Slow and Steady? More Like Standing Still...Jenn-Air Refrigerator Repair JCD2389GES

Well, I am at a standstill for awhile or at least I was...

I found out a couple of days ago that my stove has stopped working.  This is a nice stove made by (similar to this one) Kitchenaid  but is around nine years old now.  The electrical panel went out, just around the time I was going to get the floor tile installed.  So now we wait.

 I will need to replace the panel which runs around $400.00 or buy a new unit.  A bit of a bummer, but I do have several counter-top electric appliances that I can utilize until we decide what to do about the stove.

About a year ago we had the broiler element replaced, I guess it is just at the stage where it will continue to breakdown.  It is in such nice shape that I was hoping to wait a few more years before I had to replace it, of course $400.00 sounds a lot better than $2,200.00!

All of our appliances are around the same age.  The refrigerator is a little older, around 13 years.

I replaced the latch on the dishwasher a month ago when that broke.  It is working fine now so I should get a few (hopefully) more years out of that.

Two days ago the refrigerator had water under it.  I found out the tube that feeds the ice maker was leaking, but that was an easy fix.  I just cut the tube and re-inserted into the connector, and for now it seems to be fine.

UPDATE: October 25, 2012.  I woke to more water under the refrigerator.  I guess it wasn't the connector after all.  I called a repair man at  ADVANTAGE APPLIANCE  if you ever need any service, call this company.  I spoke with a man named Craig, super nice and extremely helpful.  He actually walked me through how to repair the problem right over the phone.

After I explained that ice was inside the bottom of the freezer side and water was on the floor outside the door, he said the defrost drain was probably plugged with ice and that can cause the water to flow into the freezer when the unit goes into defrost mode, and then run out of the inside panel and form ice at the base and often times water will run out the bottom of the door.

He said it was an easy fix and I should be able to do it myself.

I want to thank Advantage Appliance for saving me the money it would have cost to come out.  I have never had a repair person tell me how to do something over the phone.  He could have easily came out and charged the money for the repair.  This man has restored my faith in humanity!  I will pay it forward now, by giving you all the necessary information on how to repair this yourself like he did for me.

Jenn-Air Side By Side Refrigerator

Model JCD2389GES

First remove everything from the freezer, baskets, shelves, food and all.
Then locate the panel.  It is the center panel, you will see a grill at the base of this panel, see my second photo below.

Find the proper tools:
which of course I did not find so I used a pair of pliers.

Remove the panel:
Loosen the two screws at the top of the panel.  Once they are loose you can unscrew them by hand.  It helps if you press against the panel when you are unscrewing them.  They are pretty long, about an inch and a half.  This panel is slipped under the one above so once you have the screws out, gently lift it from under the top panel. Now at first the panel did not come off easily.  I first had to use my hair dryer to melt the ice so that the panel would lift up.  After that I was able to maneuver it out.  It is not that easy, it doesn't just lift out of the freezer, you have to manipulate it a bit to get it out.  Obviously this is installed before the inside of the freezer surround is put in because the shelf molding is in the way.

Sure enough you could see ice behind it. 

Inside view of Jenn-Air Side by Side Freezer after panel was removed.

This is the panel, notice the grill at the base.  Also there is only two screws to remove at the top left and right.

After the panel is removed you will see where the water has pooled up and froze over the drain.  This is at the very bottom of the coils on the stainless steel tray.  You won't see the drain until you melt the ice.

Close-up of Ice. Notice it is also under this metal panel and has raised up the panel a bit.  Bring out the hair dryer!

After I get some of the ice melted, you will see the drain.  This drain is attached to the hose that is fed to the drain panel under your refrigerator.  It also has ice formed in it.

Carefully, I lift the panel and see a lot more ice.  Use a hair dryer to melt it, it goes much faster, but you can use hot water too.  Just have some towels ready to soak up the water or you will have a mess on your floor.  Trial and Error.

Now, you need a turkey baster and lots of hot water.  This is the only way you can force the ice to melt that has built up in the tube.  It doesn't really take that long, but be patient, and you can force the ice a little bit by pushing the tip of the turkey baster into the tube/drain.  

All of a sudden you will hear water flow to the bottom drain panel.  Check this by laying on the floor and sticking your hand under the refrigerator side.  You should feel the drain panel and you should now feel water in it.  

 Once you are sure of that you can dry everything up inside the freezer, and replace the panel.  I ran a little more water through it and then stuffed a towel under the drain pan and force some water out of it by pulling it down.

I know you can remove the front panel and clean out the drain pan, but I pretty much was finished with my appliance repairing at this point.  I will save that project for another fun, filled day!


I am learning way more than I ever intended to on appliance repair!  Hey, that is what they make replacement parts for, right.  I love to get on-line and search for YouTube videos on How to Repair this or that.  That is how I found out how to replace the latch on the dishwasher.  Have I told you lately Google that I Love You?!

I do have some good news though.  The additional electrical outlets are installed along the wall where I am moving the cabinet.  An Electrician friend of Tony's put those in for only $100.00 and he also put an appliance cord on the dishwasher and installed a receptacle behind it. This will make it really easy to install a new one when the time comes.

Last week I sanded the cabinet that will go on this wall.  I moved it outside to keep the dust from being in here.  I think it is ready for primer, but I want to do a few more cabinets before I open up the paint can.  I think you are supposed to paint within a few days of using primer so I need to make sure I have a few cabinets ready to go.

I was a bit down the last few days after finding out about the appliances, but the weather looks good today and the days ahead promises to be warm and sunny.  I am steadfast and ready to move on.....

Steadfast Heart


I've dreamed many dreams
That never came true
I've seen them vanish at dawn,
But I've realized
Enough of my dreams,
Thank God,
To make me want to dream on.

I've prayed many prayers
When no answer came,
Though I waited patient and long,
But answers have come
To enough of my prayers
To make me keep praying on.

I've trusted many a friend that failed,
And left me to weep alone,
But I've found
Enough of my friends true blue,
To make me keep trusting on.

I've sown many seeds
That fell by the way,
For the birds to feed upon,
But I've held
Enough golden sheaves in my hands,
To make me keep sowing on.

I've drained the cup
Of disappointment and pain
And gone many ways without song,
But I've sipped enough nectar
From the roses of life
To make me want to live on.

~~ Author Unknown ~~ 

MAYBE I AM DREAMING TOO BIG....?

 

Traditional Kitchen design by London Kitchen And Bath Fixtures Maple & Gray

Traditional Kitchen design by London Kitchen And Bath Fixtures Maple & Gray