Whirlpool 4 door refrigerator ice maker not working

Q: Why is my ice maker not making ice but water works?

If your ice maker isnt producing ice at all or is producing crescents or cubes that are smaller than usual, its typically indicative of a clog somewhere along the supply line. Cause: A common cause for a clog is frozen water in the line. Fix: To repair a frozen line, slide the refrigerator and unplug it.

For general information visit the "How Ice Makers Work

Table of Contents Show

Common Problems:
Ice Maker Optics Diagnostics
Pre 2002 Diagnostic Tests:
Post 2002 Diagnostic Tests:
Why is my ice maker not making ice on my Whirlpool refrigerator?
Why is Whirlpool ice maker not working?
Why is my ice maker not making ice but water works?

So your ice maker’s slacking off again and your looking for some payback...well you’ve come to the right place. On this page you will learn how to whip that lazy ice maker back into shape and have it pumping out cubes faster than a kid in a Rubik tournament!

The Whirlpool & Kitchen Aid in-door ice system is very nice design because it frees up a large amount of space in the freezer compartment and makes important job of dumping old ice much more convenient. Mechanically, this is a Whirlpool modular ice maker with a few extra trim pieces, different fill tube location, and a set of control boards have replaced the bail arm switch.

One other important note… Whirlpool redesigned the optics portion of this system around 2002 so there are two different diagnostic methods depending on which set of boards are installed in your refrigerator, pre or post 2002 ice maker models.

Common Problems:

“My Icemaker is not producing Ice.”

“I can’t get any ice to come out of the dispenser.”

“There is a bunch of frost in the dispenser shoot and ice bin.”

“The bottom of my freezer is covered with ice.”

“There are little flakes of stuff in my ice.”

“The Ice bin is one big clump of ice.”

Pre-Op:

First thing is first! Lets not make more work for ourselves than we have to.

“Work smarter not harder.”
–some smart guy-

Is the on of switch, located on the right side ice maker control slid to the on position? An invisible beam of infrared light is sent across the top of the ice bin to detect if the bin is full of ice. The on/off switch is a slide that will block the beam and stop ice production.

Is the ice bin full? Hmmm.

Could there be grime or frost on ether the emitter or receiver board windows that may block the light beam’s round trip?

Whirlpool Refrigerator Troubleshooting

Whirlpool & Kitchen Aid In-Door Ice System Technical Manual PDF

Ice Maker Optics Diagnostics

Pre 2002 Diagnostic Tests:

Note: The ice bin must be installed on the door to activate the left side flap, ice should not be over the top notches of the bin. If you don’t get any response from the diagnostic test… wait 5 minutes then unplug the refrigerator for 10 seconds to reset the ice maker control board and try again.

Step 1. Open the freezer door (make sure that the freezer door has been closed for a minimum of 10 seconds prior to opening the door).

Step 2. Activate the door switch 3 times. Push the button in completely for 1 second each time.

Step 3. Close the freezer door for a minimum of 5 seconds for a maximum of 50 seconds.

Step 4. Open the freezer door and immediately view the diagnostics red status light next to the ice maker’s on/off switch.

Results:

-Two flashes repeated once means the ice maker’s optics are blocked or defective.

-A steady on light for 5 seconds means the ice maker’s optics boards are working properly.

-If there is no light try resetting the optics boards as in the note at the top of this section. If there is still no light you may need a new set of optics boards, or the LED light is out.

Boards purchased from this link have a 1 Year Return Policy! No questions asked, installed or not!

Post 2002 Diagnostic Tests:

Step 1. Open the freezer door and observe the red status light next to the ice maker’s on/off switch.

Result:

You should see two flashes and a one second delay repeating. If there is no light your LED light may be out, you may have pre 2002 boards installed, or the optics boards need to be replaced.

Step 2. Close the left side flapper door and make sure you are not blocking the optics board’s light path.

Result:

The red status light should be steady on. If the light continues to flash, your optics are either blocked in some way or they need to be replaced.

Boards purchased from this link have a 1-year warranty, no questions asked, installed or not!

Why is my ice maker not making ice on my Whirlpool refrigerator?

In other instances, your a Whirlpool ice maker not making ice may be due to insufficient water supply. A clogged water filter, kinked water line hose, or defective water inlet valve can restrict the water flowing to an ice maker. When this happens, ice production will be limited or completely stop.

Why is Whirlpool ice maker not working?

Water Filter Requires Replacement Often, a Whirlpool refrigerator ice maker not working is due to a water filter malfunction. If the filter becomes clogged or is incorrectly installed, water flow to the ice maker will be restricted.

Why is my ice maker not making ice but water works?

If your ice maker isn't producing ice at all or is producing crescents or cubes that are smaller than usual, it's typically indicative of a clog somewhere along the supply line. Cause: A common cause for a clog is frozen water in the line. Fix: To repair a frozen line, slide the refrigerator and unplug it.