Brand:Kenmore Model Number: 106.58909800 Main Symptom: Ice Maker stops making ice What happens & when: Over the past 6 months, the ice make would stop making ice, but still dispense water.
Error Code (if any): No code
Parts or tests already tried: Turned off ice maker and let it “thaw” over a period of a month or longer. Turn the ice make back on and it will make ice again.
Photos / video link:
I have a Kenmore fridge, 106.58909800, that is certainly a 2008 vintage model and over the past year or so will stop making ice. Troubleshooting has been to use the power switch to turn it off and I read somewhere that it may need to thaw. So I have done this and let it “thaw” for at least 3-4 weeks. Powered on and will eventually make ice once again. I have noticed icicles forming from the make itself and there also maybe a leak as ice has formed numerous times on the door shelf. Also there is glass on the top shelf that sits under the ice maker that seems to accumulate dirt and water.
Electrical challenged.
I am leaning towards the ice maker itself and not the sensor.
Any assistance is appreciated.
Honestly not sure but mainly concerned why it stops making ice and after I power it off and let it sit for a weeks and turn it back on it makes ice again. Is the malfunction with the dispenser?
To make sure I have this correct, the ice maker is just turned off? It is not removed to thaw? The only things that would influence ice production on this particular model are the wire harnesses, bin sensor optics, ice maker, and the water valve.
Yes, I use the switch in the right hand side of the freezer and only switch off. I am lazy and didn’t want to take it out. I replaced the water valve earlier in the year. I see the red light laser blinking so my guess is the dispenser. Making sure I had it right before purchasing without being able to check the electrical. If you have a 89 level instruction on how to check the electrical I do have a meter.
Thank you
The dispenser is not an issue since it is not connected to the ice maker system electrically. The icicles are a concern though. If there is a leak at the ice maker, the ice could freeze the motor up and prevent the harvest from completing properly. Is there anything done to clear the ice when it forms?
It’s very likely that the ice maker itself is failing. One good way to confirm is to wait until the unit stops making ice again, then check for voltage.
Here’s how to test it:
Tape the freezer door switch shut so the ice maker circuit and optics stay active.
Make sure you have a clear line of sight between the optics (the emitter and receiver).
With the harness still connected to the main wiring, test the ice maker harness for 120 VAC between the black wire and the white wire at the plastic connector.
If 120 volts is present,
And the freezer is holding proper temperature,
then the ice maker is the most likely cause of the failure.
With the ice maker access door lifted up, there will be a white plastic cover to the right and behind the ice maker that would need to be removed. It should have a 1/4” hex head screw on the bottom of the piece. Once this cover is removed, the ice maker harness connection will be accessible. The meter should have a setting labeled VAC or V~ and this would be used to test voltage.
Yes thank you for your assistance and I will check the system when it stops making ice. It has been going a few weeks now and can’t believe it hasn’t stopped working. Thanks