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Hotpoint ff93 fridge/freezer - fridge section not working
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. |
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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. |
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