Whirlpool WRS588FIHZ04 not dispensing ice

Brand: Whirlpool
Model Number: WRS588FIHZ04
Main Symptom: Ice not dispensing
What happens & when: When I press the ice dispenser paddle, the auger motor does not turn and ice is not dispensed. The ice chute door seems to be working normally. There is no sound at all related to the auger motor.

Error Code (if any): No error code
Parts or tests already tried:

  • Reset the refrigerator by disconnecting power for 5, 10, and 30 minutes.
  • Dumped the ice bucket and made sure everything is fully defrosted.
  • Removed auger motor and let it completely thaw overnight, no change.
  • Measured DC voltage at auger connector while pressing ice dispense paddle. Voltage very briefly jumps up to a few hundred mV then back to 0.
  • Tested resistance across augur motor (two outer pins) at 91.3 ohms. No connectivity between any other pin combination. Harness from refrigerator only connects to the outer pins on motor (W11117906).

The ice dispenser failure happened suddenly, after a very brief power outage (5 seconds or so). Refrigerator is connected to a surge protector for what it’s worth.

It seems it could be either the dispenser control board or the main control board, both of which are pretty expensive, so wondering if I’ve missed anything. All other functions are working normally and it makes plenty of ice.

Make that same DC voltage test at the bottom of the freezer door. Open the door, take off the toe panel/grille, and look for a 3 wire connector with green, blue, and gray wires. Tape down the door switches and have somebody hold the ice dispenser paddle while you check DC voltage from blue to gray, should be getting around 140v DC there. If that stays powered while calling for ice, but you only get that voltage for a moment at the auger and then it disappears while still calling for ice, the harness inside the door is damaged. Not an uncommon occurrence on this style. If that harness is bad then the door AP7214631 has to be replaced to service it.

https://www.appliancepartspros.com/whirlpool-dor-fip-w11566705-ap7214631.html