Kenmore (Frigidaire?) ice dispenser

[Tarheel Technician]

I checked on a Kenmore refrigerator (model #: 25358087899) and found that the actuator was working........meaning it was dumping the ice, but the flap was not opening so the ice would just pile up in the door. Without a wiring diagram, it looks as though the "heat motor" gets voltage when the actuator switch is energized and this heat motor has a shaft/yolk that extends, which opens the flap. I checked the voltage, and the "heat motor" is getting voltage when the actuator switch is energized, but the shaft does not extend.

I rarely work on Frigidaire (just mainly Whirlpool), so I was just getting a second opinion from the experts on this great site.

Thanks in advance!

[Pegi]

Wiring Diagram....

Wiring Schemtic....

[Budget Appliance Repair]

If you're getting the 115-120volts to the heat motor when you press the dispenser button and the door won't open then the heat motor has to be bad or the door is frozen shut, (which I'm sure you would have already noticed if that were the case).

[Tarheel Technician]

Thanks a lot for the info.

Just curious....why is it called a heat motor?

[Budget Appliance Repair]

I've never worked on or seen one of this style, but from the picture and calling it a heat motor, I would assume it is like the Magtag "Wax Motors", just a straight push-pull motor function activated by heating the block of wax goo, hence Electrolux calling it a heat motor instead of a wax motor.

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

They are similar to the Maytag wax motors, except these are cylindrical and metal instead of brick-colored and rectangular. Also, these heat motors react instantly and rapidly to applied voltage, the plunger shoots out, instead of a slow, deliberate extension in the Maytag wax motors. I don't know if the basic principle of operation is the same between the two-- it's a good question.