The icemaker on my 2004 Whirlpool side-by-side has died. The water dispenses and the ice freezes, but it does not dump the ice. I understand that the motor has died. I decided to replace the entire icemaker unit due to its age, but I am having problems reaching the power plug which is hidden under an oval rubber gasket on the side wall of the freezer. I have tried everything to release the gasket in order to get to the plug and I can’t do it! I do not want to buy a replacement icemaker unless I know I can get to the power plug. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to get to the icemaker plug in my freezer? Thank you!
Icemaker Plug.jpg (3.3 KB)
[QUOTE=Kabuki;809562]The icemaker on my 2004 Whirlpool side-by-side has died. The water dispenses and the ice freezes, but it does not dump the ice. I understand that the motor has died. I decided to replace the entire icemaker unit due to its age, but I am having problems reaching the power plug which is hidden under an oval rubber gasket on the side wall of the freezer. I have tried everything to release the gasket in order to get to the plug and I can’t do it! I do not want to buy a replacement icemaker unless I know I can get to the power plug. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to get to the icemaker plug in my freezer? Thank you![/QUOTE]
Kabuki, You’re going too far. The oval grommet and wires, in the side wall of the freezer compartment do not need to be removed. Once you loosen the two top retainer screws, and remove the lower retainer screw, and dismount the ice maker, you can turn the assembly clockwise, so you can access the wire harness plug, in the front of the ice maker and carefully “unlock” the retainer clip and slide the harness connector out of the module. Reverse the procedure to install the replacement part. Just remember to unplug the power cord, or remove power to the refrigerator first.
Joe,
Thank you! OK, I have now disconnected the entire icemaker unit. The only visible plug was connected to the motor module on the unit. I now have a bundle of wires and the connector piece hanging from the side wall of my freezer. Can I leave it all disconnected until my new part arrives? Now for another question: Should I replace the entire unit or just the motor module? I was leaning toward replacing the entire unit since it’s almost 10 years old, but curious what you’re opinion is. Like I wrote, the water dispenses and the ice freezes, but it never dumps the ice. When I did a test of the T&H holes using an insulated wire, nothing happened, indicating that the motor is bad. Now–replace motor or replace entire unit? Thank you so much for your prompt response!
[quote=Kabuki;809580]Joe,
Thank you! OK, I have now disconnected the entire icemaker unit. The only visible plug was connected to the motor module on the unit. I now have a bundle of wires and the connector piece hanging from the side wall of my freezer. Can I leave it all disconnected until my new part arrives? Now for another question: Should I replace the entire unit or just the motor module? I was leaning toward replacing the entire unit since it’s almost 10 years old, but curious what you’re opinion is. Like I wrote, the water dispenses and the ice freezes, but it never dumps the ice. When I did a test of the T&H holes using an insulated wire, nothing happened, indicating that the motor is bad. Now–replace motor or replace entire unit? Thank you so much for your prompt response![/quote]
Kabuki, Yes, you can leave the harness as is, you may want to tape off the connector, or wrap it in a “baggie” to keep moisture and ice from develpping in the connector, and reduce the possibility of a short or safety hazard.
The most economical repair is to replace the “module”
It can be “tricky” but very do able. The other option is the ice maker complete
But you’ll have a few extra harnesses you won’t need, but you should decide based on your experience and confidence.
Thank you, Joe!
Per your instructions, I have bagged up the end of my plug and placed my order for a complete replacement icemaker unit. Inspecting the ice tray, the finish started to corrode, so I figured I might as well go for an entirely new unit. Thank you for your help!
[quote=Kabuki;809675]Thank you, Joe!
Per your instructions, I have bagged up the end of my plug and placed my order for a complete replacement icemaker unit. Inspecting the ice tray, the finish started to corrode, so I figured I might as well go for an entirely new unit. Thank you for your help![/quote]
Kabuki, Great !! You should be up and running and making ice in a few days. Let us know how things went. Remeber, to “dump” the first few batches of ice cubes, and wash out the ice bin, that’s standard operation when servicing the system.
Joe,
Just a note to thank you for your help. The icemaker arrived within a couple of days of ordering it from appliancepartspros.com. I installed it in less than 5 minutes. So easy to DIY. My ice bin is now full of freshly made ice. Thank you again!
[quote=Kabuki;810882]Joe,
Just a note to thank you for your help. The icemaker arrived within a couple of days of ordering it from appliancepartspros.com. I installed it in less than 5 minutes. So easy to DIY. My ice bin is now full of freshly made ice. Thank you again![/quote]
Kabuki,
You’re Very Welcome !!
Thanks for the update, we appreciate it.
[quote=Kabuki;810882]Joe,
Just a note to thank you for your help. The icemaker arrived within a couple of days of ordering it from appliancepartspros.com. I installed it in less than 5 minutes. So easy to DIY. My ice bin is now full of freshly made ice. Thank you again![/quote]
Kabuki,
You’re Very Welcome !!!
Thanks for the update, we appreciate it.
I have a similar question. My Whirlpool side-by-side has a rubber oval covering the refrigerator end of the ice maker wiring harness that I haven’t been able to remove.
The original ice maker stopped working and got hot enough that I could smell it with the refrigerator closed. I replaced the entire unit (except for the wiring harness) but the new one doesn’t seem to be working. I tried jumpering V-L to activate the water valve and nothing happened. I also tried jumpering T-H to start a cycle and nothing happened.
I’m suspecting the heat fuse on the original wiring harness, but I can’t detach it from the refrigerator to test it or replace it with the one that came with the new ice maker.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Mike
[QUOTE=Silverlock;901487]I have a similar question. My Whirlpool side-by-side has a rubber oval covering the refrigerator end of the ice maker wiring harness that I haven’t been able to remove.
The original ice maker stopped working and got hot enough that I could smell it with the refrigerator closed. I replaced the entire unit (except for the wiring harness) but the new one doesn’t seem to be working. I tried jumpering V-L to activate the water valve and nothing happened. I also tried jumpering T-H to start a cycle and nothing happened.
I’m suspecting the heat fuse on the original wiring harness, but I can’t detach it from the refrigerator to test it or replace it with the one that came with the new ice maker.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Mike[/QUOTE]
Mike, There is a locking tab on the wire harness connector that when you insert it into the icemaker connector has to be pressed and locked in place. Sometimes it’s easier to use a mall flat blade screwdriver and insert it into the connector enough to raise the area around the tab then pull out on the harness to remove it. Then you can insert the replacement harness and complete the installation.
Under the circumstances, you may want to check for power at the refrigerator harness connector. You have to be careful, this is a live voltage test. With the icemaker removed, use a multi meter or test light and place the probes across the black and white wire terminals of the harness connector. You should read 120 VAC or the test light should illuminate. If you have the voltage, then proceed with the repair, the thermal fuse in the harness is “blown” If you don’t have the voltage at the harness connector, then the harness inside the refrigerator wall is damaged and there is no repair to make, a broken, damaged wire inside the cabinet can’t be repaired
properly.
Hi Joe,
Thanks for your quick reply; sorry my own answer was so slow in coming.
I removed the ice maker and tested the voltage across the black & white wires in the harness - I get no voltage. Do you think it’s worth testing further? I could strip small sections of the black wire above and below the fuse to test, or I could just replace the section of the black wire that has the fuse in it with a section and fuse from one of the other harnesses I now have lying around.
Thanks again for your help,
Mike
[QUOTE=Silverlock;902941]Hi Joe,
Thanks for your quick reply; sorry my own answer was so slow in coming.
I removed the ice maker and tested the voltage across the black & white wires in the harness - I get no voltage. Do you think it’s worth testing further? I could strip small sections of the black wire above and below the fuse to test, or I could just replace the section of the black wire that has the fuse in it with a section and fuse from one of the other harnesses I now have lying around.
Thanks again for your help,
Mike[/QUOTE]
Mike, You may want to “splice” a section of the black wire with the fuse, into the existing harness. Just make sure you do it properly with solder and “shrink wrap” over the splices. Make sire you mount the fuse to the ice maker mold assembly. That may keep you going until we can find the proper ice maker wire harness for a proper repair. It appears the AP6006032 would be the part to order at this point.
Hey Joe can you help me. I have a WP Refg. gsc25c4eyy00, i have replaced the inlet valve, the double inlet valve, both optic boards in freezer, ice maker, and now the main board. Still now ice. No power to the ice maker wiring harness. What am i doing wrong. 5 1/2 years old. I’ve dropped over $600.00 and still no ice.
v/r,
SFC Dunn/Jeep85
[QUOTE=Jeep85;908947]Hey Joe can you help me. I have a WP Refg. gsc25c4eyy00, i have replaced the inlet valve, the double inlet valve, both optic boards in freezer, ice maker, and now the main board. Still now ice. No power to the ice maker wiring harness. What am i doing wrong. 5 1/2 years old. I’ve dropped over $600.00 and still no ice.
v/r,
SFC Dunn/Jeep85[/QUOTE]
Jeep, Let’s start with some basics, hopefully you have a multi meter, start at the main control board, check for 120 VAC across P1/2 white wire and P3/4 black/white wire, you should read 120 VAC. if not faulty wire connection or faulty main control board. The check for 120 VAC from the black/white wire to chassis ground at the ice maker connector, no voltage, recheck from the black/white wire to the white/brown wire, No voltage on either test, the thermal fuse on the black white wire is open/blown.
At the dispenser control board, check the J5 connector. Across J5/1 red to J5/3 black/white wires, you should read 14 VDC. This circuit is the power supply to the emitter and receiver boards, no voltage would indicate a faulty user interface board or wiring issue. These are voltage checks, so be careful, and make sure you have the refrigerator power cord plugged in and the freezer door switch taped down and all the ice maker components are in position and activated. Let us know what you find and we’ll go from there.
Thank you, it will be 1700hrs when I get home. I’m in Alabama Central time. Any way I can Call you after five?
[QUOTE=Jeep85;908972]Thank you, it will be 1700hrs when I get home. I’m in Alabama Central time. Any way I can Call you after five?[/QUOTE]
Jeep85, Unfortunately we’re in the EST zone and will be away from the office by the time you get home. reply to this post, include an e mail address or area code and phone number, so we can try and set something up to help you out. We can delete the information (this is a public forum) you supplied and go from there. Thanks,
Good morning Joe,
Call or Email.
phillip.t.dunn.nfg@mail.mil
334-260-6364
0500-1530hrs
Thank you,
SFC D.
[QUOTE=Joe / APP Team;902995]Mike, You may want to “splice” a section of the black wire with the fuse, into the existing harness. Just make sure you do it properly with solder and “shrink wrap” over the splices. Make sire you mount the fuse to the ice maker mold assembly. That may keep you going until we can find the proper ice maker wire harness for a proper repair. It appears the AP6006032 would be the part to order at this point.[/QUOTE]
Hi Joe,
I actually have two extra complete wiring harnesses that came with ice-makers. The problem is that I can’t remove the old harness because it doesn’t have a removable connector on the fridge end - the wires go straight into the freezer wall through a rubber grommet I haven’t been able to remove.
I’ll try splicing in a new fuse and see if that fixes it.
Thanks for your help!
Mike
[QUOTE=Silverlock;910790]Hi Joe,
I actually have two extra complete wiring harnesses that came with ice-makers. The problem is that I can’t remove the old harness because it doesn’t have a removable connector on the fridge end - the wires go straight into the freezer wall through a rubber grommet I haven’t been able to remove.
I’ll try splicing in a new fuse and see if that fixes it.
Thanks for your help!
Mike[/QUOTE]
Mike, OK, make sure you get the splices tight and sealed so moisture or condensation can’t get in the harness and create problems. Keep in touch.