Frigidare Frig. FFSS2614QP6A ice crusher not working

[domr]

Hi, the ice crusher is not working.  The ice is coming out whole.  Not sure what to look for.

[howdryiam]

Deep in the recesses of your freezer, behind your ice bin and hidden inside a metal box  is a solenoid. Selecting the ‘crushed’ button on your display should allow the solenoid to be energized when you hit the dispense paddle. When the solenoid is energized it lifts an actuator in your ice dispenser assembly. The lifted actuator animates the the ice crusher. Since your ice only comes out whole when the ‘crushed’ is selected, this means that somewhere between the ‘crushed’ select button and the solenoid lurks your trouble.

Remove the ice bin to expose the ice auger housing. There are maybe 4 screws securing the housing to the back wall. Remove the assembly and check to see the solenoid is not damaged, rusty or caked with ice. Check for continuity through the solenoid’s coil.

If all is well there we need to see if 120VAC is getting to the coil when the paddle is depressed. You may need to tape the freezer door switch closed. Power for this mechanism is often routed through the door switch. 

If still no luck then you’ll need to get into the dispenser assembly to test the switch. 

[howdryiam]

this is your lucky day! Our Fearless Leader has produced a video you’ll find extremely  helpful:

 

[Budget Appliance Repair]

Actually, @howdryiam, the crushed/cubed works opposite of what you described.

Solenoid is energized/raised up opening the gate in the bin for cubed ice.
Solenoid is NOT energized/stir-up in down position keeping the gate closed forcing the cubes through the crushing teeth in bin.

These Frigidaire's have a tendency for the solenoid to freeze in the up/cubed position and won't drop down when power is dropped from solenoid.   There was actually a service bulletin for a Styrofoam box to cover solenoid to help keep it from freezing, (just thawing it and drying it will fix it sometimes).

If the solenoid is frozen in the up/cubed position and you pull the ice bin out and reinstall it, then you will have only crushed ice, (the lever arm goes back into the stir-up hole under the stir-up).

[howdryiam]

20 minutes ago, Budget Appliance Repair said:

Solenoid is energized/raised up opening the gate in the bin for cubed ice.

Doh! Good catch Budget-A! Thanks for pitching in

[domr]

Thanks for the reply.  I read up on it and after checking it out and it seems that all that was wrong was that the ice tray was not properly seated.  I r Edwards it and it now works.  Hopefully that's all that was wrong.  Thanks again for the replys.

 

[domr]

"Reseated it"

[sgreen2894]

On 8/1/2019 at 9:01 AM, Budget Appliance Repair said:

Actually, @howdryiam, the crushed/cubed works opposite of what you described.

Solenoid is energized/raised up opening the gate in the bin for cubed ice.
Solenoid is NOT energized/stir-up in down position keeping the gate closed forcing the cubes through the crushing teeth in bin.

These Frigidaire's have a tendency for the solenoid to freeze in the up/cubed position and won't drop down when power is dropped from solenoid.   There was actually a service bulletin for a Styrofoam box to cover solenoid to help keep it from freezing, (just thawing it and drying it will fix it sometimes).

If the solenoid is frozen in the up/cubed position and you pull the ice bin out and reinstall it, then you will have only crushed ice, (the lever arm goes back into the stir-up hole under the stir-up).

@Budget Appliance Repair do you recall where you found the service bulletin? I have this same situation and thawing only worked for a few weeks.  I found something where they mentioned drilling a hole in the bottom to help with ventilation but can't find the part number for the styrofoam, would be interested to see what that looks like. 

[Budget Appliance Repair]

@sgreen2894 It is a Frigidaire service bulletin - I don't know the number or date of the original bulletin that references the Styrofoam solenoid cover but there is an unmarked bulletin that references drilling the holes and not needing the solenoid cover if the holes are drilled - this also references a January 2004 Volume 24 Issue 1 bulletin about frost build up on evaporator and places to make sure are sealed, (door gaskets and entrance of water tubing into to refrigerator).

Here's the unmarked page 22 of whatever service manual it came from:
 

Quote

PROBLEM: Ice and frost forming on the solenoid and auger motor on side by side refrigerators.

CAUSE: Air leaking into the refrigerator and/or heavy usage is producing a lot of additional moisture inside
the refrigerator.

SOLUTION: For air leaking into the refrigerator see Service Bulletin January 2004, page 7 for sealing the water
line opening in the bottom of the food compartment. This will help control a lot of moisture infiltration
into the cabinet. It should be checked on all products and sealed if necessary. In addition to sealing
the air leaks, if you can add additional air flow through the housing where the auger and solenoid
are mounted, this will help keep the moisture from condensing and building up on the auger and
solenoid. You can add the additional ventilation by drilling 6-3/8 inch holes in the bottom of the
housing. (See Figure 1) Also drill 15 - 3/8 holes in the back of the plastic cover over the housing.
(See Figure 2) The cover can not be removed and disposed of. It is a UL requirement that this cover
is installed to prevent a person from putting their hands into the wiring when reaching behind the
housing to clean the product.The foam block over the solenoid needs to be sealed tight against the
steel housing top to bottom. This may require that the wires to the solenoid be rerouted to allow the
block to sit correctly. (See Figure 3 ) If you can not get the block to sit correctly in place the block
can be removed when the ventilation holes are opened in the housing. It is better to remove the block
than have a block that will not seal against the steel housing. Replacement rear covers are available
with holes already drilled. For 23 cu. ft. units, order p/n 241577301. For 26 cu. ft. units, order p/n
241577302.

Here's the text from the Jan2004,Vol 24,Issue 1

Quote

Frost Build-up on the Evaporator

PROBLEM: Heavy frost build-up on the evaporator, even though the defrost system is working. Also,
ice building on cube ice solenoid and/or auger motor, as well as damper.

CAUSE: Air is leaking into the product.

SOLUTION: Make sure there is a good seal between the door gasket and the cabinet. Also, check the
fit of the door gasket into the door channel. Another place to look is the seal on the opening
in the cabinet where the water lines enter. This opening is in the bottom right corner
of the food compartment, behind the light shield. The opening must be sealed all the way
around. It would be a recommended service practice to have a servicer check the opening
on any product you are servicing to make sure it is sealed.
 

EDITED TO ADD: found were this page 22 came from: Frigidaire 2004 Training Manual.

The original bulletin regarding the Styrofoam solenoid cover is Oct.2002, Issue#9, Page#11

Here's the info from that bulletin:

Quote

PROBLEM: When customer changes cube selection between crushed and cube, the ice coming out of the dispenser is still the same.

CAUSE: Solenoid for Cube ice is freezing and will not move up or down.

SOLUTION: There is a foam block that can be installed over the solenoid to prevent it from freezing.  The part number of the foam block is 240562101. (See Figures 1 and 2)

 

Edited June 30, 2021 by Budget Appliance Repair