How to replace the Whirlpool refrigerator ice dispenser lever

Is your ice dispenser lever on the fritz? Don’t let a cracked or broken lever deprive you of that perfect iced drink. Our step-by-step guide and handy how-to video below will show you just how simple it is to replace the lever yourself, saving you time and costly repair bills.

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The ice dispenser lever is the part responsible for activating the ice dispenser when you want to dispense ice cubes or crushed ice from your refrigerator door. Over time, due to wear and tear or accidental damage, the lever may become loose, broken, or cracked, making it necessary to replace it.

By following these steps, you can save both time and money by performing the repair yourself. With the right tools and a little patience, you should be able to complete this repair in no time!

Watch here: How To: Whirlpool/KitchenAid/Maytag Ice Dispenser Lever WP2180259

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″ nutdriver
• Putty knife
• Flathead 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. 
• 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. 
• 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.

Replacement steps

1. Begin by removing the front cover of the refrigerator to access the part. There are two locking tabs on the bottom of the front cover that need to be popped off. 
2. Use a putty knife with tape on the end to prevent scratching the door. 
3. Insert the putty knife into the indents on each side of the cover and twist it to lift and release the tabs. 
4. If necessary, you can pull out slightly on the cover to create a gap for inserting the putty knife. Once the two lower tabs are released, lift up on the cover to release the tabs on the top. 
5. Locate the small wiring harness and lift up on the clip to unplug the harness.
6. With the front cover removed, you can now remove the smaller panel to access the ice dispenser lever. 
7. There should be two Phillips screws holding the panel in place. Remove these screws.
8. Lift the panel up and tape it in place. You can use masking tape or any other type of tape to secure it to keep it out of the way.
9. Locate the ice dispenser lever. To remove it, start by removing the quarter-inch screw that holds a little spring tension and secures the right side of the lever. Be careful not to lose any parts.
10. Lift up on the lever and pull it out of its resting spot. 
11. Remove the pin from the left side of the door. Slowly work the lever out of its position.
12. Once the lever is partially removed, reach up and disconnect the black barrel that holds it in place. The barrel is held in place by tension. Pass the barrel through the arm of the lever.
13. Compare the old ice dispenser lever with the new one. You may notice a redesign on one end of the new lever, but the top part should be the same. 
14. To change the lever, remove the clear plastic piece from the old lever. It should have a couple of locking tabs on the back. Pop these tabs off. 
15. Place the clear plastic piece on the new lever, making sure that the hook part goes into the corresponding hole, and snap it into place.
16. Insert the new lever by first passing the black barrel through the middle of it. 
17. Push the lever back up into its mounting hole. 
18. Carefully wrap the lever around the door so that it is properly positioned. 
19. If necessary, use a small screwdriver to stretch out the lever and fit it around the plastic piece.
20. Once the lever is wrapped around the door, press the left side into the hole and secure the right side in its resting spot.
21. Start by getting the screw started on the spring tensioner. Insert the little spacer. Tighten the screw to secure the lever in place.
22. Remove the tape from the upper piece and reinstall the screws to secure it.
23. Before putting the front cover back on, make sure that when you press the lever, it activates the switch located at the top. 
24. This switch is responsible for turning on the ice dispenser. You should hear a click when the lever presses the switch.
25. Once the lever is installed reconnect the front cover by plugging it into the wire harness so that it locks into place.
26. Replace the front cover by hooking it on the top and snapping it into place at the bottom.
27. Plug the refrigerator back in and check that the temperature returns to normal.

Congratulations! You have successfully completed the repair of your refrigerator.

Additional information

Thanks for reading! We hope this guide helped you replace the ice dispenser lever 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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