At the beginning of the cycle, an electrical signal is sent to a water valve to fill the ice mold with water. Then, the freezer goes to work freezing the water.
To begin the ice-making process, a timer triggers the water valve, which fills the ice mold with water.
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.
When the icemaker calls for ice, its switch closes an electrical circuit and energizes the solenoid-operated water valve. This allows water to flow through the valve and into the ice cube tray. The water is frozen into cubes, and the cubes are dumped into the ice bin.
On the right side of the head of the icemaker there is a tiny white plastic screw. This is the part that you turn to adjust the water fill. Turning the fill adjustment screw clockwise decreases the water fill time. One half turn equals 20cc or 1.2 sec., a full turn equals 40cc or 2.4 sec.
Once the ice maker has been connected to a power and water source (aka the plumbing line connected to the back of your refrigerator), the ice maker cycle should begin automatically. At the beginning of the cycle, an electrical signal is sent to a water valve to fill the ice mold with water.
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.
Your multitester should display a reading between 200 and 500 ohms. Closely examine your water inlet valve. The exact ohm resistance rating you should test for may be marked on the valve. If the test you conduct with your icemaker water inlet valve does not produce these results, then you should replace the component.
Make sure the water supply is properly connected to a cold water supply and the water shutoff valve is fully opened. Check to make sure there are no kinks in the water supply line. A kink in the line can reduce water flow. Straighten the water source line to restore adequate water flow and pressure.
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. Fix: To repair a frozen line, slide the refrigerator and unplug it.
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.
The water inlet valve is an electronically operated device that connects the household water supply to your fridge if you have an icemaker and/or water dispenser. This valve is usually located at the back of the fridge near the bottom. It supplies water to the dispenser and water the icemaker.
If the refrigerator water dispenser is not working but the ice maker is, your water pressure could be to blame. Your fridge needs less pressure to make ice than it does to dispense water. Check your refrigerator's manual to see the necessary water psi for both to function.
The control board sends voltage to the ice maker motor to rotate the motor. It also sends voltage to the water valve to fill the ice maker. Of course the ice maker water valve is separate of the water valve that delivers water to the dispenser in the door.
You also have to hook the icemaker up to the plumbing line in your house, to provide fresh water for the ice cubes. The power line and the water-intake tube both run through a hole in the back of the freezer. In the next section, we'll look at the cycle an icemaker goes through to make ice.
The Machine Is Leaking Water. If your ice machine is leaking water, it could be a sign that there is a problem with the seals or gaskets. These are designed to keep the water in the machine, and if they are damaged, it can cause the machine to leak water.
With the right amount of water pressure, the valve opens and closes to feed water through to the ice maker. A valve with pressure less than 20 psi (pound-force per square inch) won't be strong enough to feed the right amount of water into the ice maker.
Check the inlet screens on the back of the water inlet valve. If they appear to be clogged, without removing the screen or disturbing the placement of the screen, clean them with a brush (an old toothbrush works great) and mild soap and water. Please note that fill hoses should be replaced every five years.
Some ice maker repairs cost as little as $75, while replacement units will run between $260 to $450. If multiple parts need to be repaired, it might make sense to replace the entire unit. There's nothing more disappointing than placing your cup under the ice maker only for it to not dispense any ice.
Clogged or Partially Clogged Filter
To confirm a clogged filter: Please remove the filter and install the bypass plug. Try the dispenser, if the water flow improves from the dispenser, the filter is clogged and needs to be replaced.
But if you decide that learning how to install an ice maker water line isn't in your wheelhouse, don't stress. The cost for a plumber to install a water line for an ice maker is usually under $200.
This will be located at the bottom of the ice maker unit in most models, but in some, it is at the bottom of the ice tray itself. Press the button down until you hear a beep sound. It will require a few seconds of holding it down before it beeps. Your refrigerator ice maker is now reset!
If your Whirlpool ice maker is not making ice, but the water dispenser is working, it could be because the ice maker is set to the “off” mode. Most Whirlpool refrigerators are equipped with a wire shut-off arm that controls the activation and deactivation of the ice dispenser.
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.