Whirlpool undercounter ice machine

[Dr chandler]

I have an ice machine that has quit making ice. We have really hard water and our whole house filter malfuntioned. I noticed low water pressure and slow ice production, then no ice. I cleaned the machine, cleaned the condenser.  (I think anyway, bottom front) the cutting grid has a tiny bit of scale. But he 2 days prior to stopping, it made more ice than we used. I can hear water coming in, and the tank in the back was full again. But it isn't freezing. Don't know what to do next. Model number is 2185803

[AlboGator]

Double check your model number. It's on the right side under the cutting grid for the whirlpool made machines.

[Dr chandler]

yes, I put the number from the door, then realized the actual number was inside. I thought I corrected it last night, but I see it didn't post. i'll check it again when I get home.

[Dr chandler]

model number is G11500XHW2

[AlboGator]

Is it getting cold?

Check the water level first. Empty the water from the troph in the inside by unscrewing the cap at the bottom and draining the water out of it. Then turn it on and observe the water level in the troph. It should fill, then go into a rinse and fill and run over. Then it should start an ice making cycle and start getting cold. The stream coming into the back should be good and solid and not limp and wimpy.

[Dr chandler]

thanks! I emptied the trough, and then when I checked it later, there was water in the trough, but I did not notice it running over. and it never got cold. in fact, when I put my hand inside the bin after it's been running for a while, it's warm in there. I think there might be a problem with the condenser, but I haven't figured out how to get to it yet.

[AlboGator]

If it never got cold at all you have to check to see if the compressor is running. You can either pull it out and check at the compressor or you can take the top apart from the inside to check it there from the control board. If the condenser fan's not running it will still get cold or if the condensers dirty it will still get cold but not cold enough. If it was hot in the inside I wouldn't believe the compressor is even running. The cutting grid will heat the inside of it (without the compressor running) and make it warm inside.

[Dr chandler]

thanks! compressor is what I meant to say in my last post. where in the machine is the compressor? I don't like to take the machine out because it's really difficult to get it back in correctly so that the drain lines up. but if I have to, I will. I cleaned the condenser, it was nasty, but it still would not make ice afterward.

[bayouboy]

Look at the cold plate behind the cutting grid, see if its getting cold or iced up. If no water is flowing over the cold plate you may have a bad circulating pump. Check for 120volts at the plug for the circulating pump,. If you have 120volts and the pump is not running then change the pump. Like albo said the cutting grid will warm the inside of the ice machine, you have to check the cold plate to see if that is getting cold.

[Dr chandler]

ok, i'll check that when I get home. thanks!

[Dr chandler]

Ok. So there is plenty of water flowing over the cooling plate, but it isn't cold.  So that means I need to check the compressor. The machine is in an island. Do I need to pull it out to access the compressor?

[AlboGator]

It's not fun either way. You can either pull it out and check it at the compressor or you can pull the cover down from the top and check it at the board. I would check from the board but I'm used to doing it because if your board is bad then you're already there to get a replacement and swap it.

To check from the board you have to

1. Put a piece of tape over the drain line hole in the back

2. Remove the cutting grid cover and cutting grid.

3. Remove the 4 screws holding the top cover up, and the whole thing will come down enough to access what you need to get to.

3b. At this point I'd remove the control board and look on the back of it for a burned contact on the big relay. If you see one the board's bad, if you don't continue on.

4. Check for power at the second to last terminal from the right on the big black connection looking at it from the front in it's proper place. (120vac to any neutral or ground wire)

You can flip the breaker off and remove all of that so you don't have to work on it live then remove the tape and turn it on and wait about 15 minutes so the compressor should be running by that point.

KEEP IN MIND 120V is dangerous.

[Dr chandler]

Thanks! I know which breaker controls the island so I'll turn that off. Where is the compressor?  I can get to the back of the machine pretty easily, I've actually already removed the trim and can easily take off the back wall. I'm afraid if the board needs replacing, that might require that I hire someone. And I'm tired of doing that. I want to know how to fix things in my house.

[AlboGator]

The compressor is at the bottom in the back of the ice machine. It may be covered by a cardboard cover or not. They'll have a plastic cover over some wires connected to it.