How to replace the ice door fountain kit on a Whirlpool refrigerator

Is your Whirlpool refrigerator’s ice dispenser not working as it should, leaving you thirsty for a cool drink? A worn-out ice door fountain kit could be the culprit behind inconsistent or failed ice dispensing. Don’t sweat it—our step-by-step guide and accompanying how-to video below will have your ice dispenser back on track in no time, saving you both time and the cost of professional repair.

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The ice door fountain kit on a Whirlpool refrigerator is responsible for allowing ice to be dispensed from the refrigerator’s door, as it operates the solenoid that controls the opening and closing of the ice door. Over time, the ice door fountain kit may wear out or become damaged, leading to issues such as failure to dispense ice, inconsistent ice dispensing, or even ice melting and refreezing inside the dispenser. Replacing the ice door fountain kit can help restore ice dispensing from your Whirlpool refrigerator.

By following this guide and performing the replacement yourself, you can save both time and money by avoiding the need for professional assistance. With basic tools and a little time and patience, this repair should typically take around 1 to 2 hours, depending on your level of experience with appliance repairs. Let’s get started and restore the proper functioning of your Whirlpool refrigerator’s ice dispenser with a new ice door fountain kit.

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkCUbGqDQB0

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

• Torx-15 screwdriver
• Needle nose pliers

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. Remove the drip tray located at the bottom of the dispenser. It should pull right out.
2. Locate the faceplate and remove the two screws holding it in place. Use a 15 Torx driver to remove the screws.
3. Lift the faceplate up after removing the screws. Pull back on the wire harness connected to it to release it.
4. Look for three screws holding the dispenser housing in place. Use a screwdriver to remove these screws.
5. Unplug the red wire harness and white wire harness with multiple connections.
6. Take the dispenser housing to a table or work area for disassembly.

Installation

1. Remove the two screws on the side that secure the solenoid, located just under the spring.  
2. With the screws removed, use a pair of needle-nose pliers to release the spring and remove it.
3. Lift up the solenoid arm and remove the door arm.
4. Use pliers to remove thetwo wires holding the solenoid in place and pull out the solenoid.
5. Assemble the new kit by inserting the solenoid arm into the designated area and attach the flapper to this arm. Check that the beveled side of the flapper faces down against the third piece in the middle of the arm.
6. Bring the housing over and align the prongs of the solenoid with the corresponding slots. Fasten the solenoid in place using the screws removed earlier.
7. Reconnect the wires, with the red wire going towards the outside and the brown wire on the inside.
8. Place the arm with the spring (previously removed) into the housing, ensuring that it fits into the designated hole and the spring is properly positioned.
9. Using needle-nose pliers, spin the spring tightly and insert it into the hole just beneath it.
10. Push the arm back, lift up on the solenoid pin, and let it drop down into place.
11. Return to the refrigerator and begin reattaching the water dispenser housing. Make sure that the water tube fits into the middle slot for proper dispensing.
12. Reconnect the red wire and plug in the wire harness.
13. Use a Torx screwdriver to secure the housing in place by tightening the three screws.
14. Attach the faceplate by lining up the wire harness, flipping it over, and hooking it in underneath. Use the Torx 15 screwdriver to secure the faceplate.
15. Insert the drip tray by aligning the tabs and snapping it into place. Plug in the refrigerator, and the repair is complete.

Congratulations on successfully replacing the ice door fountain kit in your refrigerator!

Additional information

Thanks for reading! We hope this guide helped you replace the ice door fountain kit 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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