Replacing Door Switch on GE Refrigerator

**NOTICE**
Due the danger and complexity of electronic equipment repair, the following technical tip is intended for professional reference only. Please refer to manufacturer’s recommendations as Encompass does not guarantee the accuracy, reliability or safety of this information. 

Note: this tip applies to GE Refrigerator Model GTE21GSHSS

If the light is out in your GE refrigerator model GTE21GSHSS and a new bulb didn’t fix the problem, you are most likely dealing with a malfunctioning door switch.Replacing a fridge door switch is an uncomplicated repair, and should only take a few minutes. Here’s an easy-to-follow guide:

How to Replace Refrigerator Door Switch
Tools Needed:
● Putty knife
● Screwdriver
● New door switch wr23x20371

Safety First: Before starting any type of refrigerator repair , unplug the appliance. Wearing work gloves and safety goggles is also a must. Please read through the step-by-step guide provided before tackling this repair.

1. Open the refrigerator’s fresh food door and locate the door switch. Once you’ve found the switch, examine it to find out whether there is a screw holding it in place or not. If there is, use a screwdriver to remove it; if there isn’t, carefully pry the switch out of its housing with a putty knife. You may want to tape the edge of the knife to avoid damaging the inside of the appliance.

2. Gently pull the switch out to expose an inch or two of the wires. There will be either two wires, meaning the switch only controls your refrigerator’s light or four wires, which indicates the switch controls the light and the fan. Before you begin detaching the wires from the switch, label each one. This will make putting them back where they belong easier. To remove the wires, carefully pull them out by the connectors.

3. Connect the wires to the new door switch’s terminals. Once the wires are secure, either snap the switch back into its housing or reattach the screw you removed earlier.

4. Plug your refrigerator back in and test the door switch by opening and closing the fresh food door. If the light is still malfunctioning in your refrigerator or you have concerns about another appliance, please contact Fred’s Appliance today and we’ll be happy to help you.

Special thanks to Fred’s Appliance Academy for this helpful tip!