Freezer was COLD the evaporator motor had been very noisy, then noticed fridge side warm only 50degrees. Coils were full of ice, when thawed evaporator fan motor ran quietly, fridge cooled overnight to 34degrees.

Installed new defrost timer, when advanced timer to test fridge stopped correctly but heating element did not come on. Does freezer have to be certain COLDNESS to activate the defrost thermostat? It had only run a few hours and naturally the coils had only a frost on them. What's my next step?

Freezer is 10degrees. Is there a way to test the heating element without removing it? Looks like the coils must come out to access Hoping to find a video showing how to remove the coils to access the heater element. If it's bad then I will order both the thermostat AND element.