GFU17F5AW1 Gibson Freezer - Instructions

Took about an hour previously to deice freezer, timer was running,drain was open, jumped defrost thermostat out and heater was O.K. Defrost thermostat was just a plug and play item, the time involved was in taking the freezer apart to get to it.

take 1/4 hex screws out clean out dust ,remove old fan blade replace with new install bolts .

We removed the trim and the screws and kept them in a safe place until the handle arrived. It took only about 10 minutes start to finish. Very Easy!

We were looking for a new freezer --thinking it wouldn't be worth calling a repairman. I was trying to determine the size of the freezer and couldn't find it in the manual. So I googled the model number and stumbled upon this site. Thought it would be worth a try and $12 plus shipping to replace the thermostat. Got the thermostat a couple days later, followed the video directions to replace it--not hard! Plugged it in and it is working great!!! SOOOOO glad I stumbled on your site! You saved us $700-$800!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Notice ice build up on the panel in front of the evaporator coil. Unplugged freezer and removed evaporator panel. Plugged unit back in and checked fan, coil "snap switch" and heater element, all seemed to check out good. Found defrost timer stuck in the freeze position, causing frost to accumulate over the evaporator. Manually rotated defrost timer to the 30min defrost cycle and system went into defrost. Ordered defrost timer and installed (part arrived in 3 days). Freezer works great again. Too bad I ended up throwing 400 dollars worth of meat away. the fix was very simple. Will definitely use PartSelect again. Thank you.

Parts Select is an excellent source for help and parts identification. I highly recomend them.
My first option was to replace the defrost timer.
After still getting ice and frost buildup in freezer I decided to replace the defrost thermostat.
Remove all shelves. Losen icemaker if applicable. Remove light cover and bulb. Remove all screws securing rear vertical cover. Carefully move back panel, disconnect icemaker and bulb assembly. carefully remove styrofoam cover at upper left and remove defrost thermostat. I tested the thermostat and found it was defective. It would not close circuit after being placed in a working freezer. Reverse procedure to replace thermostat.
This solved the problem

After testing and eliminating the temperature control and the timer as the problem, I turned to the thermostat. I had to wait for the ice buildup to thaw and then could remove the rear freezer panel (this was the 3rd time: first, to discover the ice buildup causing the problem, second when it came back after a complete thaw and test the thermostat, and this time to put the Partselect thermostat back in). My thermostat was visibly damaged from water melting into ice and expanding the casing and eventually breaking one of the connections. I connected the thermostat connection wires (not recommended) to get by while ordering the part, which shipped faster than local repair places could get it from their warehouses, and at a fraction of the cost. I'm really impressed with partselect's fast service and all the knowledgable customers who have explained how they installed them. I now have an intimate knowledge of how my fridge works and saved hundreds in repair, or twice that in replacement. Thanks!

removed screws with from the back panel of the freezer; located defrost thermostat attached to coil with a metal clip; unplugged thermostat and replaced with the new one. Put every thing back together and it works perfectly.

I replaced the defrost timer,defrost thermostat,and run cap.as it turned out the compressor went bad. I dont know the model because but the time I got this review I replaced the refer with a knew one . two weeks living out of coolers was so much fun !!!!!!!!

I ordered a new thermostat and installed it in less than 15 minutes. Looks like the problem is fixed. Now ,the freezer cycles on and off correctly. The part was ordered on a Monday and I got it the next day. I am very satisfied.

Remove cover on handle, and unscrewed the old handle. Then reversed procedure

Ordered freezer key friday afternoon received it saturday afternoon. Fast service

The handle for the freezer arrived the next day. Most of the time repairs at home are alway a challenge. But the handle was placed where it belonged in about 5 minutes.It was the easiest repair we ever had and now we don't have problemes opening the freezer. Thanks so much.

Upluged power pulled freezer out from wall removed the two screws that holds the defrost timer unpluged defrost timer pluged new timer in mounted new timer back with the two screws pluged freezer back in and job was complete. Freezer working fine.

Watched video on Part Select which shows you how to replace the thermostat with several good pointers. Very easily done and now the freezer works great.