Hotpoint MS802 UK Freezer temp warning "--"

[pobx]

Hi,

Our MS802(UK) has been clicking for a while. It would spend up to 1minute clicking then stop. It was freezing and refrigerating fine though and Hotpoint told me it was the frost-free mechanism breaking up ice...sounded dubious but it was working.

This weekend it has started displaying -- on the freezer temp and beeping the warning. After hunting down a pdf on the web (and finding it has extra info the supplied manual doesn't) I now know that also happens when you turn the appliance on for the first time, when
•the appliance is connected to the power supply after
prolonged disuse.
•the freezer compartment temperature is inadequate.
•the quantity of food to be frozen inside the
compartment is such that it will cause a temporary
increase of temperature.
•the freezer door has been left open for a long time.

Now it hasn't been defrosted in the 13months we've had it.
It was used a lot this weekend (summer=barbecue)

The freezer compartment just doesn't seem to recover from this state.

Further reading of the manual makes me ask for any tips on how to:

•Clean the condenser using a vacuum cleaner,
remove the front kickplate
and
•The refrigerant system pipes are located near the
defrost pan and can become very hot. Periodically
clean them with a vacuum cleaner.

Any other advice is welcome.
Thanks

[HotpointCarl]

where is the clicking coming from????

[pobx]

Well it's not done that for a while now, it sounded external.
However I set about the frosty bits with a screwdriver this evening and removed the 4 or 5 screw holding the back air ducting panels on as you look inside the freezer.
Sure enough thick with ice was the radiator and element. Left them to defrost and have taken all the food out of the freezer side and started it back up. Seems happier now and can feel the flow of cold air again out of the top of the ducting.

Not saying that it's 100% fixed yet, but it's almost certainly what the engineer would have found if I'd splashed out the £105 :-)

I'll update in here if it manages to get to -18 without sounding the alarm.

Thanks

[pobx]

where is the clicking coming from????

Hi Carl,

I left it off for a day and since then it has been able to maintain -24, although I tweaked it up to -21, in the freezer section and all is well.

Well it's well in the food bit but the clicking noise is now back.

It appears to be coming from under the front kickplate, but I'm not sure how to remove the grey plastic/rubber grill in front of it.

When it is clicking if you open the freezer door it carries on clicking and the light flashes and the fan motor dips during each click.

The clicking happens at random intervals and for anywhere between a few seconds to a full minute and it's not quiet!! But the unit is functioning, albeit noisily.

Cheers

[casablanca]

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