Kenmore elite refrigerator ice maker not dispensing ice

It is a tragedy when you come in from mowing the lawn on a hot day for some ice water only to discover that your freezer, for some reason, is no longer dispensing ice. Your ice bucket inside is full, but it just not coming out through the dispenser in the door. This is one of those refrigerator problems you can likely ignore for a long time, but if you have had enough of a beloved feature not working, here is what could be wrong.

Ice Clogs

It is typically best to start with the easiest to solve a potential problem. In this case, it is that an ice clog is preventing your freezer from dispensing any ice cubes. Ice that has sat around for a while will tend to fuse together into a great big clump due to its own weight. This often happens in the winter when there is a lower demand for ice and it tends to linger in the tub. This can also happen during times where the freezer was left open for a long period of time or if the defrost is malfunctioning in a way that makes your freezer get too hot. Typically an ice dispenser uses an auger to get the ice cubes out, but if there are no separate cubes or chunks that can be broken apart by the auger, you will get no ice.

Pull out your ice maker and check for clumps near the bottom of the bin or even inside the dispenser itself that will prevent dispensation.

Auger Motor

If you press the lever on your ice dispenser, but it doesn’t make any noise, then it is most likely a problem with the motor responsible for turning the auger. It is the motor that is responsible for the distinct noise you hear when using your ice maker, so it is easy to tell when that is the problem.

By disassembling your ice maker so you can reach the motor, you can test the motor with a multimeter to see if it has continuity. Be sure to shut off the power to your refrigerator before doing this for your safety.

Ice Dispenser Actuator

When the lever is depressed to dispense ice, the actuator is responsible for activating the microswitch send signals to the ice maker. Often when this happens, you will hear a click that becomes quickly overshadowed by the sound of the auger motor activating.

Unfortunately, if there is a problem with the actuator, it can actually mean a lot of different problems in the process. If the actuator isn’t making contact with the switch, it could mean the housing bracket, switch mounting bracket, or actuator pivot are damaged and not making contact with the switch. Furthermore, there is also the potential that the microswitch itself has gone faulty.

Dispenser Control Board

If the actuator is making contact with the microswitch and the microswitch checks out fine with a multimeter, your final suspect should be the control board. Typically when this part is at fault, you will notice other symptoms, such as lights by your ice dispenser dimming when in use.

As you would expect, replacing the control board for your ice dispenser can be a complex repair. The difficulty comes with not so much replacing the board itself, as it is just a simple case of unmounting it and unplugging the wires, but rather, it can be difficult to reach and requires a fair bit of disassembly. It may be something that you might feel more comfortable leaving to a professional appliance repair technician. However, unless you see other visual signs that it might be the control board or you have tested all the common culprits above and they checked out, it is unlikely to be a control board problem.

If your ice maker isn’t working, a simple fix might get it going again. Always unplug your refrigerator and turn the water supply line off before troubleshooting.

Common Ice Maker Problems

An ice maker can stop working for a variety of reasons. Ice makers receive water through a small water supply line that runs from the refrigerator to a water pipe, funnel, or a water filter. The most common reasons for ice maker problems are:

• Pause feature enabled
• Water line malfunction or setting
• Clogged filter
• Faulty water inlet valve
• Thermostat set too low

Ice Maker Stopped Working

Control Arm Out of Position

Many ice makers have a control arm that activates a pause feature when the ice bin is full. The control arm may have inadvertently been moved, or possibly fallen off, which can pause ice maker functionality. Check the owner’s manual for information about the pause feature and make sure it’s not enabled.

Water Line Is Turned Off or Clogged

Every ice maker has a water supply line. Check to make sure the water supply valve is not shut off or restricted by a bracket or fastener.

Clogged Filter

Clogged filters are a common problem if they are not maintained according to manufacturer specifications. Use the owner’s manual to locate the filter and check for debris.

Clogged or broken water inlet valve

The location of the water inlet valve depends on the manufacturer but Kenmore ice maker and Whirlpool ice maker water inlet valves are typically located behind your refrigerator. Before checking on the valve, unplug the refrigerator and turn off the valve’s water supply. Once you’ve located the valve, check to see if the screen, or filter, is plugged with debris. Check the line feeding the valve to see if it’s bulging or restricted by a bracket.

Ice Maker Not Making Ice

When you’re sure that all the items listed above are not the cause, a frozen water line may be the culprit. If you locate a frozen line, unplug the refrigerator and turn the water supply line off. You can defrost the line with a hair dryer. Always keep the hair dryer above the water source to avoid electrical shock.

Once power is restored and the water line is turned on, you should be able to hear the water running into the ice maker after thawing. If you don’t hear water running or the water is discolored, it’s time to make a call for an ice maker repair service.

Ice Maker Not Making Enough Ice

If you are still getting ice cubes but it’s not as much as before, your line may be in the beginning stages of freezing up. Check for a frozen line.

Ice Maker Leaking

Perhaps your ice maker is making ice but it’s leaking water in the freezer or leaking onto the floor.

• Check your refrigerator and make sure it’s perfectly level
• Check your ice maker unit and make sure it’s level
• Check the water supply line for damage, pinching, or kinks
• Check the fill cup; make sure it’s aligned correctly with the water funnel

If those items check out, make a service call and we will troubleshoot your refrigerator and ice maker to find a solution. A small leak can turn into a much larger leak and damage flooring and surrounding walls.

Ice Maker Frozen

Check your thermostat setting and make sure it’s set to the manufacturer’s recommended temperature in the owner’s manual. If it’s set too low, water will freeze before it gets to the mold.

Whether you have a side-by-side refrigerator, an armoire-style refrigerator, or a standard freezer-on-top model, these ice maker troubleshooting tips may help you avoid that service call.

If you’ve tried all the tips above and your ice maker is still not working, plug your refrigerator back in and take advantage of Sears Home Services online flexible repair scheduling for your refrigerator repair. Our technicians have an average of 11 years’ experience and are ready to serve you.

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