Ice Maker
Troubleshooting & Repair

There's no ice
Small or too few ice cubes
Specks in the cubes
More about ice makers
Ice maker replacement parts

Note: If your repair problem isn't listed, click here to email the RepairGuru. He will give you the help you need.

If your ice maker has stopped producing ice completely, check these, in this order:

• It may be turned off. Look for the wire along the right side of the ice maker that looks a bit like a coat hanger. If the wire is in the raised position, the ice maker is turned off. If so, try one of these:
  
  • If your ice maker has a small red plastic lever, lower it to lower the wire.
  • If there's no plastic lever, simply lower the wire.
    

  In either case, the ice maker should begin producing ice again. Also make sure that the temperature is 8 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. If the freezer is too warm, the ice maker won't cycle properly.
  

• The ice maker fill tube may be blocked with ice. If so, melt the blockage using a hair dryer-but be careful to not melt any plastic parts! Also replace the water shut-off valve or water-inlet valve, or both, if necessary.
  
• The ice maker head assembly may have broken parts. Look to see if the gears are broken. Check to see if the small plastic arms that rest against the ice rake are broken. If the ice maker head assembly is modular and you've found broken parts, you can just replace it.
  

If the ice maker is producing ice poorly--making small cubes or too few cubes--you probably have a clogged water line, a defective water-inlet valve, or a defective ice maker mold thermostat that isn't cycling properly. Check these:

• The water line that's attached to the back of the refrigerator. Make sure you have good water flow. If the flow is poor, repair, clean, or replace the tubing or the shut-off valve that supplies the water.
  
• The water-inlet valve. Replace it if it has failed.
  
• Check the freezer temperature. If should be 8 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. If the freezer is too warm, the ice maker won't cycle properly.
  
• The ice maker mold thermostat. Make sure that it's cycling properly.
  

If you find black or gray specks in your ice cubes, have a look at the ice cube tray. If the protective coating is peeling away, the most economical solution is to completely replace the ice maker.