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Directions for replacing a door switch.
Before you begin to replace your door switch, make sure you disconnect the appliance's power supply. The easiest way to do this is to unplug the unit from the wall. Alternatively, you could trip the appropriate switch in the circuit breaker panel, or you could remove the appropriate fuse from your home's fuse box.
Consult with an appliance repair technician if you do not feel you have the skill or the ability to successfully complete this repair.
- Locate your switch. It is activated when the door closes on it, so it will be visible with the door open. It will be located somewhere along the internal frame of the refrigerator. Once you have located the door switch, remove it. There may be a single screw retaining the door switch inside its housing. If you don't find a screw holding the door switch in place, use a putty knife, or some other thin flat object to pry out the mechanism. It may be a good idea to place a strip of tape along the edge of the putty knife to guard against scraping up the interior of your fridge.
Pull the switch out enough to expose an inch or two of the attaced wires.
- Some refrigerator door switches control not only the light, but also the fan. If your door switch controls only the interior light, it will have two wires attaced to it. If if also controls the fan, it will have four wires attached to it. You are going to remove each of the wires you find, but before you do, label them so that you will know which one goes where when you reattach them. Gently remove the wires from the switch. Do not pull on the wires themselves, you don't want to risk damaging the wires. Instead, pull on the connectors. It might even be a good idea to use needle nosed pliers to help you.
- Connect the wires to the terminals of the new door switch. Place the switch back into its housing and either snap or screw it back in place.
- Reconnect the appliance's power supply to make sure the switch is working properly.
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