Alternatives for a kenmore water inlet valve no longer made?

Refrigerator & Freezer Repair
1

Kenmore:
10659212990
water inlet valve:
water not flowing into ice maker :

I have an old Kenmore from around 2000…The plastic chute that delivers the water to the ice maker keeps freezing over without ice being made. Water in door doesn’t work either but I ONLY care about the ice part.
I want to replace the water inlet valve but because its so old, there’s only one or two on the internet for ridiculous prices. It’s a triple solenoid type - to I bought a similar triple solenoid model on amazon thinking I could make it work. I think it might have, but at the end one solenoid had wider metal connector tabs than the connector coming from the fridge so I couldn’t connect it. There must be an alternative since the original Whirlpool part for this Kenmore fridge isn’t made anymore…Buying bags of ice sucks!

Can anyone help with an alternative way to get this thing working? I’m thinking there must be something else that would work?! Thanks in advance. (if it matters, I’ve replaced the icemaker 2x before, and the water inlet valve once before, many years ago).

2

Hi,

This place here says they have that valve in stock.

I know nothing about this company.

jeff sr.

3

Thanks!
Someone on the internet said that I could use the replacement valve I bought on amazon (the problem here is that the terminals on one solenoid on the original were 3/16 but on the new one are 1/4) and just change the female connector coming from the fridge to 1/4" for the one solenoid. Any reason why I shouldn’t do that?

4

Worth trying.
Cut the wire terminals smaller or install new spade connectors on the wires to match your new part.

jeff sr.

5

Unfortunately, as the manufacturer has discontinued the valve for this model, we would not know what alternative would fit properly. However, while we can not recommend altering a part or appliance, re-terminalling a wire has been a repair method that has worked.