My first hour: I investigated first by pulling out refridgerator to see if the water line hose was kinked. I started under the kitchen sink where it begins, coming from faucet water supply. Then I followed it to the back of the fridge to see if anything looked odd. Next I went to the ice maker itself. I investigated the ice maker by removing the freezer food sliding tray and hanging tray, and then unscrewing the door off the slides. When I looked inside at the ice maker, I saw the tube where the water was coming in from the line, it was hard feeling. I pulled up on the plastic ice maker shroud covering the frozen tube and saw ice. I figured something was causing the water to not fall into the tray and since it had no where to go, it froze. I then looked at the ice maker tray. I could see some corrosion at the top. I stuck my hand in the tray and felt there were ice cubes inside ready to come out. Impasse!
I now put facts together or guessed: Over the past six months, we have been seeing occasional small bits of tan debris on some of the ice cubes. We simply didn't use them. After seeing the the ice maker tray is tan in color, and seeing some corrosion on its top, I figured there is more corrosion. I figured the tan coating on the ice maker tray is corroding and flaking off. Ergo: when water filled the tray, there must be some parts where the ice forms in the tray that are corroded (ie; water touching metal now). The ice maker tray was heated up from its underside by its heating element. The ice is then lifted by the arms/tongues that flip them out of the tray. When the ice froze making the ice cubes, enough of them were touching bare metal and STUCK! They could not be flipped out by the pastic arm as it wasn't strong enough.
So, ice maker tray needs to be replaced. This the part that has the heating element under it. Also, since the arms would have gotten stuck trying to flip out the ice, there must be a wheel or gear that turns the arm: Since it was plastic I figured the wheel or gear must also be plastic and may have gotten damaged.
I looked to see how the ice maker is attached. Three screws for mine. I removed the screws and then the ice maker slowly. I then gently unplugged the wiring harness. I layed out the entire unit on magazine print on my table. I removed the ice cubes and saw a lot of corrosion. I took apart the unit. First the arm that wings up/down to tell the ice maker to make ice or not, then the arms, then the cover of the mechanism housing. I used a small slotted screwdriver to do this. I could see the copper that transfers electricity all inside and I followed it carefully to see if there was any spots where it was broken. None!
ERGO I need a new ice maker tray. Since the heating element was glued on there pretty good, I figured I'd be buying the whole tray.
Next 15 minutes: At this point, I cleaned up the freezer everywhere inside and the door.
Next 20 minutes: I wrote dowm my model/serial number of frdige, took a picture of the label on the ice maker inside the mechanism housing and went online. I googled, "ice maker not making ice." You'll see what comes up.
I called area appliance stores for the part and was told I have to order a whole new ice maker. And I have to wait one day and the part was $185 on average. I called Lowes & Home Depot. Three days! AND $225 (BOTH!).
Next 20 minutes: Back online!
Since I already experienced Appliance Parts Pros I went straight to them. But I also went to a website "RepairClinic" and entered my model/serial number & then chose the Ice Maker category. I saw all the parts of the ice maker and found I had to order the whole unit. It was $101!!! I watched a video that was available to click in replacing the unit. I went back to APP and did the same. They had better pictures. For the website "RepairClinic," I saw their delivery method was not directly to you. It was for Appliance Parts Pros.
Appliance Parts Pros delivers directly to you! I ordered the unit on SUNDAY evening.
TUESDAY afternoon the unit arrived! That evening I installed the unit.
Next 1 hour: I opened the package and saw that I would have to re-use the shroud, metal arm, plastic arms, wiring harness and clip to hold the wires in place. The appliance stores didn't say anything about this! I re-assembled the ice maker with all parts attached to the new unit. I reinstalled the ice maker and turned on the water. OH YEAH! DON'T FORGET TO TURN OFF THE WATER TO THE ICE MAKER LINE AFTER YOU REMOVE THE ICE MAKER!
We went and did some things and at about 930pm that night we were sitting in the kitchen and heard the proverbial ice cubes falling into the ice collection bin. SUCCESS!!!
Calls for repairman to come out, after saying the ice maker isn't working, $240 to $300. Calls to Appliance stores to buy the ice maker unit, $185 average.
3 hours of my time and purchase of unit from Appliance Parts Pros (with shipping in TWO DAYS), $107. Did I have the time, perhaps. Kids enjoyed helping me and figuring out fwhat was wrong along with me.....
Is this too long? Too bad! If you have similar problem, it's worth to you anywhere from $80 to $180 just to read and understand. RIF - Reading is Fundemental. Fix the problem with your kids around you and you can say it's a project you did with them interactively. And, they will know how to talk about how an ice maker makes ice!!!
Good Luck to you all! It's easy, just make some time!
Maytag 25cu Refrigerator/Freezer, bottom freezer, French doors. Purchased in 2006.