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-   -   Whirlpool icemaker is a POC (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/do-yourself-210/whirlpool-icemaker-poc-358515/)

CoachKandSportsguy 05-04-2025 08:33 AM

Whirlpool icemaker is a POC
 
Piece of Crap!

Randomly stops working! No testing sequence without being a technician. Just on or off.

Anyone have any tips to get it started again?

thanks in advance

retiredguy123 05-04-2025 08:46 AM

Last year, I bought one from Amazon for $82 and installed it in about 15 minutes. This was just the mechanism that is attached to the left side of the freezer section, not the large scroll motor. There are 3 screws and a plug-in electric cable. Very easy.

tophcfa 05-04-2025 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy (Post 2429420)
Piece of Crap!

Randomly stops working! No testing sequence without being a technician. Just on or off.

Anyone have any tips to get it started again?

thanks in advance

We have had nothing but bad luck with ice makers and finally tried a different route. We got a Frigidaire counter top ice maker from Amazon for under $100. Our expectations were low, but for the price we gave it a shot. We were so pleasantly surprised with how good it works we bought a second one for our other home. It doesn’t keep ice frozen, but it makes good ice that we put in large ziplock bags in the freezer. When we have enough ice made we shut it down until we get low on ice and then fire it up again. The only thing to remember is to drain it thoroughly if you’re not going to use it for longer periods of time. Good luck.

Bill14564 05-04-2025 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy (Post 2429420)
Piece of Crap!

Randomly stops working! No testing sequence without being a technician. Just on or off.

Anyone have any tips to get it started again?

thanks in advance

If it is like mine then the only thing I know of is to check that the led(?) and sensor are clear so it doesn’t think the bin is full.

metoo21 05-04-2025 09:00 AM

Put a finger in between the plastic fingers at the top of the ice maker. Is there frozen water there? If so, the little motor on the side that is responsible for rotating the mechanism that dumps the ice is bad. If no water (frozen or liquid) then you might have a frozen supply line.

We had intermittent issues with our GE ice maker and it finally stopped all together. This is when I discovered the motor issue. Bought a new ice maker. Ours took 1 screw and 1 wire harness to unplug. Very easy job.

blueash 05-04-2025 09:01 AM

1 Attachment(s)
Quote:

Originally Posted by tophcfa (Post 2429425)
We have had nothing but bad luck with ice makers and finally tried a different route. We got a Frigidaire counter top ice maker from Amazon for under $100. Our expectations were low, but for the price we gave it a shot. We were so pleasantly surprised with how good it works we bought a second one for our other home. It doesn’t keep ice frozen, but it makes good ice that we put in large ziplock bags in the freezer. When we have enough ice made we shut it down until we get low on ice and then fire it up again. The only thing to remember is to drain it thoroughly if you’re not going to use it for longer periods of time. Good luck.

I own several ice makers. I removed the original from the freezer section thus freeing up interior space. I use my ice makers with great success. No counter space, no baggies, no worrying about the cubes melting. Total purchase cost.. about 5 dollars.

CarlR33 05-04-2025 09:07 AM

Things like this intrigue me so I did a search. Not sure if you found this from Whirlpool but it’s a start. Lastly, call (or chat) with Whirlpool directly be nice (not using the POC language, LOL) tell them your issue you may get helpful advice because I’m sure your not the only one with this issue? I always try the manufacturer when all else fails.
Ice Maker Troubleshooting: How to Fix an Ice Maker | Whirlpool

gorillarick 05-04-2025 11:12 AM

Internet search says there is a reset button. Could not find it on my 2001 model, but unplugging the fridge seems to work.

Just recently replaced the icemaker unit. Genuine Whirlpool on Amazon; decent price of course (compared to directly from Whirlpool). $61.80 on Amazon today.

Not a piece-of-cake for most, but was easy and fairly fast - as another commenter noted.
Works like new.

Three years not bad. Sure beats ice trays or buying ice at the store. Does a pretty good job.

arbajeda 05-05-2025 04:33 AM

You don't say your refrigerator model number. The solution would be different for different ice makers. I have the KitchenAid (same manufacturer) and mine went out. I found this troubleshooting guide (https://www.whirlpool.com/content/da...09412-reva.pdf) that isolated my problem to a faulty ice maker. You can get a replacement here (Appliance Parts Pros - Find Repair & Replacement Parts Online) as well as Amazon. Replacement videos are also at appliancepartspros as well as YouTube. It's a little involved, watch them and see if you're comfortable doing it yourself. You also could contact Hartman's Appliance Repair (Hartman’s Appliance Repair).

elevatorman 05-05-2025 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2429422)
Last year, I bought one from Amazon for $82 and installed it in about 15 minutes. This was just the mechanism that is attached to the left side of the freezer section, not the large scroll motor. There are 3 screws and a plug-in electric cable. Very easy.

This is the way to go. A repairman will cost just to look at it and tell you you need a new one.then charge you $150 for the part. 3 screws and a plug sounds cheep and easy. If it does not work return the part to Amazon. The only other thing would be if the water line is frozen where it comes into the interior of the freezer, A hair dryer will fix that. Also look here https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...not+making+ice
And here https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...er+replacement

Tomptomp 05-05-2025 05:01 AM

Sometimes they freeze up and just need to thaw.

elle123 05-05-2025 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy (Post 2429420)
Piece of Crap!

Randomly stops working! No testing sequence without being a technician. Just on or off.

Anyone have any tips to get it started again?

thanks in advance

Whirlpool appliances are manufactured with plastic parts in India. If they last past their original warranty you're lucky.

dewilson58 05-05-2025 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy (Post 2429420)
Piece of Crap!

Mine has done this four or five times over the last couple years.

Do you have the refrig's Tech Sheet???........Under the cover of the top door hinge cap.
Mine is under the right door hinge.

In the Tech Sheet.........it tells you how to run error codes and how to cycle your maker.
This works everytime on my refrig.

dolphin 05-05-2025 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tophcfa (Post 2429425)
We have had nothing but bad luck with ice makers and finally tried a different route. We got a Frigidaire counter top ice maker from Amazon for under $100. Our expectations were low, but for the price we gave it a shot. We were so pleasantly surprised with how good it works we bought a second one for our other home. It doesn’t keep ice frozen, but it makes good ice that we put in large ziplock bags in the freezer. When we have enough ice made we shut it down until we get low on ice and then fire it up again. The only thing to remember is to drain it thoroughly if you’re not going to use it for longer periods of time. Good luck.

Sounds like lots of of work to me🙄

norb1940 05-05-2025 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy (Post 2429420)
Piece of Crap!

Randomly stops working! No testing sequence without being a technician. Just on or off.

Anyone have any tips to get it started again?

thanks in advance

This worked for me, I don’t know if it will work for you? I raised the temp of the freezer. The Ice maker melts the cubes in order to push them out with the fingers. I think what is happening the melted water freezes and blocked the finger the next cycle. I did this 4 years ago and it still works. You may have to thaw it before trying this to clear the ice.

thevillagejr 05-05-2025 07:00 AM

What has worked for us is when it stops working turn the icemaker off at the control panel then the ice maker defrost acouple hours later turn it back on and it starts making ice again.

Hillery12 05-05-2025 07:22 AM

My husband found broken wires on the left hand side under the freezer door. They are at floor level.

Juliebythesea 05-05-2025 07:55 AM

If you don’t want to replace the icemaker yourself call Mr Thibedeau 346-233-7175 he’s great may have one on his truck reasonably priced he gets 5 stars from me

JimC55 05-05-2025 08:42 AM

Hair Dryer Fix.
 
Remove ice bin. Place hair dryer in ice maker. Turn on and close door. Will defrost in 5 minutes. You can leave the fridge on so your food stays cold and freezer frozen. Good luck.

jimmy o 05-05-2025 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy (Post 2429420)
Piece of Crap!

Randomly stops working! No testing sequence without being a technician. Just on or off.

Anyone have any tips to get it started again?

thanks in advance

Icemakers built into the door are historically troublesome. An automatic icemaker within the freezer is much less troublesome. That said the best way to keep your icemaker trouble free is to clean the coils of your refrigerator once a year. If your refrigerator is running a lot, that means the coils need to be cleaned. Pull your refrigerator out, wash the floor underneath it because it’s all dusty and dirty, Unscrew a few screws that hold the back plate on your refrigerator and clean out the coils. Your refrigerator will thank you for it and so will your icemaker.

Stu from NYC 05-05-2025 10:11 AM

They have all become POS.

Topspinmo 05-05-2025 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy (Post 2429420)
Piece of Crap!

Randomly stops working! No testing sequence without being a technician. Just on or off.

Anyone have any tips to get it started again?

thanks in advance

If it’s one of these 3 door models or more IMO the whole refrigerator a POC. Especially if made by LG or Samsung. My cheap side by side Frigidaire with ice maker and water in door runs like Swiss watch. The cheap ice maker in top freezer is easy to replace. But, I routinely dust out the coils and fan at least every 6 months and ensure it has space behind for air circulation. I got tired spending couple grand on so called top line refrigerators and the break or compressors fail in few years notoriously just after the warranty out. My 900 dollar refrigerator has been working find for 9 years. Only had to replace the ice maker due to faulty plastic gears that came with most models during the time frame it was made.

jimjamuser 05-05-2025 10:51 AM

Whirlpool is not the best of brand names.

Topspinmo 05-05-2025 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 2429647)
Whirlpool is not the best of brand names.

Depends on model.

SpartanMark 05-05-2025 10:55 AM

Ours went out a month ago. Tried a GE replacement part from Amazon -- no change. Had Bob's Appliance out. Ran diagnostics and determined the heating element (yes there IS a heater in the freezer) that loosens the ice so it can be ejected was not getting enough voltage to heat the tray. A circuit board located in a compartment on the top of the left hand door was replaced and the original unit works fine.

South2C 05-05-2025 11:26 AM

If it happens occasionally I would check the lower freezer door wires. Those hinge wires get a lot of usage and can frey over time. They led to the ice maker. If it’s the ice maker itself check Amazon for a replacement. Same item sells for different prices check carefully.

banjobob 05-05-2025 12:15 PM

[QUOTE=tophcfa;2429425]We have had nothing but bad luck with ice makers and finally tried a different route. We got a Frigidaire counter top ice maker from Amazon for under $100. Our expectations were low, but for the price we gave it a shot. We were so pleasantly surprised with how good it works we bought a second one for our other home. It doesn’t keep ice frozen, but it makes good ice that we put in large ziplock bags in the freezer. When we have enough ice made we shut it down until we get low on ice and then fire it up again. The only thing to remember is to drain it thoroughly if you’re not going to use it for longer periods of time. Good .[QUOTE]
I echo your comments,I have the same unit funit 2 size bullet shaped cubes? fills my large ice bin in the freezer in less than 8 eight hours.

CoachKandSportsguy 05-05-2025 01:03 PM

thanks everyone. . .

I watched a you tube video about taking the icemaker out, and of course, I tried that and the trim piece isn't budging. .
However, I will take the coils cleaning for cooling, etc, very seriously,

And now the disposal is frozen, from renters, maybe, lime deposits maybe or !@#$%^&*()

At least no more renters

RobertScott 05-05-2025 01:21 PM

Our Samsung ice maker crapped out, we went with the same countertop Frigidaire mentioned in a post above.
I knew early on the Samsungs were POC from postings here so I wasnt going to bother repairing it when the original design is no good.

joshgun 05-05-2025 03:13 PM

Whirlpool Icemaker Stopped
 
I had a 2018 Whirlpool regrigerator installed as part of new build appliance package. Icemaker quit. It turned out the wires going from the unit to the door broke. If you look at the bottom of the door and see a bunch of bare colored wires, that may be your problem. I went to Lowes and found same refrig but now wires encased in a protective sleeve. I was told sooner all will break and control panel would be useless. Fix $400 so I bought new refrigerator not Whirlpool Good Luck

J1ceasar 05-05-2025 08:10 PM

Yes
 
Even Whirlpool admits it is junk I have heard from the text that are through three different engineered designs so far in my case it stopped working because a wire basically burnt out

The entire unit cost about $200 plus 90 bucks to install and for a $2,000 refrigerator it's a shame they don't have decent engineering

FredMitchell 05-06-2025 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy (Post 2429677)
...
And now the disposal is frozen, from renters, maybe, lime deposits maybe or !@#$%^&*()
At least no more renters

Why such a bad attitude?

Check to see if the garbage disposal is plugged in. If so, check the breaker.

davidbhill 05-06-2025 08:06 AM

Whirlpool products are terrible. Their customer service is even worse.

Dgodin 05-06-2025 08:33 AM

There is a testing sequence. I had a similar issue and found it on YouTube. I replaced my unit. Easy to do. Loosen 2 screws, unplug the old unit, the reverse the process to install. I found those instructions on YouTube also.

kkingston57 05-06-2025 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy (Post 2429420)
Piece of Crap!

Randomly stops working! No testing sequence without being a technician. Just on or off.

Anyone have any tips to get it started again?

thanks in advance

Is it a through the door iceaker/water dispenser? Whirlpool/Kitchen Aid may have a class action suit against them. We had two and both stopped working.

xcaligirl 05-06-2025 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy (Post 2429420)
Piece of Crap!

Randomly stops working! No testing sequence without being a technician. Just on or off.

Anyone have any tips to get it started again?

thanks in advance

I believe our whirlpool refrigerator/frezzer went "out" less than a year. We finally called Pioneer AirConditioning/Heating and they also work on many other appliances including ice makers. They fixed our ac/etc a few times and they fixed our ice maker. Can't remember the charge but nothing outrageous.

xcaligirl 05-06-2025 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J1ceasar (Post 2429739)
Even Whirlpool admits it is junk I have heard from the text that are through three different engineered designs so far in my case it stopped working because a wire basically burnt out

The entire unit cost about $200 plus 90 bucks to install and for a $2,000 refrigerator it's a shame they don't have decent engineering

I know I will NEVER buy another Whirlpool "anything"! all junk, not like the "old days".

Joan Wentz 05-06-2025 03:22 PM

Whirlpool icemaker
 
Poor design. Ice container backs into refrigerator which cannot maintain freezing temperatures. Which then causes the motor to fail. And also causes the ice cubes to freeze together. What I do is once a month empty the ice container. Then as new ice is made the motor keeps working. Since I started doing this I have had no problems. Good luck.

JMintzer 05-07-2025 12:05 PM

After fixing it twice (yes the ice maker has trouble staying cold enough to avoid the dreaded "frozen block if ice",) we finally gave up.

We purchased a new LG French Door, Bottom Drawer Freezer to replace it.

It has a wather dispenser inside the fridge, and an ice maker located below in the freezer compartment. It drops the cubes into a bin. No "dispenser" on the outside.

It gave us more room in the fridge AND in the freezer.

The old Whirlpool has been relegated to the garage, with no water hook-up, and is perfect for additional Fridge/Freezer space.

Topspinmo 05-07-2025 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidbhill (Post 2429793)
Whirlpool products are terrible. Their customer service is even worse.

https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-co...?fit=680%2C680

All in family


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