Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV not cold.

[SuperAman]

Hi, I have a Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV. The fridge is on the bottom and the freezer is on the top. My problem is no matter what setting (1-9) the freezer is, the fridge is not getting cold but the freezer is always cold. I have tried all combination of settings for the fridge (Min, Mid, Max) but nothing. Fridge is always hot now. Before it would sometimes do this but now always fridge is hot. I believe the service center peeled some of the foil from the thermostat and that seemed to help a few years back. I replaced the thermostat recently and it worked off and on for a few weeks but now fridge is always hot and freezer cold for the past week.

[budm]

Re: Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV not cold.

The lower section get the cold air form the freezer section, so look for opening in the bottom section of the fridge to see if there is any obstruction, also look for a fan that circulate the cold air from freezer to the lower fridge section.
Show us the pictures of the internal chambers of the fridge.

https://www.gfyappliancerepair.com/b...-freezer-cold/

[petehall347]

Re: Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV not cold.

manual says ..Is the cold air vent blocked with food?

[R_J]

Re: Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV not cold.

One thing to check is if the defrost timer is working, What can happen if it does not cycle, ice can build up around the freezer and block the air flow to cool the fridge. I have a fridge with a similar defrost timer and if the motor in it stops running, the fridge will not get cold. The timer should be located on the rear lower right, you can cycle it manually using a large flat blade screwdriver. If the fridge is indeed frozen up, you may need to turn the defrost timer until it clicks and the heat element comes on and do this a couple times, You should then see or here water running into the pan under the fridge.
If this is the timer, you can turn the grey knob with a flat blade screwdriver clockwise. until it clicks, If the compressor is running at the time it will turn off.

[SuperAman]

Re: Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV not cold.

One thing to check is if the defrost timer is working, What can happen if it does not cycle, ice can build up around the freezer and block the air flow to cool the fridge. I have a fridge with a similar defrost timer and if the motor in it stops running, the fridge will not get cold. The timer should be located on the rear lower right, you can cycle it manually using a large flat blade screwdriver. If the fridge is indeed frozen up, you may need to turn the defrost timer until it clicks and the heat element comes on and do this a couple times, You should then see or here water running into the pan under the fridge.
If this is the timer, you can turn the grey knob with a flat blade screwdriver clockwise. until it clicks, If the compressor is running at the time it will turn off.

There was a buildup of ice on the coils. Cooled it down, melted it with boiling water. Now with the fridge and freezer set to the lowest settings, it has been working fine.

[R_J]

Re: Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV not cold.

It will do it again, you just proved the defrost timer is likely not working. It needs to cycle the defrost element every few days to keep the ice from forming.
You can operate the defrost cycle manually to melt the ice.

[SuperAman]

Re: Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV not cold.

It will do it again, you just proved the defrost timer is likely not working. It needs to cycle the defrost element every few days to keep the ice from forming.
You can operate the defrost cycle manually to melt the ice.

Thank you. Is the defrost timer located in the freezer or fridge compartment? I don't recall seeing anything that resembled that in the freezer compartment.

[R_J]

Re: Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV not cold.

The defrost timer is likely located on the lower part of the rear of the fridge, It will not be inside a compartment. Here is the location of mine, take a picture of the rear of your fridge if you can't locate it. When I checked the model of your fridge, the defrost timer for it is the one I posted in the picture, The original is likely black not white.

[SuperAman]

Re: Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV not cold.

The defrost timer is likely located on the lower part of the rear of the fridge, It will not be inside a compartment. Here is the location of mine, take a picture of the rear of your fridge if you can't locate it. When I checked the model of your fridge, the defrost timer for it is the one I posted in the picture, The original is likely black not white.

I don't see anything like that on my fridge. Here is a picture with the pan removed.

[SuperAman]

Re: Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV not cold.

[R_J]

Re: Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV not cold.

I don't know where they put it on this model, but if it is a frost free refrigerator, it is there somewhere.
Here is the manual, with the schematic, trace the wiring to find the defrost timer, maybe it IS inside behind a panel somewhere?
The pictures are too small to make out what's behind that black box where the cord enters

[sam_sam_sam]

Re: Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV not cold.

It might be with the temperature controller sensor behind the cover would be my guess

This timer might not have outside access to outside world would be my guess

But who knows where it could be

[R_J]

Re: Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV not cold.

I suspect this is a similar fridge, It looks like it is item #38 behind the panel in the fridge compartment

[SuperAman]

Re: Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV not cold.

I suspect this is a similar fridge, It looks like it is item #38 behind the panel in the fridge compartment

Thanks mate, it is a very similar model. Is it the #31 part in the diagram the defrost timer, I had suspected that was it? It did it again this week it worked fine for like a month or so.

[R_J]

Re: Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV not cold.

Thanks mate, it is a very similar model. Is it the #31 part in the diagram the defrost timer, I had suspected that was it? It did it again this week it worked fine for like a month or so.

NO that is the fan motor, The defront timer is #38

[SuperAman]

Re: Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV not cold.

NO that is the fan motor, The defront timer is #38

Yes 38 I meant. So is there a way to fix it or adjust it? Or does it have to be replaced? It's a pain to access, much easier to access the freezer compartment.

[R_J]

Re: Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV not cold.

Maybe it can be fixed? I don't have it to be able to tell. There is no adjustment, it is a timer, I suspect the small internal motor is not turning for some reason.
There should be a way to access the timer (post #6) so you can operate the switch manually by turning it with a flat screwdriver. maybe the access hole is under panel 42 or 36? If you can access it you can turn it to the defrost cycle, let it operate that way for about 10min, then advance it again to let the compressor operate.

[SuperAman]

Re: Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV not cold.

Maybe it can be fixed? I don't have it to be able to tell. There is no adjustment, it is a timer, I suspect the small internal motor is not turning for some reason.
There should be a way to access the timer (post #6) so you can operate the switch manually by turning it with a flat screwdriver. maybe the access hole is under panel 42 or 36? If you can access it you can turn it to the defrost cycle, let it operate that way for about 10min, then advance it again to let the compressor operate.

Thanks I found the little guy. The schematics were right, mine is a little larger though. I don't think I'm going to find a new one locally though. How many hours is this model, it is not clear? Can I replace with another one that is the same shape and maybe less hours of cooling and lower minutes of defrost? The heating element works because when I manually rotate counter clockwise the heating element starts and runs and some of the build up of ice is melted. Since there is so much buildup 1 manual defrost cycle wont cut it. The good thing is the timer is accessible, it os just above the fridge temp knob and there is a hole to rotate a screw driver.

[R_J]

Re: Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV not cold.

The defrost timer only runs when the fridge/compressor is running. The defrost motor is connected across pins 1 & 3, check the resistance of the motor, if it is good then maybe you can get some type of cleaner to wash out the motor and the reduction gears inside it? If not just replace the timer, If you can find a used one it should be ok, you can order them off the internet, just be sure to get the right voltage (ac200~240)

[ron350]

Re: Hitachi Refrigerator R-Z270AUN7KV not cold.

RJ cant he just hook up AC200-240 to pins 1and 3 and see if the motor works?