How to replace the fill cup and bearing on a Whirlpool refrigerator

Is your Whirlpool refrigerator’s ice maker lagging behind, leaking, or failing to eject ice? You might be dealing with a cracked fill cup or a damaged bearing assembly. Fear not, as our step-by-step guide, complete with a how-to video below, shows you exactly how to solve this common issue and revive your ice maker in just under an hour!

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The Whirlpool refrigerator fill cup and bearing assembly serves two important functions in the ice maker, it acts as the fill cup for the ice maker and contains a bearing that allows the movement of the ice ejection mechanism. Over time, the fill cup may crack or the bearing may become damaged, leading to problems such as leaking or ice not ejecting. Replacing the fill cup and bearing assembly can resolve these issues and restore your refrigerator’s ice maker.

By following this guide and doing the replacement yourself, you can save both time and money by avoiding the need for a service call. With some basic tools and a little time and effort, this repair should typically take around 30 minutes to an hour, so let’s get started and get your Whirlpool refrigerator’s ice maker back in working order!

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtPz7_i2qPs

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.

What you’ll need

• 1/4″ screwdriver or nut driver
• Flathead screwdriver
• Phillips screwdriver

Safety precautions

• 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.
• Don’t test wiring with a multimeter for live voltage if you’re unfamiliar with how to prevent short circuiting when testing. 
• 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.
• 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 insulated work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal parts, pinching hazards and debris.
• Wear safety glasses when working with chemicals, dust or cleaning large debris to prevent injury. 

Replacement steps

Removal

1. Open the freezer door to access the ice bin assembly. Remove the ice door.
2. Lift up the ice arm and remove the shelf by lifting it up, pushing it back, and pulling it out.
3. Pull out the ice bin to clear the way for accessing the screw underneath.
4. Reach underneath and locate the quarter-inch screw that holds the ice maker to the wall. Remove the screw.
5. Loosen the upper screws on the ice maker; they don’t need to be fully removed, just loosened.
6. Lift the ice maker off and use a small flathead screwdriver to release the locking clip that holds the plug in.
7. Take apart the ice maker by removing the cap, pushing in the electrical connection lock with a small flathead screwdriver, and pulling off the wire harness.
8. Remove the arm and the cup side of the ice maker.
9. Remove the three Phillips screws that hold the head in place and pull out the control head.
10. Remove the two Phillips screws that hold the black piece in place and slide it forward to remove it from the heater pins.
11. Lift the ejector arm up and pull it out.
12. Flex the fill cup onto the other side to remove it.

Installation

1. Before installing the new fill cup, check if it has cutouts for the fill tube based on your refrigerator’s configuration. Use a razor blade to cut out the necessary slots to match the old cup if necessary.
2. Place the new fill cup in position.
3. Push the bearing into its slot and bring it to the other side of the mold.
4. Insert the ejector back in, ensuring the round end is placed correctly.
5. Put the housing back on, aligning it with the holes, and slide it into place.
6. Secure the housing with the screws.
7. Align the D-shaped shaft of the control module with the corresponding one and push it on.
8. Insert and tighten the screws to secure the control module.
9. Slide the control arm into the slot and attach the other end to the cup.
10. Flip the ice maker over and plug in the wiring harness.
11. Place the cap back on.
12. Reinstall the ice maker by aligning the nozzle with the cup and connecting the electrical line.
13. Set the ice maker onto the two mounting screws and tighten them down.
14. Insert the lower mounting screw.
15. Place the ice bin back on the rails and push it into place.
16. Turn the ice maker back on.
17. Replace the shelf by sliding it back into position and securing it on the rear mounting pegs. Pull it down and snap it in place.
18. Put the ice door back in place by aligning one end of the pins and flexing it to insert the other end. Close the freezer door.
19. Plug the refrigerator back in and ensure it starts to cool off.

Congratulations on successfully replacing the fill cup and bearing assembly in your refrigerator!

Additional information

Thanks for reading! We hope this guide helped you replace the fill cup and bearing assembly 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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