How to Troubleshoot & Replace Ge AP2071464 / WR51X442 Refrigerator Defrost Heater

My freezer started to frost on the back cover panel of the freezer. The fridge was getting warmer. I removed panel and coils were froze solid. Tool my blow heater and got rid of the ice, so i could see the wires. Unplugged the heater plug inside the panel. Removed the heater wires and did a Ohms check. Found the bottom heater was burned, checked top heater it was good. This system of heaters run in series so if one burns out the other will not work. Ordered heaters and replaced them and problem solved. Good Luck Ron 

Took out the old defrost timer and check it with my oms meter, showing good. so then I took out the defrost heaters and the defrost thermostat, wired all together as one component. check with oms meter. showing one good and one bad. That way i was able to know it was the correct part. so my wife ordered the parts on line from appliancepartspros, gave them the model no and the part numbers we found on line. she check them with the model no, they were the correct parts. I went ahead and ordered the defrost timer also since I already had it out. we had the parts in about 2 days . I installed all 3 parts plug it in and now it seems to be working fine. will let it run for at least 2 weeks and make sure it is working properly. 

I Removed the back inside panel of the freezer. Frost was all over the evaporator. The defroster heater was not working. I ordered the defrost timer and defrost heater. I bought both to be sure I didn't have more than one failure point. The frig is 18 yrs old so I figured I'd be sure i don't have this problem again. After allowing time to melt all the frost, I replaced both components. Surprisingly easy. Replaced both components in about 30 minutes. 

Replaced the defrost timer and heaters. 

New heaters from this company. Refrigerator is 31 years old. The electronic junk they make today will not even come close to lasting this long. So, I try to keep it going, but parts are becoming more scarce. 

Replaced the part I purchased from you. 

Troubleshot it with the assistance of your website. Ordered the part using next-day service and had it fixed the day the parts arrived. 

It was a straightforward replacement for Defrost Heater. My 23 year Hotpoint may last a few more years! After replacement the fan and compressor didn't work. I was told to wait 20 minutes and the compressor would start. Working great now!!! 

Using videos on this site and YouTube as a guide replaced the defrost heater and while I was at it replaced the Defrost timer on my GE side by side refrigerator as both parts were ~20 years old. Only tools required were a 1/4 inch nut driver and a Phillips head receiver. Most challenging part was the small space to work in in the receiver section. 

Ordered replacement parts & installed… smooth and easy !