Maytag French door refrigerator stopped making ice.

[Dborch41]

FYI I am a graduate of the Primitive Pete School of Refrigerator Repair.

Never argue with success!

 

[Jango]

Never argue with success!

In this case, it is truly the school of hard knocks! I have done this trick about ten times to get it to work.

 

[mcm0455]

My Whirlpool stopped making ice just after the warranty expired. I bought one of those $79 ice machines on Amazon. It kind of makes ice, but mostly just makes a lot of noise. After a couple years I had enough I had the fridge ice maker fixed. Well worth the out of pocket for me. Sometimes being frugal just makes life a lot harder than necessary.

 

[Jango]

I think there is a valve behind that panel and the knock gets it working again.

 

[repairman54]

My fridge is a sister brand Whirlpool and is only 8 years old but when the top icemaker quit working I found that there was a diagnostic brochure hidden under the right side door hinge cover. (That cover may have a screw holding it on so check before brute forcing it off.) The test paper listed the secret control panel key sequences that tests the various components and pass/fail codes. My icemaker had a bad temperature sensor and there was another fault that required a new ECU.

One reason I'm a fan of Whirlpool built stuff. The tech sheets in their units cover them unlike the other brands with no tech info with a barely readable or useful wiring diagram.

 

[PWMDMD]

At least you got 10 years out of it. My Samsung's ice maker died in year one (along with 98% of everyone else's). Every 6 months or so, it mysteriously starts working for a few days again, only to stop working for another 6 months.

 

[Dborch41]

At least you got 10 years out of it. My Samsung's ice maker died in year one (along with 98% of everyone else's). Every 6 months or so, it mysteriously starts working for a few days again, only to stop working for another 6 months.

I really can't complain, and we use it numerous times practically every day. Overall it's been a very good refrigerator.

 

[Dborch41]

Well, after a Clockwork Orange level of YouTube consumption, I've decided to go with the dual water valve assembly first. A new Robertshaw part, which was a recommended brand, was only about $25 and looks easy enough to replace. The hardest part is gaining access, which is why I'm just going to replace it rather than go through all that effort just to troubleshoot the valve. After 10 years I might as well put in a new one.
It should be here Wednesday, wish me luck.

Also, thank you all for the great replies. I posted my dilemma on a number of more "appropriate" sites, but imagine how a forum dedicated to engine oil would get by far the best results. BITOG for life!

 

[Chevyc10]

I was an appliance parts distributor. refrigerator ice-makers for your model are available inexpensive. 4317943 or D7824706Q, less than $50.00. I keep a spare. It’s either the water fill valve or ice-maker defective. Ice-makers fail much more often.
You can remove front cover of ice-maker. And you will see holes. The holes allow you to test icemaker and water valve. Insert jumpers between holes to activate water valves, harvest ice, turn ice-maker mold heater on.Do a search to find procedure.

 

[Dborch41]

I was an appliance parts distributor. refrigerator ice-makers for your model are available inexpensive. 4317943 or D7824706Q, less than $50.00. I keep a spare. It’s either the water fill valve or ice-maker defective. Ice-makers fail much more often.
You can remove front cover of ice-maker. And you will see holes. The holes allow you to test icemaker and water valve. Insert jumpers between holes to activate water valves, harvest ice, turn ice-maker mold heater on.Do a search to find procedure.

The same site that I bought the valve from also sells an aftermarket icemaker for around $60, about half what I saw the OEM item selling for.
I'm not that big a fan of aftermarket parts, but the fridge is getting pretty old already so I don't think going OEM will pay off in the not-so-long run.

I saw the videos on how to use the test holes to diagnose problems, but I couldn't get the cover off with the icemaker installed. It look essy enough to remove, I'll probably take it out, pry off the cover then reinstall it enough to do the testing