CST20KABCAD Hotpoint Refrigerator - Instructions

Remove the top cover above the door by lifting it slightly and pulling forward. I used a mirror to make sure that there was nothing in the way of accessing the switch from above. I used a blade screwdriver to press against the switch retainer on the topside, while GENTLY prying from below with another blade screwdriver to get the switch dislodged. Once the retainer was past the opening, I wiggled the switch downward and then rotated it to the left when the rounded top right edge of the switch was visible. This allowed the wiring to the connector to pass thru the hole. I pushed the wiring from the top and pulled from below to get the connector below the opening for the switch. I then unplugged the switch, plugged in the new switch and reversed the removal process feeding the connector thru first then rotating the switch to the right to get the rounded edge of the switch thru the opening, then pressed the switch up into the opening until it snapped into place. Total time less than 10 minutes.

Followed the video on the computer. Was fixed in no time. Works great.

I replaced both lower hinges without removing the doors. First a couple of observations. The hinge kit consists of two parts; the lower part (bolted to the case) consists of an “L” bracket with a plastic cam, and the upper plastic cam (attached to the door). For some reason the upper cam is available as a separate part . If both cams are plastic both are worn out. Don’t bother ordering the individual cam. If one hinge is worn out the other probably isn’t far behind. Consider replacing both at the same time. Examine the door check. It is an inverted “T” shaped bracket bolted to the door that also holds the door cam. The crossbar of the T are metal tabs that check the door swing. Way too fragile IMO. On mine the refrigerator side was cracked and broke off when I removed it. Since the stops are the same right and left. I just swapped them when I replaced the hinges. Saved $22. Replacing the hinges without removing the doors. {Warning if this technique goes wrong you will be stuck with a loaded door you can’t open.} Remove the vent grill. Stack three 2x4’s along the bottom of both doors ( 26” is about right ). Shim the door(s) up to compensate for the cam wear. About 1/8”) Use a 5/16 socket to remove the hinge from the case. Pay attention to placement of the shims and spacers. Then remove the door cam and stop bracket. Install the new door cam. Leave the screws a little loose. Replace the lower hinge and tighten the screws. Do both sides. Then carefully remove the shims and 2x4’s. Finish tightening the door hinge screws. Check the door swing. I used this technique twice. One to replace the refrigerator side hinge, then again to replace the freezer side hinge and swap the door checks. There were no problems and I saved the hassle of unloading and removing the doors.

took a little more effort than the video show to remove old module and replace new. Works fine now.

Easy

It was way to ez to install only a couple of minutes that's it

cleared top shelf removed box containing timer, installed new timer, reinstalled box.

Removed freezed inside back cover, defosted coils with a hair dryer and replaced the defrost heater.

This actually was a part of a thermostat problem. I bought a thermostat one week earlier and that fixed the problem. I bought the thermostat thinking that was part of the warming of the fresh food and freezer section. I installed the defrost timer anyway with the thermostat and it is working well. I didn't know that the freezer got above 15 degrees on the defrost cycle every 16 hours.
One 1/4 hex screw at the top of the housing removes the entire assembly. Be careful not to damage the foam on the left side removing the housing. There is a tab on the bottom right on the back panel that lifts up to remove. Unplug that whole assembly from the fridge wiring harness and the rest is obvious.

first i entered the symptoms into your site and the culprit was gonna be the defrost timer or defrost heater-thermostat. I ordered the parts and they arrived the next day even though I didn't pay for next day. Defrosting the freezer was what took the time.After it was thawed it only took about 15 minutes to install the heater and timer. Am happy to say I have all the ice I need and your diagnosis was right on.

I first googled the problem, then narrowed down the parts that could cause the problem (if failed), then took out the parts and determined that they had indeed failed. I then ordered said parts and installed them. It was easy because they are "plug and play" parts. The hardest part was removing (and then replacing) the back panel inside the freezer just because it was awkward to reach the screws.

Remove the hinge cap on top, the loosen the bolts, remove the hinge. Pick up the door from the lower hinge, lay it down and place the cam riser on the lower hinge. Replace the door, install the top hinge and check the alignment and you are done.

I removed the top hinge, lifted the door off the bottom hinge, rmoved and replaced the bottom hinge assembly, and reinstalled the door. I then aligned the door and reinstalled the upper hinge. The fridge works just like new!

Installed a heater that was very easy to order and install thanks for your website it trully is easy to navigate and order.

I removed the shelves and food from the freezer compartment. Then I took out the four screws holding the back panel in place. I scrapped down what ice I could using a large plastic spoon taking care not to scrape across the cooling fins. (I put the resulting ice in the refrigerator figuring it would help keep it cool. I probably gained more heat opening the door to put in the ice than I lost with the ice.) I unplugged the old unit and snapped the attached themostat off of the pipe along the top. Then I removed the two screws holding each of the heating elements and worked the wires out from the sides of the coils. I reversed the process to install the new unit, taking care to make sure the wires were coming off of the heating elements in the right direction to feed the wires. It seems to be working, but it has only been a few days.