How To Replace a Defrost Timer on an Amana Refrigerator

The defrost timer helps control the temperature inside the freezer, alternating between freezing and defrost cycles. If the timer breaks it will stick on either a freeze or defrost cycle, meaning your freezer will either not cool or you will have excessive frost build-up.

1. Unplug your refrigerator from the electrical outlet.

2. Locate the defrost timer in your Amana refrigerator. Unfortunately there is no uniform location for the defrost timer in Amana refrigerators. Typically it is found behind the fridge on the appliances back wall, near the compressor. If you do not find it there it may be inside the refrigerator, behind the control panel, or behind the lower toe panel on the bottom of the fridge. The timer will be encased in plastic and there will be four wires connected to the bottom of the device.

3. Remove the screws holding the timer in place. Unplug the wires from the timer. More than likely, the wires will be connected to a harness so you can unplug the entire harness. If the wires are connected individually, label the wires with masking tape you can easily connect them later. Grab the wires by the connector and slide them off of the timer's contact points. Do not pull on the wires themselves.

4. Connect the wires to a new timer. Place the timer into position and replace the mounting screws. Replace the toe panel or any other access panels that had to be removed. Plug the refrigerator back into the electrical outlet.