Appliance Repair Needed

[Carbo]

I have a Kenmore side by side refrigerator/freezer. I noticed yesterday that it stopped making ice. The unit is only 18 months old, but of course the warranty is for 12. So whatever is broken is probably going to cost me big time.
Anyone with any smarts in this area who can offer some suggestions before I call the repair service? :frown:

 

[Jhill]

Sure, I have a side by side refrigerator with an ice maker that broke once. Are you sure it just not frozen up? Turn it off and take everything out thats around the ice maker and hit it will a blow dryer for 10 or so minutes. That's how I fixed mine. Or your water line going to it might be clogged.

 

[allisolm]

Is the shut-off arm up?

 

[CoachB]

Well, two suggestions actually.
One, the whole icemaking unit can be replaced fairly easily. If you are at all handy, you can probably do it yourself. Just buy a new unit from a parts store. Make sure to check the water control valve for proper function.

Two, (and this is the one I recommend), buy some ice trays and do it the old fashion way. I work in the water supply industry in a quality assurance role. One of the most prevalent causes of bad tasting water is icemakers. The tiny supply line and intermittent flow thru it combine to degrade the taste AND quality of the water going to the icemaker. Most refrigerators now have small carbon filters on them to attempt to offset this degradation. Problem is, once the water goes thru the filter any disinfectant (chlorine) in the water has now been removed. You no longer have protection from bacterial contamination.

While I was typing this, I did a google search for 'Kenmore side by side'. WOW, icemaker problems seem rampant.

 

[theknight571]

Try... http://www.repairclinic.com/

Under Repair Help...Ice Makers.

These guys have a radio show that one of the local stations carries... they seem to know their stuff.

 

[Analog]

icemakers are easy to fix. I replaced the one on my GE. Got the part of ebay cheap.

 

[Sluggo]

Originally posted by: CoachB
Well, two suggestions actually.
One, the whole icemaking unit can be replaced fairly easily. If you are at all handy, you can probably do it yourself. Just buy a new unit from a parts store. Make sure to check the water control valve for proper function.

While I was typing this, I did a google search for 'Kenmore side by side'. WOW, icemaker problems seem rampant.

Yeah, our Kenmore icemaker went out right after the warranty period. I just got a whole new icemaker unit from Sears for $90 and replaced the whole thing, it shouldnt take more than 30 minutes.

 

[Mermaidman]

I bought a part from
http://www.appliancepartspros.com/
to repair our microwave. It was about 25% cheaper than other sites, and shipping was fast.

 

[Squisher]

I had the same thing happen to my Kenmore at the 11 month mark. It was the motor, or should I say it was one of the gears in the motor module.

The repairman that came out said they had a bunch of these go bad because of a defect in the plastic material.


If the ice ejector (the rake like device that slowly spins) isn't spinning, you might want to look at that.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: CoachB
Well, two suggestions actually.
One, the whole icemaking unit can be replaced fairly easily. If you are at all handy, you can probably do it yourself. Just buy a new unit from a parts store. Make sure to check the water control valve for proper function.

Two, (and this is the one I recommend), buy some ice trays and do it the old fashion way. I work in the water supply industry in a quality assurance role. One of the most prevalent causes of bad tasting water is icemakers. The tiny supply line and intermittent flow thru it combine to degrade the taste AND quality of the water going to the icemaker. Most refrigerators now have small carbon filters on them to attempt to offset this degradation. Problem is, once the water goes thru the filter any disinfectant (chlorine) in the water has now been removed. You no longer have protection from bacterial contamination.

While I was typing this, I did a google search for 'Kenmore side by side'. WOW, icemaker problems seem rampant.

If you're at all handy, you can clean and disinfect your water lines to the ice maker if the flavor ever becomes a problem. For anyone who drinks diet cola, if you detect a slight "off-taste" to it when you get it from a fountain, this is the same reason. The lines are supposed to be cleaned regularly (and at some places, they are never cleaned & disinfected.)

 

[Carbo]

Turns out an ice cube got jammed into the ejector and so the unit shut down. Yanked that sucker out, watched the Giants smack around the Cowbitches, and my ice bucket is once again full. Life is good.