106.51133213 Kenmore Coldspot - icemaker stopped working

[kkane2009]

Model Number

106.51133213

Brand

Sears Kenmore

Age

1-5 years

Ice maker stopped working, so I went onto this forum to do some detective work. We have very low water pressure, so one of your threads suggested that the line into the ice maker may be frozen. I went through some suggestions of shooting hot water into the black tube at the top of the ice maker. Wanting to feel the tube that feeds into the door to see if it is, in fact, frozen, I went down to the bottom hinge and noticed a severed yellow wire. Is this the cause of my problems? The line is too taught to reconnect it, so I guess I can get more of this wire and splice in a section to reconnect it. What gauge of wire is this and where can I get it?

Originally thinking I had a bad motor, I have already picked one up. But now seeing this severed wire, I am thinking this is the culprit.

 

[Dan O.]

Ice maker stopped working

The ice maker or ice dispenser? They're 2 different things.

Ice maker stopped working... I went down to the bottom hinge and noticed a severed yellow wire. Is this the cause of my problems?

The yellow wire does look to connect to the icemaker, so yes, it could prevent its operation.

What gauge of wire is this and where can I get it?

Probably 16-18 gauge. I don't know where you'll get more, Radio Shack or maybe a used appliance store can cut a section from a scrap unit?

Dan O.

 

[kkane2009]

Yes, the ice dispenser. Thanks for the clarification.

Everything seems tight and crimped at this bottom hinge location. Could this also be the cause of low water flow going to the tray and coming out of the water dispenser? Maybe the installer who delivered our refrigerator, did not install things correctly when he attached the door. And if so, do you think it is something that I can correct?

 

[Dan O.]

The yellow wire looks to connect to the icemaker motor. That wire may not affect the dispenser operation but should prevent ice from being made and dumped.

Could this also be the cause of low water flow going to the tray and coming out of the water dispenser?

No. The wiring should have nothing to do with the water flow rate.

Has it been like that since installed or is this something new? About the only things that might cause poor water pressure are the water filter (depending on the fridge design, that might not affect the icemaker), the water fill valve on the fridge (unlikely to affect both icemaker and dispenser at same time) and the water supply to the fridge.

Things that can affect water pressure to the fridge include it being connected to a RO water filtation system, the type of water valve installed on the house water supply (see illustration below), a kink in the water line or a partially plugged sediment screen where the water line connects to the fridge.



If a saddle valve was used, only a drill-type (NOT self-piercing) should be installed and not on the underside of the pipe.

Dan O.