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echinacea · Jul 4, 2011, 07:34 AM

I have a Whirlpool ice maker that does not get water into it. It is not frozen in the hose. How do I determine if it is a valve or the entire ice maker?

ma0641 · Jul 4, 2011, 12:10 PM

First, make sure you are getting water to the unit. Remove the bottom grill and if you are lucky you will see the water/icemaker connection there. Make sure water is present and flowing. If not, your needle valve, if that is what is used, may be plugged. It's a very small hole. Make sure the fill arm isn't tipped in the off(up) position. You may have some dirt in the valve or a bad valve. Shut off the water and remove the fill arm at the icemaker, usually 1 or 2 screws. Make sure the tubing and valve are clear. If all is OK, you probably have a bad fill valve/solenoid.

echinacea · Jul 4, 2011, 02:05 PM

Thanks for your help. I wasn't able to see if the valve was plugged. May buy a bag of ice!

ma0641 · Jul 4, 2011, 05:40 PM

You can always use an ice tray, 2 for $ at the $ store.

drtom4444 · Jul 5, 2011, 11:39 AM

The way you check a water solenoid is with an ohm meter. You read across the electrical terminals and should read about 1 k-ohm or so. The valve can also be clogged, but it can be easily taken apart and cleaned. Make sure to check the screen, too. On the ice maker you check it by pouring water in it to fill the tray. If it freezes the cubes and ejects them then the problem is most likely the solenoid. Also, be sure to check and see if the coils under the refrigerator are clogged with dirt. If they are clean them well by removing rear cover and blowing out coils and spraying them with water (unplug unit first) to wash them off. Replace rear cover after completing repairs. If freezer does not get cold enough ice maker will not work which can result from dirty coils. The coils should be cleaned every six months to keep compressor from failing. Another problem can be the harvest t-stat in ice maker, but it is hard to work on and if filling it with water results in ice ejected in a few hours then it is working. DrTom4444

echinacea · Jul 6, 2011, 04:17 PM

Thanks for your help. I've cleaned everything that I can find. Put water in manually. It froze, but, it did not eject. The water still works on the door, just not in the ice maker.

drtom4444 · Jul 6, 2011, 04:47 PM

The problem is the harvest t-stat in the ice maker. It is a little round t-stat about 3/4" in diameter with two wires on it. It has its sensor against the side of the freezing chamber. Replace it and your ice maker will work. It should cost about $5-10. Remove ice maker and it is on the front side on most all units. If you have any more questions feel free to ask. DrTom4444