33118-3 General Electric Refrigerator - Overview

Contact points on original defrost clock burnt out after 36 years of continued use. Hotpoint does not stock replacement defrost clock. PartSelect replacement clock was a simple substitute which fits directly into the original mounting bracket. Space is tight to get the part out, so remove screw in upper right hand corner of bracket to d ... Read more isconnect clock from bracket. Then remove bracket and pull clock out. NOTE: Original part had wire color codes on the clock and the replacement part does not. Make a note of the order of the color connections and connect new clock in the same order. Replacement part has no ground wire since housing is entirely plastic. Push clock back behind frame. Reposition bracket. Install screw to mount bracket to clock. Then screw bracket back into frame. Glad I found Part Select online... saved me the hassle of getting my old spare fridge out of the basement!

Turned off and unplugged refrigerator.
Removed 1 screw (Phillips head) to detach old timer and 2 hex head screws to remove bracket from "beam" in front (bottom) of "fridge"and detach grounding wire. (Slightly difficult to maneuver bracket out of fridge.
Disconnected 4 wires from old timer and attache them to new one. Repl ... Read more aced (new) timer and bracket. Assumed that separate grounding wire was unnecessary because of cross-wiring between trrminals. (Was I incorrect?)
GE didn't have the timer but PartSelect had a suitable substitute.

It would have been quicker if I knew what I was doing in advance

Removed floor grate,romoved screw holding timer,push timer back,removed hex-screw holding bracket,removed ground wire.Removed connectors from old timer and put on new timer,pushed back new timer,mounted bracket,screwed new timer to bracket. Set timer to defrost at 11pm,put back floor grate.