How to Change the Ice Auger Motor on a Whirlpool Fridge

Facing frustration with your Whirlpool fridge not dispensing ice, even though the motor is humming away? You’re likely dealing with a faulty ice auger motor, but don’t worry—fixing it yourself is easier than you think and can save you a costly service call. Just below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide, complete with a helpful video, to walk you through the repair process.

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Is your Whirlpool fridge refusing to dispense ice? If the motor’s humming but the auger isn’t spinning, the culprit might be a faulty ice auger motor, part number WPW10309868. Good news: with a few tools and a little patience, you can swap it out yourself and save the cost of a service call. This guide walks you through the whole process, step by step.

If you need any replacement parts for your appliance, you can enter your model number at AppliancePartsPros.com to order them. Most orders arrive in just two business days, and we have thousands of free guides to show you how to install your new parts.

The information in this article may not apply to your specific appliance model. We recommend consulting your manufacturer’s documentation or contact us with any questions.

How To: Whirlpool/KitchenAid/Maytag Refrigerator Ice Auger Motor WPW10309868

Safety precautions

When working on any appliance, remember to keep safety first. Here are some tips to keep in mind: 

• Always power off and unplug your appliance or switch off the circuit breaker before attempting any maintenance or replacement work. This keeps you safe by preventing any risk of injury from electric shock.
• Wear insulated work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal parts, pinching hazards and debris.
• Take your time and don’t rush while working to prevent accidents and personal injuries.
• Work in a well-lit area so you can clearly see and access the interior parts.
• Clear your workspace of clutter and other obstacles. Keep children and pets away from the work area.
• Never work on internal parts with bare wet hands. Make sure the work area is completely dry.
• Check your user manual to see if there are specific installation or safety instructions for your part or appliance. 
• Be gentle when handling or removing parts. Excessive force might damage the appliance or cause injury.
• Wear safety glasses when working with chemicals, dust or cleaning large debris to prevent injury. 
• If the appliance has recently been used, give it plenty of time for any heating parts to cool down before working on it. 
• Take pictures or make a note of wiring terminals or other connections before disconnecting to prevent any problems with reassembly.
• When working with wires, avoid touching any exposed wires or terminals. If you need to touch a wire, use a non-conductive tool or wear insulating gloves to prevent electrical shock.

Tools and materials needed

• Replacement part (make sure it’s compatible with your model before installing)
• Small flathead screwdriver
• Flathead screwdriver
• 1/4″ nut driver

Replacement steps

Step 1: Disassembly and removal

1. Open both French doors to access the ice maker compartment.
2. Press the lock button and pull out the ice container assembly.
3. Inside the ice maker compartment, remove the cover plate. Use a small flat-blade screwdriver to press down on the tab inside and slide the cover plate forward to remove it.
4. Use a flat-blade screwdriver to open the tab that holds the ice maker in position on the left side rail. Push the tab in and slide the ice maker out, then pull it out with both hands.
5. Turn over the ice maker and locate the locking tab on the plug. Use the flat-blade screwdriver to push down the tab and disconnect the plug.
6. Firmly grab the assembly from the bottom and slide it out.
7. Place the assembly on a table. Use the flat-blade screwdriver to unscrew the coupling.
8. Remove the washer next to the coupling.
9. Use a flat-head screwdriver to remove the two wires from the ice auger motor.
10. Use a quarter-inch nut driver to remove the three-quarter-inch screws holding the ice auger motor. Support the motor as you remove it.
11. Use the flat-head screwdriver to remove the ground wire.

Step 2: Installation and reassembly

1. Connect the ground wire to the new ice auger motor.
2. Insert the shaft of the new ice auger motor into the opening and secure it with the three-quarter-inch screws using the quarter-inch nut driver.
3. Install the washer and the coupling, turning it counterclockwise and tightening it with the flat-blade screwdriver.
4. In the ice maker compartment, move the corners and plug out of the way and position the assembly in the opening, aligning it with the rails.
5. Lift the assembly and push it in until it clicks into place on the left side.
6. Tuck the harness into the opening and push the plug in.
7. Install the cover plate by sliding it in.
8. Slide the ice container assembly onto the rails on both sides and press it to lock it in place.
9. Close both doors, plug the refrigerator back in, and ensure it’s cooling properly.

Additional information

Thanks for reading! We hope this guide helped you replace the ice auger motor on your Whirlpool refrigerator. 

If you still need some replacement parts, grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com. We offer over two million parts and most orders arrive in two business days. If you need some help with finding the right part or placing an order, you can contact our team at 1 (877) 477-7278.

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