FIXED KRMF706ESS01 KitchenAid Refrigerator Lights not working.

[Bhmhrex]

Model Number

KRMF706ESS01

Brand

KitchenAid

Age

1-5 years

I have a KRMF706ESS01. I was having issues with the lights not working, the dispenser stopped dispensing water or ice, the door alarm would go off when the doors were closed, and the ice maker had water in the tray, but wouldn't get cold enough to form ice.

I was told it could be faulty door switches, and if not that, a couple of different control boards. I tried new switches, which didn't help.

On a whim, I removed the produce drawer UI board. Which turned on the fridge side lights, the door alarm went away, ice is now being produced, and the fridge started dispensing water and ice again. The top lights still aren't working, but show really really dim. Seems as if just the pantry drawers and side lights in the fridge work.

If I plug back in the board, everything stops working again.

So my question is: Why? Is it a faulty board or more likely a faulty wiring harness? Is there a different board that controls the top lights that may not be working?

 

[Jake]

Can you please update your previous thread first:

Kitchenaid Refrigerator KRMF706ESS01 won't make ice

Hello, I have a kitchenaid KRMF706ESS01 that wasn't make ice. When I ran the diagnostic I would get an E2 on test 56. If I unplugged the fridge and plugged back in, it would start to make ice again. That worked a couple of times and then it just shot craps. So I ordered a new ice maker as...

www.applianceblog.com

For this current issue, yes usually the Pantry UI Board is the cause, but also check the wire harness that goes to it. Here's another person that had this similar issue:

FIXED - KRMF606ESS01 KitchenAid Refrigerator - Pantry Drawer User Interface & Water do not work. Ice does work

Just yesterday the water dispenser quit working on our KRMF606ESS01 KitchenAid Refrigerator. At first the LED lights and the dispenser didn't work and the Code UAC was being displayed. I performed some troubleshooting getting into the service codes and some features began working again. Later...

www.applianceblog.com

Here the Pantry UI Board for your model:
User Control and Display Board WPW10769076


Its in-stock here: WPW10769076

Here's the wire harness to it:
Pantry Drawer Wire Harness W11170612


Here's the video to access it:

KitchenAid 5 Door Refrigerator Pantry Drawer Wire Harness Replace | Repair Clinic

This video provides step-by-step repair instructions for replacing the pantry drawer wire harness on a KitchenAid 5 Door Refrigerator (Model KRMF706ESS01). Learn more from the experts at Repair Clinic.

www.anrdoezrs.net

 

[Bhmhrex]

I put the new control board in this evening. Door ajar alarm started going off again and everything stopped working. So I am guessing this means I need a wiring harness and the old control board is fine? If so, that's good. Way cheaper. However...... That video looks daunting!

 

[Jake]

Yes, then you need the wire harness, just follow the video and just have patience while your replacing it, and it will go well.

 

[Bhmhrex]

Finally got to replace the harness. It seems like it may have fixed 5h3 issue. No beeping etc yet. However, the top lights aren't working.

Also, I followed the video all the way through. Resetting cams for door etc. However, the left door seems a little tougher to close going into the track of the frame and the right door pops open easier. Any ideas on that?

 

[Bhmhrex]

Also, the left front pantry drawer now won't auto close. It goes in and stops about a quarter inch from closing itself. I have to push it to get it to go the rest of the way.

 

[Bhmhrex]

Next update - I hooked a new pair of lights up on the top, and they are dim as well. What else could it be?

Also, really think something is off with the doors. They seem clunkier and harder to close. Right door pops open when shutting left door. Never happened before. Not sure what I did wrong putting them back on.

 

[Jake]

Finally got to replace the harness. It seems like it may have fixed 5h3 issue. No beeping etc yet. However, the top lights aren't working.

Is the freezer LED light working?

On your model, the freezer LED is in series with the TOP refrigerator LED's.

Its usually the freezer LED that's bad and makes the TOP refrigerator LED's in the refrigerator not work either. You can remove the freezer LED and check for 14 volts DC to where it plugs into that electrical connector.

Here's the freezer LED light for your model:
W10695459 Module


For the pantry drawer issues, recheck those again, sounds like you may not have put them in properly, since they were working fine before.

 

[Bhmhrex]

Thanks! I'll give them a check. Maybe I over tightened a screw.

Any ideas on the fridge doors?

 

[Jake]

Any ideas on the fridge doors?

No, sorry I don't. I have not had to replace those as of yet.

Here's the parts diagram for the refrigerator doors: Parts for KitchenAid KRMF706ESS01: Refrigerator Door Parts

I did locate a video that might help you to see if you installed them properly:

 

[Bhmhrex]

Thanks! I took the right one off and the green plug was installed wrong. That fixed the right door. I checked the left and it was correct, but seems to still be a little clunky. I noticed some rips in the right door gasket stripping (not sure if that is the right word for it), so wondering if that might be causing this issue.

On another note, I checked the freezer light and it to is dim. So it doesn't seem as if the light is broken. What would be the next step on this? Freezer and three top lights are dim and the two lights under the ice maker are off. The four side lights, pantry drawer lights and lighting under the shelves work fine

 

[Jake]

These LED lights run in series(like the old Christmas lights, if one goes out or dim they all go out or dim), if the freezer LED goes out or dim it makes the TOP LED's in the refrigerator either go dim or completely out.

Replace the Freezer LED module and it will also fix the TOP LED's in the refrigerator section.

Also, what you can do is use a jumper wire and jump each LED to see which one is bad. When you jump the bad one, the rest will light up in that series.

Make a jumper wire, and jump that Refrigerator LED and see if the rest light up fine.

It worked for this member:

FIXED - WRF736SDAM14 Whirlpool Refrigerator - All LED lights in the freezer and refrigerator do not work

We have a Whirlpool WRF736SDAM14. The lights were flickering and going dim intermittently for about a month then they all stopped working one day, and have not worked since. The door switches seem to still work since the water in door doesn't work when the doors are open and the audible chime...

www.applianceblog.com

If the FREEZER LED is good, then next one in series is the LEFT TOP FRONT/BACK one.

Here's the LEFT TOP FRONT/BACK one in the refrigerator section:
LED Light W11462342

Thanks! I took the right one off and the green plug was installed wrong. That fixed the right door. I checked the left and it was correct, but seems to still be a little clunky. I noticed some rips in the right door gasket stripping (not sure if that is the right word for it), so wondering if that might be causing this issue.

Yes, those rips in the right door gasket stripping is possibly causing it. Is the door gasket actually ripped or just wrinkled up there?

 

[Bhmhrex]

Thanks. The bottom freezer light came in today. Going to give it a try.

I attached three images of the right door gasket. Shows one piece that came off, one that is split and a bigger split in the middle. The right door closes better. It was my fault. The green piece that goes into the hinge part and door wasn't seated properly. The left door closes fine 8f the right door is open. If the right door is closed, the left door gets hung up as it closes.

 

[Bhmhrex]

I changed out the freezer light. Now that light and the top lights are completely out. Not even dim.

 

[Jake]

I changed out the freezer light. Now that light and the top lights are completely out. Not even dim.

Then you got a bad LED light, where did you get it from?

You'd also need a new refrigerator door gasket, per your photos of it above, its torn.

Here's the refrigerator door gasket for your model: Gasket-Fip (blk) W11544658

 

[Bhmhrex]

Man, this fridge has turned into one of my most expensive purchases yet for an appliance!

Thanks for the link.

I purchased the below light from Amazon as I was anxious to try and get it fixed. You are probably right, the light is bad. I will get the OEM one this time, along with the gasket

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09NQ6BBN7?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

 

[Jake]

Yes, we see lots of problems with parts from Amazon and Ebay.

 

[Bhmhrex]

The OEM lights came in. Turned out to be the light you stated in the refrigerator under the ice maker, far back. Everything is as bright as an airstrip now. So bright, I'm tempted to put the bad light back in

The gasket came in as well. Is this a magnetic gasket? How do I go about changing it?

 

[Jake]

The OEM lights came in. Turned out to be the light you stated in the refrigerator under the ice maker, far back. Everything is as bright as an airstrip now.

Excellent, glad to hear that.

The gasket came in as well. Is this a magnetic gasket? How do I go about changing it?

Yes, its magnetic.

I haven't need to replace one on this model as of yet, but this video below should give you the general idea of how to do it: