Customer Questions and Answers for Refrigerator Ice Dispenser Motor by Whirlpool

Hello John, This is normally caused by the ice door not sealing. Check the ice door by shining a light in from the front and if you can see the light from the inside of the door, the ice door is not closing. If it is closing, you will need to check the door seals since the unit has to get moisture inside it to freeze the auger motor up. The freezer could also be running a bit too cold so you could try setting it to one setting warmer.

Hello Rick, I use a pair of needle nosed pliers to reach in and pull the shaft up and out. Be sure when you re-install the motor and shaft that you get the rubber washer WP2305382 on the bottom end of the shaft. This will prevent the moisture from running down the shaft and causing a motor failure.

Rick, You may have to tap the drive shaft with a hammer to free it up. There is a possibility that the shaft may be rusted to the motor. Tapping it with a hammer should allow it to free up. If you have not taken the screws out of the motor it will make it easier. Also you can grab it with channel locks or vise grips to get ahold of it to lift it out.

Clay, Based on the information this issue sounds more like it would be caused by a faulty auger motor rather than a wiring issue. There have been no known issues of the wires backing off the terminals of the ice dispenser.

Hello John. Test for power to the auger motor. If there is power there, and it does not work, you will need to order and replace the auger motor on the unit. You can test this with a multi-meter TJMA-DMT3. Here is a link on how to use a multi-meter. http://forum.appliancepartspros.com/oven-repair-including-ranges-cooktops/4810-how-check-continuity-ohmmeter.html

Alex, You will want to check for a voltage at the motor on terminals 1 and 2 when the dispenser lever is pushed. If there is voltage present then the motor is faulty and would need to be replaced.

Russ, In most cases with your unit, the most likely cause of failure would be the motor being faulty. You could test the motor WP2252130 to ensure that it is getting power and if it is then the motor is faulty. If it is not then you would want to replace the control board WP2303843.

Hello DPL. This is an issue caused by the door liner being made of plastic. You see, the issue is caused by the plastic door liner changing shape by a small amount and this makes the shaft too short. Believe me, this steel shaft cannot strip. When the motor is setting effectively further away, this makes the shaft slip because it isn't meshing fully. I remove the two 1/4 inch hex headed screws and set the plastic "keeper" and spring aside. Pull the shaft up, out of the hole, (you can grab it with needle nosed pliers). Wrap electrical tape, sticky side out, around itself about 20 times or so and shove the wad of tape into the bottom end of the shaft. It may take a few trys to get the length right, but when you get it right, the shaft will mesh on both ends and it will dispense again. This is one of two ways to correct this issue. The other one is to replace the freezer door assembly.

Tim, You would remove the dispenser tray. Behind the tray, there are 2 screws that you will remove. Once you remove the screws take out the plate and pull the dispenser assembly out. When the dispenser assembly is pulled out, you will disconnect the wires and set the panel to the side. Once you do this the motor is located at the back of this area.

Disconnect the unit from the electrical supply. To remove the motor: a) Open the freezer door. b) Remove the ice container from the freezer door. c) Remove the two screws from the motor housing cover, located under the bottom of the inner door panel, (You may need to lay in the floor and look upward inside the door to see where they are), and remove the cover. d) Disconnect the harness connector from the motor terminals. e) Remove the four screws from the motor bracket and allow the motor to drop down. f) Pull the hex drive shaft out of the motor. To re-install the motor: a) Remove the two screws from the hex drive shaft coupling holder and remove the coupling assembly. b) Install the hex drive shaft in the motor as far as it will go. c) Slide the new motor assembly back into place in the freezer door and mount it with the four screws you removed earlier. Make sure that the top of the hex drive shaft, spring, and pin are through the hole in the ice container plate. NOTE: On 2002, and later models, the pin is not used. d) Plug the harness connector into the motor. NOTE: The connector is designed to fit only one way on the motor terminals. e) Position the motor housing cover so that the raised center faces the motor, and mount it in place with the two screws you removed earlier. f) Make sure that the spring and pin are in the center hole of the hex drive shaft, and that the bearing and seal are properly positioned on the coupling, as shown.g) Position the coupling assembly over the spring-loaded pin, then push down on the coupling and align it with the top of the hex drive shaft. Secure the coupling assembly with the two screws you removed earlier. h) Replace the ice container on the freezer door plate. NOTE: The coupling in the ice container does not have to align with the coupling on the end of the hex drive shaft when the ice container is installed. They will engage as soon as the ice dispenser is activated. At that time, the motor will turn, and the spring-loaded coupling on the end of the hex drive shaft will pop up and engage the ice container coupling (you will hear a “snap” when the coupling pops up and engages).