Should the arm of the ice maker be up or down?

Author: Dr. Kendrick Sauer  |  Last update: Sunday, July 12, 2026

If your freezer has an arm lever, make sure it's pushed down. If the arm is up, your ice maker won't make any new ice.

Does up or down mean the ice maker is on?

Raise the feeler arm (metal rod) to turn the icemaker off. Lower the feeler arm (metal rod) to turn the icemaker on.

Why is my ice maker arm not going down?

If your ice maker arm is sticking, you can use a hair dryer and thaw out the ice maker to make sure it's clear and not jammed by ice in the head or anything like that. Then wait 24 hours to see if the ice maker will cycle and move the arm on it's own. Other than that, the ice maker would just need to be replaced.

How does the ice maker feeler arm work?

Usually the arm is spring loaded and the mechanism pushes it up, dumps the ice and then allows it to come back down to it's rest position or sitting on top of the ice. Can you post the make model number for the fridge.

Should my ice maker arm be up or down?

If your freezer has an arm lever, make sure it's pushed down. If the arm is up, your ice maker won't make any new ice.

Samsung Ice Maker not making Ice? Here is a quick fix video for any side-by-side fridge.

Why is the arm stuck in the up position on my Bosch ice maker?

Control/Shutoff Arm is Not Engaged: The ice maker control arm senses the amount of ice in the ice bin. Once the bin is full, the arm is pushed upwards to turn off the ice maker. The arm may become stuck in this position. Simply, lower the arm to to continue producing ice.

Why is my ice maker not making ice but water works?

The most common causes are: The water fill tubes are blocked. The water inlet valve is blocked or frozen. The water filter is dirty or clogged.

Does unplugging a refrigerator reset the ice maker?

If you don't hear a chime, but you can see movement from the ice maker, then the ice maker was reset. If you don't hear a chime and there is no movement from the ice maker, unplug the fridge or turn it off at the circuit breaker for 2 minutes. Then, power it back up and try again.

Is there a reset button on ice maker?

Some models have a button you will need to push to remove the ice tray and cover. Others will just require you to pull it off. Once the ice tray and covering have been removed, locate and press the ice maker reset button for about 3 seconds. After 3 seconds you should hear a chime.

Why would my ice maker stop making ice?

Your freezer temperature could be too high, the water inlet valve may not be functioning correctly, your home water pressure may be low, the refrigerator's water filter may be clogged, or the ice maker may need to be replaced.

Why is my Whirlpool ice maker plastic arm stuck in up position?

Ice Maker Arm Troubleshooting

If the ice maker arm is stuck in the up position, it is possible that the ice maker is in a harvest cycle, preventing the arm from lowering manually. It may also indicate that an internal component is broken.

How do I know if my ice maker is not working?

Check If the Icemaker Itself Is Working

If the icemaker mold is empty, you can manually pour about 4 ounces of water in the icemaker mold. Wait about 2 hours. If the icemaker has dropped ice cubes out from the mold, you know the icemaker itself is working.

What is the feeler arm on an ice maker?

Feeler Arm - Sensing cubes: Before the cubes are ejected, the shut-off arm lifts up (or pulls in). After the cubes are ejected, the arm drops down again (or pushes out) to sense the ice.

How long to leave a refrigerator unplugged to reset?

Reset your refrigerator: First, unplug it (or turn off the power at the circuit breaker), and then wait about five minutes for the electrical charge to clear out of it. Then, power it back on again.

Should you leave your fridge ice maker on all the time?

Most ice makers can be left on all the time in order to ensure that you always have a fresh supply of ice. Like refrigerator ice makers, these appliances are typically designed to run constantly.

How do I know if my water line is clogged with an ice maker?

If your ice maker isn't producing ice at all or is producing crescents or cubes that are smaller than usual, it's typically indicative of a clog somewhere along the supply line. Cause: A common cause for a clog is frozen water in the line.

How long does it take for an ice maker to make ice after reset?

Once it has been reset, it can take up to 24 hours for the ice maker to start creating ice again. For exact reset steps check your user manual. Please note: do not press the button multiple times as doing so can cause water to overflow the ice tray or ice to jam and damage the ice maker.

What tells the icemaker to fill with water?

To begin the ice-making process, a timer triggers the water valve, which fills the ice mold with water.

Should ice maker arm be up or down to make ice?

Reach in and make sure the control arm is flipped downward so the ice maker knows that there is room for more ice.

How do I reset my ice maker arm?

The ice maker arm has a spring whose tension keeps the arm towards the front of the machine. The spring can shift out of place as ice freezes and the arm moves. Realign the spring and turn the ice maker off. After restarting, cycle the arm three times to reset the ice maker.

How to unstick an ice maker?

Ice Maker Gets Stuck

Remove the ice storage bin from the freezer and break clumped up ice with your hands. Dump any clumps you can't break up into the sink. Since inactivity causes ice clumps to form, the easiest long-term fix is to use the ice maker more frequently.

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