MBF2255KEW Maytag icemaker tube freezing up

[Jworks]

Model Number

MBF2255KEW

Brand

Maytag

Age

More than 10 years

I have Maytag MBF2255KEW refrigerator with freezer on the bottom. Its worked flawlessly since 2006. Suddenly the water tube going in to the icemaker freezes up. It quit making ice. I read about thawing it out and I did. It started making ice again and did so for a couple of days. Now it quit making ice again and I imagine the water inlet tube is iced up again. I tested the temp in the freezer with an outside thermometer (digital). It went down to -1, then 0. From 0 it went up to 4, then went as low as -5.

As I type its slowly changing back upward. Maybe this is normal. The manual says the freezer should be 0 to 2F. It also says you can adjust the level up or down but not more than one number in a 24 hr period. Also says changing either Control will have some affect on the temp of the other compartment.

The freezer temp control is a digital readout with up/down buttons. Frig is on 5, freezer is on 6. I don't know for sure if its always been on 6 or if we possibly bumped one or the other. I have no way of testing the water pressure but it "seems" fine to me. The icemaker makes those half-moon type ice cubes. About 4 months ago our plumber replaced the copper tubing water line because it was spewing a fine mist of water on the wall so he put on a flexible hose that looks like mesh, and is larger than the old copper tubing he took off. This worked fine, no issues.

Now suddenly I'm having this freezing issue in the tube. I don't think this has anything to do with the freezing issue; but the refrig door gasket needs replacing and water drops form on the inside of the refrig. The bottom of that gasket is cracked. I just havent replaced it. I need some help before I have to call out someone and pay out the $$$.

 

[Jake]

That's usually caused by low water pressure or a worn out water inlet valve.

Did you take off the water supply line to the refrigerator water inlet valve and check to make sure you had good water pressure to the refrigerator?

I always pull the refrigerator out first, then turn the water supply line off to the refrigerator, then remove the water supply line to the water inlet valve, then get a bucket or container to catch water in, then put the water supply line in the bucket and turn the water supply on and see how fast its going into the bucket, it should have a very strong stream of water pressure into the bucket.

Here's the water inlet valve for your model, if needed:
WP67003753 Valve, Water

 

[Jworks]

Thanks for replying Jake. First, I have no way to measure water pressure, so no I have not measured it. At one point during the time I had the plastic water line disconnected from the tube I guess it was time for the pump to pump water because water came out of the end of the plastic tube that goes up into the back of the freezer. I put my thumb over it to stop it but the pressure still shot out from under my thumb. After a few seconds the water flow shut off. There is a water shut off valve on the water line like the one in the attachment below. At one point I loosened the downstream side nut just a little to make sure water was coming through. Yes, it began to spew out so I tightened it back like it was. I have not taken the water line off the water inlet valve. I can do that. I think the water inlet valve is that plastic thing at the bottom left of the freezer that the water line goes in to....and the plastic line comes out of going up to the back of the freezer, right ??

Earlier I removed the spout from the back of the freezer and ran warm water over it to get the ice out. So now its hooked back up and making ice. I also lowered the temp for the freezer from 6 to 5. I did this because the manual said the freezer should be between 0 and 2 degrees F; and the temp according to my thermometer was ranging from +4 to -5F. So, right now its once again making ice. If ice forms again in the rubber spout going in to the ice maker I will do what you said with the bucket and disconnect the water line and see how the flow is. I will let you know what happens. Thanks again Jake.

 

[Jake]

The water inlet valve is in the very back of the refrigerator, once you pull the refrigerator out from the wall. Its where your water supply line hooks up to it.

Its #8 here: Parts for Maytag MBF2255KEW: Cabinet Back Parts

 

[Jworks]

Jake,I said I would let you know.
Well, its been 12 days now. The last thing I did was thaw out the spout that dumps water into the icemaker. This was the 2nd time. So the ice was out and at the same time I raised the freezer temp by going from "6" on the digital readout thats inside the refrigerator to "5". I did that because the manual said 0 to 2 degrees, and at times it was down to -5 and up as high as +4. It was constantly changing. After the ice was removed from that spout it began making ice again. Its now been 12 days. So far, so good. I don't know how, or even if, raising the freezer temp one point on the dial would affect water spout but it seems something worked.

 

[Jake]

Ok, sounds good, let's hope it keeps on making ice, fingers crossed. 🤞

Thanks for the update!

 

[Jworks]

Hi Jake. My last post notified you it had been 12 days and it was still making ice. Well, it quit making ice again......25 days from the last time it quit. Sure enough, the rubber spout going into the icemaker had ice in it again.

I disconnected the water line like you said and let it flow into a bucket to check the water stream going into the water inlet valve. Its a steady stream coming out and looks sufficient to me, but I'm not an appliance tech. Since I have no way to measure water pressure I had an idea to time it. I used a kitchen pot that has measurements for 1,2,3, & 4 quarts and timed it. It took a 1 minute and 35 secs to fill it to 4 quarts (1 gal.). What do you think?

 

[Jworks]

I heard it filling water just now so I did a test. I stuck a Q-tip in each slot to see if it had water. There was water in the first 5 slots of the ice maker (counting from back to front).

 

[Jake]

I disconnected the water line like you said and let it flow into a bucket to check the water stream going into the water inlet valve. Its a steady stream coming out and looks sufficient to me, but I'm not an appliance tech. Since I have no way to measure water pressure I had an idea to time it. I used a kitchen pot that has measurements for 1,2,3, & 4 quarts and timed it. It took a 1 minute and 35 secs to fill it to 4 quarts (1 gal.). What do you think?

Watch this video and tell me what flow your getting:

The 1st flow they show is weak, the 2nd flow they show is strong.

 

[Jworks]

I say its more like the 2nd video. Its not weak like in that first one.
Also I noticed all the cubes in the collection bin are frozen together and a few icicles hanging down below the icemaker. I broke up all that ice, dried the bin good and put it back in place. The next time I heard the thing activate I checked and water is dumping in to the ice collection bin, and 3 cubes. I'm beginning to think its that inlet valve. Thats just my guess.

 

[Jake]

I'm beginning to think its that inlet valve.

I agree with you on that.

 

[Jworks]

Thanks for you help Jake. I appreciate it.

 

[Jake]

Glad to help!