A Failed Defrost Timer Causes Frost to Choke Your Evaporator Coils — WP2183400 Restores Automatic Defrost Cycles and Stops the Freeze-Up
When the defrost timer fails, your refrigerator stops initiating automatic defrost cycles. Frost accumulates unchecked on the evaporator coils, blocking airflow until the fridge can no longer cool — food warms, the compressor overworks, and energy consumption spikes. The WP2183400 is the genuine Whirlpool OEM defrost timer kit that directly replaces 2162044, 2162052, and 2183400, restoring timed defrost cycles on compatible ET, RT, KTRS, and KTRP series refrigerators.
- Refrigerator not cooling despite compressor running
- Thick frost or ice buildup on the back wall of the freezer or fridge compartment
- Evaporator fan running but no cold air circulating
- Fridge cycles on and off but never reaches set temperature
- Manually advancing the timer initiates defrost — confirms timer is the fault
- Food spoiling faster than normal without obvious cause
- OEM Part Number: WP2183400
- Replaces: 2162044, 2162052, 2183400
- Type: Defrost Timer Kit
- Accuracy: Up to 99.8%
- Compatible Brands: Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Kenmore
- Compatible Series: ET, RT, TT, EB, KTRS, KTRP, KTHD, KTRD, KBRS
- Condition: New — Genuine OEM
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate (20–30 minutes).
Unplug the refrigerator before beginning. The defrost timer is typically located in the control housing inside the fridge compartment or behind the rear panel. Note the wiring harness orientation and photograph before disconnecting. Remove the old timer, install the new WP2183400 in the same position, and reconnect all wires. Manually advance the timer to confirm it initiates a defrost cycle before reassembling. Restore power and monitor for 24 hours to confirm normal cycling.
Before replacing the timer, locate it and use a flat-head screwdriver to slowly advance the dial until you hear a click — this manually triggers a defrost cycle. If the heater activates and frost begins to melt, the timer is confirmed as the fault. If nothing happens after advancing, also test the defrost heater and thermostat for continuity — a failed heater or limit thermostat can mimic a timer fault and should be replaced at the same service call.
Verify your model number before ordering. Contact us if you need help confirming compatibility.
7ET18PKXDN00, 7ET18PKXDW00, 7ET18ZKXDN00, 7ET18ZKXDW00, 7ET20PKXDN00, 7ET20PKXDW00, 8ET16NKXDG00, 8ET16NKXDG01, 8ET16NKXDG02, 8ET16NKXDG03, 8ET16NKXDN00, 8ET16NKXDN01, 8ET16NKXDN02, 8ET16NKXDN03, 8ET16NKXDW00, 8ET16NKXDW01, 8ET16NKXDW02, 8ET16NKXDW03, 8ET18NKXDG03, 8ET18NKXDG04, 8ET18NKXDN03, 8ET18NKXDN04, 8ET18NKXDW03, 8ET18NKXDW04, 8ET18TKXEG00, 8ET18TKXEN00, 8ET18TKXEW00, 8ET18ZKXDG01, 8ET18ZKXDG03, 8ET18ZKXDG04, 8ET18ZKXDN01, 8ET18ZKXDN03, 8ET18ZKXDN04, 8ET18ZKXDW01, 8ET18ZKXDW03, 8ET18ZKXDW04, 8ET19DKXDG00, 8ET19DKXDG01, 8ET19DKXDN00, 8ET19DKXDN01, 8ET19DKXDW00, 8ET19DKXDW01, 8ET20NKXDG00, 8ET20NKXDG01, 8ET20NKXDG02, 8ET20NKXDG03, 8ET20NKXDN00, 8ET20NKXDN01, 8ET20NKXDN02, 8ET20NKXDN03, 8ET20NKXDW00, 8ET20NKXDW01, 8ET20NKXDW02, 8ET20NKXDW03, 8ET20PKXEG00, 8ET20PKXEN00, 8ET20PKXEW00, 8ET20ZKXDG00, 8ET20ZKXDG01, 8ET20ZKXDG02, 8ET20ZKXDG03, 8ET20ZKXDN00, 8ET20ZKXDN01, 8ET20ZKXDN02, 8ET20ZKXDN03, 8ET20ZKXDW00, 8ET20ZKXDW01, 8ET20ZKXDW02, 8ET20ZKXDW03, 8ET21DKXDG00, 8ET21DKXDG01, 8ET21DKXDG02, 8ET21DKXDN00, 8ET21DKXDN01, 8ET21DKXDN02, 8ET21DKXDW00, 8ET21DKXDW01, 8ET21DKXDW02, 9ET16NKXDG03, 9ET16NKXDN03, 9ET16NKXDW03, 9ET19DKXFB00, EB21DKXAB00, EB21DKXAB01, EB21DKXAB02, EB21DKXAN00, EB21DKXAN01, EB21DKXAN02, EB21DKXAW00, EB21DKXAW01, EB21DKXAW02, EB21DKXBB00, EB21DKXBN00, EB21DKXBW00, EB21DKXDB00, EB21DKXDB01, EB21DKXDN00, EB21DKXDN01, EB21DKXDW00, EB21DKXDW01, ET16JKXDN01, ET16JKXDN02, ET16JKXDN03, ET16JKXDW01, ET16JKXDW02, ET16JKXDW03, ET16JKYDN01, ET16JKYDN02, ET16JKYDN03, ET16JKYDW01, ET16JKYDW02, ET16JKYDW03, ET16JMXDN01, ET16JMXDN02, ET16JMXDW01, ET16JMXDW02, ET18GKXDN03, ET18GKXDN05, ET18GKXDW03, ET18GKXDW05, ET18GKXEN00, ET18GKXEW00, ET18HNXDN03, ET18HNXDN05, ET18HNXDW03, ET18HNXDW05, ET18HTXDN03, ET18HTXDN05, ET18HTXDW03, ET18HTXDW05, ET18JKXDN03, ET18JKXDN04, ET18JKXDN05, ET18JKXDW01, ET18JKXDW03, ET18JKXDW04, ET18JKXDW05, ET18NKXDG03, ET18NKXDG04, ET18NKXDG06, ET18NKXDN03, ET18NKXDN04, ET18NKXDN06, ET18NKXDW03, ET18NKXDW04, ET18NKXDW06, ET18NMXDN04, ET18NMXDN06, ET18NMXDW04, ET18NMXDW06, ET18PKXDN03, ET18PKXDN05, ET18PKXDW03, ET18PKXDW05, ET18SKRDW00, ET18SKRDW01, ET18SKRDW03, ET18SKREW01, ET18TKXDN03, ET18TKXDN05, ET18TKXDW03, ET18TKXDW05, ET18TMXDN03, ET18TMXDN05, ET18TMXDW03, ET18TMXDW05, ET18ZKXDN02, ET18ZKXDN04, ET18ZKXDN06, ET18ZKXDW02, ET18ZKXDW04, ET18ZKXDW06, ET19DKXDB03, ET19DKXDN03, ET19DKXDW03, ET19PKXEN00, ET19PKXEN01, ET19PKXEW00, ET19PKXEW01, ET20GKXDN01, ET20GKXDN02, ET20GKXDN10, ET20GKXDW01, ET20GKXDW02, ET20GKXDW10, ET20NKXDN01, ET20NKXDN02, ET20NKXDN10, ET20NKXDW01, ET20NKXDW02, ET20NKXDW10, ET20NMXDN01, ET20NMXDN02, ET20NMXDN10, ET20NMXDW01, ET20NMXDW02, ET20NMXDW10, ET20PKXDN02, ET20PKXDN03, ET20PKXDW02, ET20PKXDW03, ET20PMXDN02, ET20PMXDN03, ET20PMXDN04, ET20PMXDW02, ET20PMXDW03, ET20PMXDW04, ET20TKXDN02, ET20TKXDN03, ET20TKXDN04, ET20TKXDW02, ET20TKXDW03, ET20TKXDW04, ET21DKXDB02, ET21DKXDB03, ET21DKXDN02, ET21DKXDN03, ET21DKXDW02, ET21DKXDW03, ET21DMXDB02, ET21DMXDB03, ET21DMXDN02, ET21DMXDN03, ET21DMXDW02, ET21DMXDW03, KBRS21KAAL00, KBRS21KAAL10, KBRS21KABL00, KBRS21KABL10, KBRS21KAWH00, KBRS21KAWH10, KBRS21KDAL00, KBRS21KDAL01, KBRS21KDBL00, KBRS21KDBL01, KBRS21KDWH00, KBRS21KDWH01, KTHD18KDAL03, KTHD18KDWH03, KTHD18KEAL01, KTHD18KEWH01, KTRD18KDAL01, KTRD18KDAL03, KTRD18KDWH01, KTRD18KDWH03, KTRD18KEAL01, KTRD18KEWH01, KTRP18KDAL01, KTRP18KDAL03, KTRP18KDAL05, KTRP18KDAL07, KTRP18KDWH01, KTRP18KDWH03, KTRP18KDWH05, KTRP18KDWH07, KTRP20KDAL02, KTRP20KDAL03, KTRP20KDAL04, KTRP20KDAL05, KTRP20KDWH02, KTRP20KDWH03, KTRP20KDWH04, KTRP20KDWH05, KTRP20MDAL02, KTRP20MDAL03, KTRP20MDAL04, KTRP20MDAL05, KTRP20MDWH02, KTRP20MDWH03, KTRP20MDWH04, KTRP20MDWH05, KTRS19KDAL01, KTRS19KDAL03, KTRS19KDWH01, KTRS19KDWH03, KTRS19KEAL01, KTRS19KEWH01, KTRS19MDAL01, KTRS19MDAL03, KTRS19MDWH01, KTRS19MDWH03, KTRS21KDAL00, KTRS21KDAL01, KTRS21KDAL02, KTRS21KDAL03, KTRS21KDAL04, KTRS21KDAL05, KTRS21KDBL00, KTRS21KDBL01, KTRS21KDBL02, KTRS21KDBL03, KTRS21KDBL04, KTRS21KDBL05, KTRS21KDWH00, KTRS21KDWH01, KTRS21KDWH02, KTRS21KDWH03, KTRS21KDWH04, KTRS21KDWH05, KTRS21MDAL00, KTRS21MDAL01, KTRS21MDAL02, KTRS21MDAL03, KTRS21MDAL04, KTRS21MDAL05, KTRS21MDBL00, KTRS21MDBL01, KTRS21MDBL02, KTRS21MDWH00, KTRS21MDWH01, KTRS21MDWH02, KTRS21MDWH03, KTRS21MDWH04, KTRS21MDWH05, RB21CKXAL00, RB21CKXAW00, RT16DKXDN01, RT16DKXDN02, RT16DKXDN03, RT16DKXDW01, RT16DKXDW02, RT16DKXDW03, RT16LMXEW00, RT16LMXEW01, RT16VKXDN01, RT16VKXDN02, RT16VKXDN03, RT16VKXDW01, RT16VKXDW02, RT16VKXDW03, RT18AKXDN03, RT18AKXDN05, RT18AKXDW03, RT18AKXDW05, RT18AKXEN00, RT18AKXEN01, RT18AKXEW00, RT18AKXEW01, RT18BKXDN01, RT18BKXDN03, RT18BKXDW01, RT18BKXDW03, RT18BKXEN01, RT18BKXEW01, RT18DKXEN03, RT18DKXEN04, RT18DKXEN05, RT18DKXEW03, RT18DKXEW04, RT18DKXEW05, RT18EKREW01, RT18EKREW02, RT18EKREW03, RT18HDXDN03, RT18HDXDN05, RT18HDXDW03, RT18HDXDW04, RT18HDXDW05, RT20AKXDN01, RT20AKXDN02, RT20AKXDW01, RT20AKXDW02, RT20DKXDN01, RT20DKXDN02, RT20DKXDW01, RT20DKXDW02, RT20DKXEN00, RT20DKXEN10, RT20DKXEW00, RT20DKXEW10, TT18DKXDN01, TT18DKXDN03, TT18DKXDW01, TT18DKXDW03, TT18DKXEN02, TT18DKXEN03, TT18DKXEW02, TT18DKXEW03, TT18HAXDN01, TT18HAXDW01
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✅Compatibility & Cross Reference
Not sure about your model number? Call 1-877-899-7278 and we’ll help you confirm. All brand names are the property of their respective owners and are used for compatibility reference only.
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