How to Troubleshoot & Replace Whirlpool AP5985208 / W10822278 Defrost Timer

Ordered the defrost timer and it's easy to install...did it in about 15 minutes...works perfect. Just had to verify where one wire went, but that was pretty easy too. Just looked at the Q and A for that part and went from there. But also contacted Parts Pro and got our answer too. Got the part really fast...within 2 days! 

I assumed after 30 years the compressor had gone out. Next morning I wondered why the condenser fan was not running. Used ohm meter and found no power to fan or compressor. Got on internet to find location of defrost timer and thermostat. I had help on line ordering part. My problem was model number had two zeros and not two letters "O". Part arrived ahead of schedule. I did not understand black lead wire. The package did not come with directions. Checked YOUTUBE and understood it needed to go over one of the four pin on the timer. Old timer had two wire which went to two of the pins. Looked to me the clock on old part was powered from pin marked RED and that new part was internal powered from RED. This left pin #2. Instructions sent on Monday for schematic on Fridge confirmed #2. Following install the Frig did not start. I accessed the timer thru the access hole and gave a twist to take it out of defrost. Hope this part is good for another 30 years!! 

Got new parts, frig new, parts great. Had front load washer new motor great 

I replaced the defroster timer. The only directions that came with the timer were all languages except English. The timer had 4 numbered connections printed on the plastic. I matched the numbers with the old original noisy timer. It worked! 

Replaced the freezer heating element (and defrost timer, while we were in there) - after a Google search suggested that is the most common reason fridge starts to trip breakers. Parts arrived the next day after purchasing, saving the groceries I had bought the day before the fridge went kaput. 

Popped panel off and unscrewed little bolts and replace switch after wiring for my freezer. 

I ordered the timer early Friday morning I think - It was there by Saturday, which is very good delivery. I replaced it that evening. It is much better now. 

This was my second time I had to replace Defrost Timer. 4 years ago my fridge had the same issue. Both times, fridge was warm for many hours and was not doing anything. Fridge was working again after I turned the small button on the bottom of the switch clockwise till you hear it click. I figured out that Defrost Timer is no longer reliable and installed new Defrost Timer. It is working again now. The old Defrost Timer was working for 4 years, seems to be too short, My original Defrost Timer worked for 30 years. Repair video, instruction sheet and fridge documentation makes repair fairly easy. However, it is not easy to find instruction sheet. Once you remove content from the plastic bag, link (www.ServiceMatters.com/instruct) to instruction sheet becomes invisible, black on black. Font is also quite small, it should more visible, easy to notice. 

I was fairly certain it was only the WHIRLPOOL Defrost Bimetal because the top one popped up. Though I decided to purchase all three items since the refrigerator was 20 years old Purchased: WHIRLPOOL Defrost Heater WHIRLPOOL Defrost Bimetal WHIRLPOOL Defrost Timer Went well excluding needing to splice wires for the WHIRLPOOL Defrost Bimetal as it is not a direct unplug to re plug connection like the other two items 

Replaced both the Cold Control/Thermostat and the Defrost Timer. Followed the instructional video links on the parts pages of the AppliancePartsPros web site. While the old thermostat in the video matched the one in my fridge, the new thermostat in the video DI NOT MACTH what was delivered, The ‘old’ thermostat in the video matched mine where there are two wiring pins to disconnect, an UPPER and LOWER. The new part had the pins side by side in a front and back configuration, with no obvious markings. With a magnifying glass and bright light I was able to find labels embossed in the plastic marking the rear pin as 3 and the forward pin as 4. My old Timer had each pin marked both numerically and by color allowing me to align rear Pin #3 as RED and forward Pin #4 as Orange. Once this was resolved I followed the videos. Note: When done, I plugged in the fridge. the lights went on but not the compressor. Waited ten minutes and still nothing. Decided to leave it overnight, but found it running perfectly a couple of hours later.