ot: ice maker

[wfw]

our ice maker in the refrigerater has quit working, but just some times. Does anyone have any experience with these and what kind of tools (there now it is a legal post) do I need to take this thing out? I am wondering about the soleniod that turns on the water to the icemaker. freezer is working fine, everything is frozen solid, refrigerator is about 6 or 7 years old.


thanks

Frank

 

[souNdguy]

Sounds like you just answered your own question. i fthe icemakes is frozen solid.. do you actually expect it to make ice?

Most of htose units are easy to remove or install, as they are optional eqipment.

Remove it.. thaw it out, check any gearing for freeze deformation damage. Check the flow from the water line.. if a filter is plugged.. flow will be low to none.

soundguy

 

[paridgerunner]

By "freeze up" do you actually mean covered solid in ice. If so, you need to clean everything, clean coils, the dirt is restricting air flow, which will cause it to "freeze up" like an A/C unit.

 

[Bob - MI]

I had one that was an issue once (GE). Used to freeze up in the front where the gearbox was and the switches that trigger the heater and the water inlet valve would stop moving.

This will sound bizzare but after some trouble shooting I discovered that there were vent holes in the upper and lower section of the cap that covered the gears/cams. These vent holes would allow moist air to enter the assembly when the door was open. The condensation would form ice and eventually build up to the point wher it would stop working. My fix was to cover the lower holes to stop cross flow of outside air and also coat the switch plungers with silicone grease.

All was well after that for the 14 years we owned that fridge.

One thing I would like to suggest to you at this time is to replace any plastic tubing on the inlet side of the valve with copper. Had my basement flood once when I was on a trip when the plastic tubing decided to split. Had a friend who had his dog chew the plastic tube and flood his house too.

 

[CJ3b_jeep]

we had that issue last year and ordered an icemaker online. It's about a 30 minute job to rplace the entire thing.

 

[wfw]

its not frozen up, the freezer is working fine. I see no ice around the icemaker, no water in the icemaker at all, but sometimes it works ok and makes ice for several days

frank

 

[rockyhawaii]

When my icemaker quits, I unplugged it for a couple of hours. Plugged it back in and it works fine.

 

[Don L C]

wfw ---

You know they just don't make them like they used to.......It is trying to quit and it will ....
seven years...the ref. is about had it also...

you can do one of two things....take it out and throw it away ...and get cube trays(better any way).....or put in a new one...

turn the water at the line conection...pile the frozen food in the kitchen sink and cover it with a lot of news paper....remove 3 screws, 1/4" drive socket... 2 at the top and 1 at the bottom....un plug the ice maker...its loose in your hand....big deal?.....save the screws you may need them on the new one...

its real easy........Don

 

[chvet73]

Mine had no ice on it that you could see. But the short rubber hose that fed the water was frozen solid inside the hose. Pulled the hose off and defrosted it with hot water. Worked fine ever since.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

On most, the solenoid valve is at the bottom in the rear, easy to access when you pull out the fridge. It should make a loud thunk, then shssssss of water flowing in, then thunk as it closes. The thunk is as much from water hammering as from the noise of the valve itself.

Is this fridge in a heated area? I have always had a fridge in the shop (unheated) and while the wiring diagram shows the icemaker powered all the time, my last two have not been. Both only make ice when the compressor runs regular. When the shop is real cold and the compressor doesn't run (I'm not talking below freezing, shop never gets that cold, just in the 30's and 40's) the icemaker does not work. Clearly both of mine have been wired off the compressor thermostat. If the compressor is powered, the ice maker is powered. I proved that with a multi-meter on the last one, haven't bothered to check on this one.

Current fridge is a '85 Kenmore, It came with a house I bought in '87 and was nearly new, as the house was unused for a year or so. I just moved it to the shop last summer. Previous shop fridge was my parents '78 Fridgeaire. Its been in the shop since about 2000, and broke a line last year. The Kenmore sucks electricity compared to the old Fridgeaire, shop electric bill went up $10 a month when the Kenmore went in there. It has a blower in the bottom, old one had coils on the back.

Charles

 

[guido]

Hello WFW
Look at the pipe that is feeding the water to the tray, it may have formed ice on it and won't let the water fill the tray. As the other post suggested take the unit out, if the line is not frozen, and give it a good look over.
Like the other post said there is an issue with a G.E side by side units, about 5 years ago the ice maker was so bad that ther was a class action to sue the manufacturer. I don't know if they ever resolved it. I'll have to ask my neighbor, next time the ice maker stops working.
Frozen components is the biggest problem with ice maker, The ice tray has a heater that loosens the ice from the tray so it can be dumped. Don't stick your hand in the unit unless THE POWER IS OFF, or you may get a nasty burn.The heater is why the units freeze, where ever the water hits!
Guido.

 

[R Bedell]

After repairing these things for 35+ yrs, I am chuckling at some of these responses.

You don't mention the Brand Name of the Refrigerator. Nor do you mention if this refrig is a S x S with the Dispenser in the door.

There is not a lot of information you have supplied to assist you with your problem.

BTW...The average Ice Maker (domestic built) only requires a #2 Phillips Screwdriver OR a 1/4" Nutdriver. Either one will get the unit removed from your refrig.