Whirlpool Fridge Not Making Ice? How To Troubleshoot the Sensor

When your Whirlpool-built refrigerator’s ice level sensor stops working, it can leave you with too much or too little ice. We’ll explain why this happens, what needs to be replaced, and how to fix it.

If you need any replacement parts for your Whirlpool-built refrigerator, 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.

What you need

• Multimeter
• 1/4″ nut driver
• Flathead screwdriver
• Phillips head screwdriver
• Putty knife

Safety precautions

When working on any appliance, always keep safety first to avoid personal injury or damage to the appliance or its parts. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Always power off and unplug your appliance or switch off the circuit breaker before you attempt any maintenance or replacement work. This keeps you safe by eliminating any risk of electric shock. 
• If the appliance has recently been used, give it plenty of time to cool down before working on it. 
• Take your time while working to prevent accidents and personal injuries. Rushing is the enemy of precision.
• Work in a well-lit area so you can see and access appliance parts.
• Keep your workspace free of clutter and other obstacles. Keep children and pets away from the work area.
• Never work on internal parts with wet hands. Make sure the work area is completely dry.
• Check the user manual to see if there are specific installation or safety instructions related to your appliance or replacement part. 
• Be gentle when handling or removing parts. Excessive force might damage the appliance or cause personal injury.
• Wear insulated work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal parts and debris.
• 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.
• Always take photos or make a note of wiring terminals or other connections before disconnecting them to make reassembly easier.
• Don’t test live voltage with a multimeter if you’re unfamiliar with how to prevent short-circuiting.
• Consider wearing safety glasses and/or a dust mask when working with chemicals, dust or a large amount of debris to prevent irritation or injury.

How to fix a non-working Whirlpool-built refrigerator ice level sensor

Follow these steps to diagnose and fix a Whirlpool refrigerator ice level sensor that is not functioning correctly.

Step 1. Enter diagnostic mode

1. Close the refrigerator doors.
2. Press and hold the two left-most buttons on the user interface panel.
3. Wait for a countdown to appear, followed by a flashing 01.
4. Use the fifth button from the left to navigate to test #15.
5. The test number will briefly illuminate and then display one of the following:
6. 01 indicates the ice bin is either full or not present.
7. 02 indicates the ice bin is not full.
8. Open the left-hand door and remove the ice bin.
9. If the display was showing 02, it should now switch to 01.
10. If the display was already 01, check that the ice level slide is in the ON position and manually check the flapper door action.
11. If the test correctly transitions between 01 and 02, the ice level sensor is working properly.
12. If the reading does not change or remains stuck at 01, either the optics package or the user interface has failed.
13. Exit diagnostics mode by pressing and holding the two left-most buttons again.
14. If the sensor was not functioning correctly, unplug the refrigerator or turn it off at the circuit breaker.

Step 2. Access the ice level sensor

For side-by-side refrigerators:

1. Disconnect power to the refrigerator by unplugging the power cord or turning off the circuit breaker.
2. Open the freezer door and remove the ice bin.
3. Remove the two Phillips head screws securing the outer ice bin frame to the door.
4. Carefully remove the outer frame.
5. If there are insulation slabs on either side, take a photo to use as a reference when reassembling, then remove them.

For French door refrigerators:

1. Disconnect power to the refrigerator by unplugging the power cord or turning off the circuit breaker.
2. Open the left-hand refrigerator door.
3. Open the ice compartment door and remove the ice bin.
4. Use a plastic putty knife or trim tool to carefully pry out the receiver cover on the inner left side of the ice bin enclosure.
5. Repeat this process for the emitter board.

Step 3. Test the optics package voltage

LIVE VOLTAGE WARNING: For this test, the washer needs to be plugged in and powered on. Please be very careful to protect yourself from electric shock, which has the potential to cause serious injuries. Don’t ever test live voltage if you’re uncomfortable using a multimeter.

1. Locate the 3-wire connector between the door harness and the emitter/receiver harness.
2. Disconnect the 3-wire connector.
3. Set a multimeter to read DC voltage.
4. Plug the refrigerator back in and re-enter diagnostics mode.
5. Navigate back to test #15.
6. Measure the voltage at the harness coming from the door.
7. Test pin-1 to pin-3.
8. Wire colors may vary, but typically, pin-1 is red or orange (may have a black tracer), and pin-3 is black (with or without a green tracer).
9. The expected voltage reading is approximately 14V DC.
10. If voltage is present, the optics package is faulty and must be replaced.
11. If no voltage is present, the user interface board is faulty and must be replaced.

Step 4. Reassemble the refrigerator

1. If replacing the optics package, install both the emitter and receiver boards.
2. Reattach covers and insulation slabs if applicable.
3. Secure any removed screws or frames.
4. Restore power by plugging the refrigerator back in or turning the breaker back on.
5. Re-enter diagnostics mode and verify the sensor is functioning correctly.
6. If successful, reinstall the ice bin and resume normal operation.

More DIY resources

Thanks for sticking with us! We hope this guide got your Whirlpool-built refrigerator back up and running. If you’ve got other appliance repairs on your list, take a look at our other guides and videos for some more help. When you’re ready to order new parts, just grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com. You can chat with a pro, check out our DIY blog, view diagrams and more. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube and connect with us on Facebook, X and Instagram!