Ice maker works intermittedly

by Saturday repairman
(Memphis)

I have an in door Whirlpool frig. The ice maker works just fine for awhile then it will quit. I can get it work by clicking on the ice or water dispenser. It may work once or for 3 days. I have tested the optics and they seem to be working fine.





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Answer

Hi Saturday Repairman :),

I would say that the motor/modular is bad because they are bad about intermittently working and not working. But you lose me when you say that you get it to work by “clicking on the ice dispenser” I am not sure what you mean by that.

Also you say you checked the optics but have you checked them when the icemaker wasn’t working?

The only thing that is notorious for an intermittently working is the motor/modular but that doesn’t mean anything. Typically if the motor/modular is giving this type of trouble the gear on the front of the modular will be loose. You may be able to easily pull it off (which would be a dead give away) or the little clip that is in the center of the gear will break. I been trying to get a picture of the broken clip for months now but I haven’t got one yet. I wish I did so I could show you what I am talking about.

Other than that I say wait until it doesn’t work then test the optics and the icemaker as I describe in this page Whirlpool Icemaker Not Working

I hope this helps!

Thank you,
Shawn/administrator

Comments for Ice maker works intermittedly

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Saturday Repair Man
by: Anonymous

Shawn thanks for the feedback. The ice maker will sometimes dump a load of ice when I activate the water and/or the ice dispenser in on the door. I usually have to open the door and look to see if the ice bin nearly empty and usually all I have to do is tap the water dispenser and it will dump a load of ice in a couple of minutes. Thanks again for you help. This is really a cool site and is now one of my favorites!
RE Icemaker
by: Shawn/Admin

Thanks!

It is very hard to say but I believe the optics (emitter and receiver board) is the problem.


I know I said the motor/modular before but the optics are closes to the door and more likely to be effected by tapping or opening the door. However like I said it is hard to say.

Intermitting problems are often a nightmare for repairmen and do-it-yourselfers. One advantage a do-it-yourselfer has over a repairman is that you are there more often and it never acts up when the repairman is there.

Good luck,

Thank you,
Shawn
Just thought of something else.
by: Shawn/admin

I just thought of something that makes that is more logical than anything that I have previously said.

The door switch on this model can stop the icemaker from working. If you have a light in the freezer check to make sure the light will turn on and off each time you press the door switch. Open the door and press the door switch by hand repeatedly to make sure it works. Also make sure the switch is being pressed good by the door.

I hope this helps!
Maytag Side by Side 3 yrs old Icemaker
by: Anonymous

Icemaker works very, very intermittently. No water leaking anywhere, everything in freezer frozen, however after power outage , even a brief one or change of season....I know sounds weird....but icemaker works... unfortunately ice tastes funny. Water, freezer everything else works. Will try door light switch ....all other comments sound good...but a youtube would be easier for this gal. Thanks
Maytag Side by Side 3 yrs old Icemaker
by: Anonymous

Icemaker works very, very intermittently. No water leaking anywhere, everything in freezer frozen, however after power outage , even a brief one or change of season....I know sounds weird....but icemaker works... unfortunately ice tastes funny. Water, freezer everything else works. Will try door light switch ....all other comments sound good...but a youtube would be easier for this gal. Thanks
Intermittent Ice Maker
by: Anonymous

The ice maker in my GE refrigerator was intermittent. I didn't want to mess with it, so I called for service. To my surprise, I was told that a dirty compressor (I guess the coils)could cause the ice maker to act erratically. I was very dubious, but he cleaned the coils, and told me it should start working normally in 48 hours (otherwise he'd have to replace the ice maker). I couldn't believe it, but it started dropping ice over night, and the bin is now almost full.

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