If the problem re-occurs in the near future I suspect that the
fault will lie with either the defrost timer or the heating element.