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Video & Articles: Appliance & Equipment RepairWhirlpool Matrix Refrigerator Defrost Heater Replacement WPW10316428 
Whirlpool Matrix Refrigerator Defrost Heater Replacement WPW10316428
Skill Level
Total Parts Cost
$149.44Estimated Savings
$112.5007:18
- Description
This video provides step-by-step repair instructions for replacing the defrost heater on a Whirlpool Matrix refrigerator (Model WRT318FMDB02). The most common reason for replacing this part is if the evaporator coils are freezing over.
All of the information for this video is applicable to the following brands:
Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, Kitchenaid, Kenmore
All of the information for this video is applicable to the following brands:
Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, Kitchenaid, Kenmore
Step By Step Instructions
1
Whirlpool Matrix Refrigerator - WRT318FMDB02
2
Refrigerator Defrost Heater Replacement
3
Tools needed: quarter-inch socket or nut driver, Phillips-head screwdriver, pliers
4
Shock
5
Be sure to unplug the power cord.
6
Open the freezer door and remove the ice bucket.
7
Using a quarter-inch socket or nut driver, fully unthread the lower screw securing the ice maker to the liner.
8
Loosen the two upper screws.
9
With the screws loosened, you can lift the ice maker off of the screws.
10
Lift the tab to disconnect the wire harness to fully remove the ice maker.
11
Slide out the glass shelf.
12
Fully unthread the upper ice maker mounting screws.
13
Using a Phillips-head screwdriver, unthread the screw to release the ice maker harness cover.
14
Slide the fill tube extension off of the fill tube.
15
Detach all of the screw-hole plugs and then use the quarter-inch socket or nut driver to unthread the screws securing the evaporator cover.
16
Sharp
17
Pull the evaporator cover forward from the top.
18
Push the ice maker wire harness through the slot and you can fully remove the evaporator cover.
19
Remove the insulator block.
20
Unthread the screw securing the heat probe to the defrost heater and pull off the probe.
21
Next, disconnect the defrost heater wire connecter.
22
Free the wire from the fan housing and then cut the retainer securing the wire to the rear liner.
23
Sharp
24
Now remove the heater shield by using pliers to bend back a retaining bracket.
25
Remove the two polystyrene foam blocks.
26
You can now detach the heater from the mounting clips to fully remove.
27
Install the new defrost heater by first positioning the wire in the polystyrene foam blocks and then push the blocks into place.
28
Snap the heater into the mounting clips.
29
Realign the shield and then bend the retaining bracket back in to secure.
30
Position the wire behind the fan housing and secure the wire in the cut retainer.
31
Connect the wire connecter.
32
Reinstall the heat probe by inserting the long end into the drain hole as you hook the probe onto the heater.
33
Squeeze the top half of the probe as you thread the screw to secure.
34
Reposition the insulator block.
35
Use string to help feed the ice maker wire harness through the slot in the evaporator cover as you fully position the cover ? this will require some effort.
36
Rethread all of the screws to secure the cover.
37
Snap in the screw-hole plugs.
38
Realign the wire harness cover and thread the screw to secure.
39
Slide the fill tube extension over the fill tube.
40
Partially thread the upper ice maker mounting screws.
41
Replace the glass shelf.
42
Reinstall the ice maker by first connecting the wire harness.
43
Align the ice maker on the fill tube as you hook the brackets on the upper screws.
44
Tighten the screws.
45
Thread and tighten the lower screw.
46
Replace the ice bucket.
47
Plug the power cord back in and your refrigerator should be ready for use.
Description
This video provides step-by-step repair instructions for replacing the defrost heater on a Whirlpool Matrix refrigerator (Model WRT318FMDB02). The most common reason for replacing this part is if the evaporator coils are freezing over.
All of the information for this video is applicable to the following brands:
Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, Kitchenaid, Kenmore
All of the information for this video is applicable to the following brands:
Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, Kitchenaid, Kenmore
Step-By-Step Instructions
1
Whirlpool Matrix Refrigerator - WRT318FMDB02
2
Refrigerator Defrost Heater Replacement
3
Tools needed: quarter-inch socket or nut driver, Phillips-head screwdriver, pliers
4
Shock
5
Be sure to unplug the power cord.
6
Open the freezer door and remove the ice bucket.
7
Using a quarter-inch socket or nut driver, fully unthread the lower screw securing the ice maker to the liner.
8
Loosen the two upper screws.
9
With the screws loosened, you can lift the ice maker off of the screws.
10
Lift the tab to disconnect the wire harness to fully remove the ice maker.
11
Slide out the glass shelf.
12
Fully unthread the upper ice maker mounting screws.
13
Using a Phillips-head screwdriver, unthread the screw to release the ice maker harness cover.
14
Slide the fill tube extension off of the fill tube.
15
Detach all of the screw-hole plugs and then use the quarter-inch socket or nut driver to unthread the screws securing the evaporator cover.
16
Sharp
17
Pull the evaporator cover forward from the top.
18
Push the ice maker wire harness through the slot and you can fully remove the evaporator cover.
19
Remove the insulator block.
20
Unthread the screw securing the heat probe to the defrost heater and pull off the probe.
21
Next, disconnect the defrost heater wire connecter.
22
Free the wire from the fan housing and then cut the retainer securing the wire to the rear liner.
23
Sharp
24
Now remove the heater shield by using pliers to bend back a retaining bracket.
25
Remove the two polystyrene foam blocks.
26
You can now detach the heater from the mounting clips to fully remove.
27
Install the new defrost heater by first positioning the wire in the polystyrene foam blocks and then push the blocks into place.
28
Snap the heater into the mounting clips.
29
Realign the shield and then bend the retaining bracket back in to secure.
30
Position the wire behind the fan housing and secure the wire in the cut retainer.
31
Connect the wire connecter.
32
Reinstall the heat probe by inserting the long end into the drain hole as you hook the probe onto the heater.
33
Squeeze the top half of the probe as you thread the screw to secure.
34
Reposition the insulator block.
35
Use string to help feed the ice maker wire harness through the slot in the evaporator cover as you fully position the cover ? this will require some effort.
36
Rethread all of the screws to secure the cover.
37
Snap in the screw-hole plugs.
38
Realign the wire harness cover and thread the screw to secure.
39
Slide the fill tube extension over the fill tube.
40
Partially thread the upper ice maker mounting screws.
41
Replace the glass shelf.
42
Reinstall the ice maker by first connecting the wire harness.
43
Align the ice maker on the fill tube as you hook the brackets on the upper screws.
44
Tighten the screws.
45
Thread and tighten the lower screw.
46
Replace the ice bucket.
47
Plug the power cord back in and your refrigerator should be ready for use.
Applicable Product Model
Parts Needed
Defrost Heater Assembly
$149.44
Total$0.00
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