3 replies to this topic

[Willingrvw]

Our side by side Amana, model 36568, mfg P1108503WL a couple of weeks ago started making no or small ice cubes.  I've tested the solenoid by reversing the water and ice maker leads and activating the ice maker solenoid by pushing the water valve on the door.  That seems to work fine. 

It doesn't fill the tray fully with water.  Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't.  When I fill the tray manually with a water bottle, the next several cycles seem to be bigger cubes, but then it gets down to nothing again.

Coincidentally (maybe??) about 6 months ago, the unit began freezing up periodically and the fingers would not rotate fully to eject the ice cubes.  Warming with a hair dryer freed the stuck cubes and it would work again for a while.

Samurai, does it sound like time for a new icemaker unit?  Any suggestions for diagnosis or repair will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks..........Ralph

 

 

 

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

If I were on the service call, I'd manually harvest the icemaker several times and check the fill volume each time.

[Pegi]

The ice maker is most likely a time fill system.  How much water goes into the ice maker in the allotted time, usually arount 8 seconds, is how much water will be in the mold.  I would suspect something has reduced the volume of water in this 8 seconds of time.  This usually goes back to the fill valve going bad or the water supply to the valve has a problem, but that would also effect the water thru the door also.   I would suspect the fill valve is going bad, or you have a restriction in the water line from the valve to the ice maket thru tube. Or if this box has a filter to the ice maker, be sure it is not clogged.

[Willingrvw]

Saw both of these replies.  However, before I could investigate further, I had to go out of town and of course that's when the thing decided to act up.  Wife called, saying the water dispenser on the door wouldn't shut off and she called a plumber.  He replaced the double solenoid valve (the same one that I reversed leads on and seemed to work fine) and he told her it would also solve the "no/small ice cube" problem.

By phone, I disagreed with her, but of course he was right.  Seems to be making ice cubes again.  Go figure.

Thanks for your advice.