FIXED Kenmore Elite ice not dispensing through door - Auger motor location

[mrpbjnance]

Solution

For those looking for a solution here it is.
You can get to the motor which is behind the section where the ice and water is dispenced.
First remove the tray that is at the bottom of the ice and water dispencer area.. it lifts right out.. there will be 2 philips scress there.. remove them

Next you will be able to lift out the cut out are.. at the top there are two clips so you need to lift up to unhook it then the piece will come out. Disconnect the wires so you can set it aside.


You will need to remove the ice bucekt and remove the 2 hex screws for the connection that turns the motor and remove the parts. Now use some pliers to lift out the bar that connects to the motor.

now back to the Front. there are 2 screws on a clear plastic piece that hold the water dispencer and what looks like a cover with silver on it.. remove those so you can get it out of the way.. The water line will still be connected so it will need to hang there but at least it will be out of the way...

now you should see the motor mount and 4 hex screws to remove it.. Take those off and disconnect the motor.. and remove the screws to remove the motor from the mount..

Good Luck

 

[Jake]

Thanks mrpbjnance for posting the solution.

They must of changed the location of the auger motor since 2005 when they used to be located underneath the middle shelf inside the freezer door.

Jake

 

[mrpbjnance]

My motor has just quit for the 2nd time...
Is there a fuse/switch of rr something that might be failing other than the motor?

 

[Jake]

Thats very odd, I've never seen these blow multiple times. There is no fuse or switch making it blow.

Jake

 

[mrpbjnance]

Could the motor actually be ok.. but there be a thermal fuse or something that has tripped?
The last time the motor would work.. stop.. then work again.. then stopped all together.

 

[Jake]

The dispenser switch, check that. Ohm it out for continuity with the button on the switch pushed in.

Jake

 

[Jake]

Wait, your model has the electronic dispenser board.

Read this thread from another member: FIXED Auger Motor for Kenmore Elite

Here's the dispenser board for your model you can order: WP2252174 Electronic Control Board

Jake

 

[bchops]

Kenmore ice dispenser not working model 53606201

After reading multiple threads about this issue I replaced the auger motor but unfortunately it still does not dispense ice. It makes ice and the water side works but ice will not come out once the lever is activated. Any solutions would be much appreciated.

Bev

 

[Jake]

Ok Bev,

Did you check that bracket that holds the ice dispenser switch in place? To make sure the little plastic pins were not broke?

The most common issue when this happens on your model is the bracket support plastic switch pins break, thus no ice.

You would need to unsnap(use a flathead screwdriver in the 2 little slots underneath the bottom frame piece to unsnap it) your front dispenser frame#23 here:



Then look at your support bracket#15 to see if the little plastic pins are broken that hold your ice and water dispenser switches in place#14.

Here is the one for your model, in case you need to order it:
WP2180226 Bracket


Jake

 

[mjk111]

Access Panel for Motor

The access door for the ice dispenser motor is always under that, look underneath it for a access door. Take a photo too if you can, it just surprises me that they say its not there, I've change tons of these style ice dispenser motors and I always find it underneath.

Jake

Jake is correct, but to find it try laying on your back and looking up on the underside of the shelf below the actual dispenser. You should see 2 - 1/4" hex screws. Undo those and then you will have 4 of the same screws holding the motor up inside. Unplug the power connector. Careful of the hex shaped shaft as you remove the motor. You will have to pull that out of the motor and then put the shaft in the new motor.
MJK

 

[fugazi]

Same problem

I have a Kenmore Elite (Model 10658976701) with the same problem. Water side works, but ice dispensor doesn't work. When I press it down, it makes the sound like it wants to dispense ice but nothing happens. Is it still the motor (Part Number 2315545 is what I found in my freezer door) if I can still hear the sound when I press on the ice dispensor button? Just want to make sure it's the motor before I shell out $98 for a new one.... Thanks.

 

[rickgburton]

If it's making a sound when you push the dispenser for ice, it's probably not the motor. Remove the ice bucket and see if anything is turning or if you can tell the motor is working. It might be a broken coupler.

 

[fugazi]

If it's making a sound when you push the dispenser for ice, it's probably not the motor. Remove the ice bucket and see if anything is turning or if you can tell the motor is working. It might be a broken coupler.

I opened the freezer, removed the ice bucket (which is the entire removable ice caddy), and pressed down on the dispensor. With the freezer door open and pressing down on the dispensor, I don't hear a sound. When I close the door with the ice bucket removed and press down on the dispensor, I hear the sound but you can't see anything turn since it's part of the ice caddy/bucket assembly. When I put the ice bucket back in, it's the same situation as before with the freezer door open or closed.

How can I tell if it's the coupler?

 

[fugazi]

Here is what I have if that helps....

 

[Jake]

With the freezer door open press the light switch in then try it.

Jake

 

[fugazi]

With the freezer door open press the light switch in then try it.

Jake

Ah, I tried that and hear the sound. When I remove the ice bin with the crushed ice bin and press the light switch and ice cube dispensor, I hear the sound but I don't see anything move (the end of the shaft does not move). I don't think there's a way to seperate the ice bin from the crushed ice bin if that would help matters.

So, if I hear the sound, then it's not the motor? What else can I check? Thanks for the help!

r/
Bryan

 

[rickgburton]

When you take the ice bucket out, you should see a coupler sticking up through the plate where the bucket sits. If it doesn't turn when you push the dispenser remove the two screws on each side of it and the plate around it will come off. Work your way down untill you find out what's not turning or whats making the noise.

 

[Jake]

Its likely that auger motor thats bad itself, its the most common part to go bad when it just hums and doesn't turn.

Here's the auger motor for your model you can order:
W10271509 Ice Auger Motor


Its fairly easy to replace, its located inside your freezer door with the freezer door open look down about 3 shelves, then you will see 2 screws that sit just below that 2nd or 3rd shelf. Just take that cover off and you will see it mounted in there, then the 4 screws that mounts it, then remove it, there will be a metal rod that connects to the top of it, just install the new motor with that metal rod in the same place. And remove the electrical connector from the old one to the new one.

Now on some models you have to access it from the front dispenser:
You can get to the motor which is behind the section where the ice and water is dispensed.
First remove the tray that is at the bottom of the ice and water dispenser area.. it lifts right out.. there will be 2 philips screws there.. remove them

Next you will be able to lift out the cut out are.. at the top there are two clips so you need to lift up to unhook it then the piece will come out. Disconnect the wires so you can set it aside.


You will need to remove the ice bucket and remove the 2 hex screws for the connection that turns the motor and remove the parts. Now use some pliers to lift out the bar that connects to the motor.

now back to the Front. there are 2 screws on a clear plastic piece that hold the water dispenser and what looks like a cover with silver on it.. remove those so you can get it out of the way.. The water line will still be connected so it will need to hang there but at least it will be out of the way...

now you should see the motor mount and 4 hex screws to remove it.. Take those off and disconnect the motor.. and remove the screws to remove the motor from the mount..

Jake

 

[fugazi]

When you take the ice bucket out, you should see a coupler sticking up through the plate where the bucket sits. If it doesn't turn when you push the dispenser remove the two screws on each side of it and the plate around it will come off. Work your way down untill you find out what's not turning or whats making the noise.

I followed your advice above and removed/cleaned the coupler as well as ran hot water through the ice bucket. I reseated the coupler and tested it out and now it turns! Haven't been able to test it with ice since I cleaned out the ice bucket and need the ice maker to make more ice but it's working now for some reason......

Appreciate all the help from this forum! Thanks again!

r/
Bryan

 

[Jake]

Ok, test it with ice and see if it still turns, having a load on it will verify if the auger motor is good or not.

Jake