How to Replace the Freezer Temperature Control Thermostat in Your Frigidaire Refrigerator

The freezer temperature control thermostat, also known as the cold control thermostat, regulates the temperature inside the freezer compartment. When the thermostat senses the freezer is too warm or too cold, it cycles the compressor on and off. The control thermostat is found in the control housing inside the fresh food compartment of your Frigidaire refrigerator model FRS26R4CW.

The sensor bulb, which monitors the temperature, stretches from the control thermostat to the freezer interior. If you notice your freezer is too cold or too hot, there’s a good chance the temperature control thermostat has failed and is no longer switching the compressor on and off at the appropriate time. Unfortunately, a damaged control thermostat cannot be repaired, and instead, will need to be replaced.

Appliance Repair Safety Tips

• Always unplug your refrigerator and turn off its water supply before you start working on your appliance; otherwise, you risk getting electrocuted.
• Keep your hands and eyes safe by wearing gloves and safety goggles as you repair your appliance.
• If, at any stage of the repair, you feel as though you can’t safely complete the job, please stop what you’re doing and contact an appliance repair specialist.

Tools Needed

• 1/4″ Nut Driver
• Flathead Screwdriver

How to Remove the Control Housing Assembly From Your Refrigerator

1. Open the fresh food compartment door and either lower the top shelf or take it out. Once the shelf is out of the way, unscrew the refrigerator light bulb.
2. At the front of the control housing assembly, depress the water filter release button. When the filter pops out, remove it.
3. Using your 1/4″ nut driver, unthread the screw that secures the water line cover to the top and rear wall of your refrigerator. Then, carefully pull the cover off the wall and ceiling, and disconnect it from the back of the control housing assembly.
4. Now you can unthread the screws that hold the control housing assembly to the compartment ceiling and sidewall. There are several screws, so make sure you take out all of them, including the one behind the damper grill. Once all the screws are removed, lower the control housing and disconnect its wire plug from the ceiling.
5. Next, pull out the two water lines that run to the back of the control housing. Some water may leak out of the lines, so have a towel nearby to wipe up the mess.
6. Finally, to finish up the control housing removal, pull the temperature control sensor bulb out of the freezer compartment. Then, carry the control housing assembly to a flat and sturdy work table.

How to Uninstall the Freezer Temperature Control Thermostat

1. Start uninstalling the temperature control thermostat by taking off its control knob. To do so, insert your Flathead screwdriver behind the knob and push it off the control thermostat shaft.
2. Next, remove the control thermostat from its mounting bracket by using your Flathead screwdriver to depress the locking tab holding the component in place. Then, lift the thermostat up and disconnect the wires running to it.
3. Before you can completely uninstall the control thermostat, you need to free the sensor bulb. The bulb runs along the side of the damper control. To get to the part, pull the top of the damper control off of the control housing. Then, carefully slide the sensor bulb out of its plastic installation tube.
4. Now that the sensor bulb is free, you can get rid of the damaged freezer temperature control thermostat and install the new one.

How to Install a New Freezer Temperature Control Thermostat

1. Grab the new control thermostat and straighten out the sensor bulb. Then, thread the bulb through the plastic installation tube that’s attached to the side of the damper control. Stop sliding the sensor bulb forward once the tip of the bulb reaches the end of the tube.
2. Reinstall the damper control by pushing it back onto the control housing assembly.
3. Insert the rest of the sensor bulb into the clips running along the inside of the control housing. Then, near the temperature control, bend the sensor bulb so you can fit the component back into the mounting bracket.
4. Before you push the control thermostat into its bracket, reconnect the wires to its terminals. Then, use your Flathead screwdriver to pull back the bracket locking tab while pushing down on the control thermostat until the component locks in place.
5. To finish up installing the new temperature control thermostat, simply slide the control knob onto the thermostat shaft. Test the knob out by twisting it around a few times to ensure it rotates freely.

How to Reinstall the Control Housing Assembly

1. Begin installing the control housing assembly by threading the sensor bulb through the opening near the back of the fresh food compartment. Then, insert the control housing plug into the refrigerator ceiling. Next, push the water lines into the back of the control housing assembly.
2. Line up the screw holes on the control housing assembly with the screw holes in the fresh food compartment ceiling. Then, using your 1/4″ nut driver, rethread the screw closest to the water filter housing. Once that screw is secure, reinstall the rest of the screws. Before finishing up, didn’t forget to insert the screw near the water lines and the screw behind the damper grill.
3. Retrieve the waterline cover and reinstall it by inserting the tabs on the front of the cover into the slots on the back of the water filter housing. Then, push up on the cover to insert its locking tabs into the refrigerator ceiling. Finish up installing the cover by rethreading the single screw that holds it to the rear wall.
4. Grab the refrigerator’s water filter and slide it back into the water filter housing. Next, replace the fresh food compartment light bulb, and readjust the top shelf.
5. To finish up your repair, plug-in your appliance and turn its water supply on. Then, open the refrigerator door and set the control thermostat to your desired temperature. At this point, walk away from your appliance and let some time pass before you check to see if the new part has fixed your freezer’s temperature malfunction.

If your refrigerator is malfunctioning and you’re not sure what’s causing the issue, please contact us today and we’ll be happy to help you pinpoint and fix the faulty component.