How to Repair Light Switch on Refrigerator Door

Your refrigerator uses a small switch triggered by the door to turn on the light. When the door opens, the internal switch gets lifted and turns on the light. If your switch doesn’t lift or if it broke off, you need to replace it. You must determine, however, if your problem is the light switch or the light bulb. Try replacing your refrigerator’s light bulb to resolve the problem before you proceed with the light-switch repair.

Things You'll Need

• Philips-head screwdriver
• Flathead screwdriver
• Replacement light switch for your refrigerator model
• Pliers

Instructions

1. Locate your refrigerator’s light switch near the door's contact point. Disconnect your refrigerator from any power source after you have found the switch.

2. Unscrew your light switch from the refrigerator with a Philips-head screwdriver if it has a screw. Otherwise, pop out the light switch by levering the edge off with a flathead screwdriver.

3. Place adhesive numeric labels on the wires leading to the switch so you can remember where to connect them on your replacement switch and pry off the ends of each wire from the switch using a pair of thin pliers.

4. Connect these same wires to the new switch in the same manner in which they were connected to the old switch and pop it back in.

References

• ACME: Refrigerator Repair Guide