Kenmore Refrigerator model 106.53594300 in-line ice maker thermal fuse

[Rogue47]

Model Number

106.53594300

Brand

Sears Kenmore

Age

More than 10 years

Ice maker stopped working. Installed new ice maker, then a new water inlet valve. Still nothing. I've removed the ice maker again and while checking the wiring harness I scraped away some of the wire insulation behind the in-line thermal fuse and there's no continuity from behind the fuse to the ice maker end of the harness. I'm now guessing that the in-line fuse is bad. The wiring harness ends at the rear wall of the freezer and I can't find a way to pull it from the wall without maybe braking the inside freezer wall. So I'm also guessing that if I do disconnect the harness the wires inside will fall down into the freezer wall. Can I simply slice a new in-line thermal fuse into the harness and if so where can I find one?
Thanks

 

[Jake]

Yes, on this model the ice maker comes with a new in-line thermal fuse wire harness assembly:
4317943 Whirlpool Icemaker Kit

Can I simply slice a new in-line thermal fuse into the harness and if so where can I find one?

Yes, you sure can, I've done that on a few of these Kenmore models where the ice maker wire harness assembly is molded into the freezer cavity.

If you don't need to replace the ice maker too, you can just get a new ice maker wire harness that comes with the new in-line thermal fuse:
WP2187467 Harness, Wiring


Just unplug the refrigerator from the wall outlet, then cut the old in-line thermal fuse out and splice the new one in, don't cut too close to the in-line thermal fuse itself, then solder/heat shrink/crimp or wire nut it in place.

Jake

 

[Rogue47]

Thank you Jake!

Did I test the fuse correctly by scraping to bare wire on the other side of the fuse?

 

[Jake]

Yes, since it is molded into the freezer cavity, then you would have to scrap the wire insulation off to get to the bare wire on the other side of it, to ohm test it for continuity.

Its the black wire with the WHITE thermal fuse in the photo part link I posted above.

Jake

 

[Rogue47]

Sounds good. One hopefully last question. Why would the fuse blow?

 

[Jake]

Because there is usually a short in the ice maker, or the ice maker mold heater is continually ON and caused the in-line thermal fuse to blow out, so that's why its always a good idea to replace the complete ice maker assembly when you install the new in-line thermal fuse.

Jake

 

[Rogue47]

I was wrong one more question, since the fuse is blown is that why water is not flowing into the ice maker? I've replaced everything else...

 

[Jake]

Yes, if the ice maker inline thermal fuse is bad, the ice maker can't cycle and put water in.

Jake