GFE29HSDHSS GE refrigerator door icemaker problem and solution

[koreywill]

Hello all.  1st timer to this site.  Searched all over last night for a solution  to a problem I had but didn't find one.  Today I solved it and maybe others will find this helpful.

Over the last 6 months or so the cubes in refrigerator door ice-maker were getting smaller and smaller.  It finally got to the point where it just stopped making ice.  So, I ran the diagnostics and came up with a code 06 04 which is "FF IM No water supply detected".  I had a bypass plug so I removed the filter and inserted the plug.  I knew it couldn't be the filter, though, because the water stream at the door was strong.  I tested the solenoids in the door and they were fine.  After trying all kinds of other things I finally took the black water hose that feeds the ice-maker and tried to blow through it.  Very little air passed through it.  I tried running some insulated wire smaller than the hose inner diameter all the way to the ice-maker but couldn't quite get there.  You could hear the scratchy sound of calcium/lime buildup in the line so I knew I was on to something.  Looking in the cup right above the ice-maker where the water comes out to fill the tray, I could see what appeared to be a small hole at the top (it slants uphill) but on the bottom of the path. I got some copper wire, finagled a bend in it and finally got through the opening.  I then put some vinegar in a tube that fit nice and tight in the feed tray and blew the vinegar into the tray.  I kept repeating that until there was fast movement of air whether you supplied air pressure from the bottom hose (that goes to the solenoid) or from the top feeder tray.

I flushed the line with some clear water, plugged everything back in, closed the doors and then waited for the refrigerator to get back to normal operating temperature.  Since then it's made three loads of ice and the cubes are as big as I remember them being when the unit was brand new.

So, if you're door ice-maker is putting out smaller ice cubes because of a insufficient water supply you might take a look at the feeder tray and see if there's a buildup of calcium blocking the outlet hole.

I hope this helps someone.