Whirlpool Refrigerator WRF736SDAM14 Ice maker issue after being 'frozen' The 56 test shows E5

[wmupchurch]

Model Number

WRF736SDAM14

Brand

Whirlpool

Age

1-5 years

Hi,

I had an issue where the door to the fridge was somehow slightly ajar 2 nights in a row. This caused the area of the back wall of the freezer to ice over and the unit to make noise. The fridge was also not cooling properly as no air was circulating through the vents on the back wall of the fridge. Upon realizing the issue, I gently used a hair dryer to remove the ice from the vents that I could see on the back wall of the freezer. Now the fridge is fine, but the unit will not make ice. It made it twice and then stopped. The 56 test shows E5. Other test seem fine (except the water fill, which I ran twice and the second time the water spilled over, but this is my first time testing this unit so perhaps I need to run other test.

Before I remove all the stuff to get to and remove the back wall of the freezer, is there anything else I should/could test? I understand this is probably the thermister and I'll order one before I do the work to remove the back wall of the freezer, but just want to be sure that's the only item I'll need. In other words, there may still be some ice there and perhaps getting rid of that would fix it, but if I'm going to do all the work to get there, I'd rather have any replacement parts I need on hand.

Thank you!

 

[wmupchurch]

Update. I also ran:

test 59 and the rotation wasn't complete. Used the hair dryer again for just a minute or so, retested and the rotation completed and dropped the ice. Tested the rotation both ways and it worked.
test 45 seemed to fill correctly
test 36 and the fan came on
test 37 shows 01
test 58 00 and 10

 

[Jake]

Hi,

E5-The error code indicates the ice maker Thermistor is warmer than 16 degrees. The cold air to the ice maker is controlled by the freezer fan motor, open the freezer door and see if you hear it running.

Look at this thread, where I mentioned how to test it:

FIXED - WRF736SDAM14 Whirlpool Refrigerator - Test 56 Error Code E5 Bad Freezer Thermistor

This is what I got now. The fridge is connected but that fan is not running. I dont know if I should test it with a multi meter or just order the fan ASAP.

www.applianceblog.com

Here's the FC fan motor for your model:

Whirlpool W11224591 Motor-Evap (AP6329809) - AppliancePartsPros.com

MOTOR-EVAP W11224591 / AP6329809 made by Whirlpool

click.linksynergy.com

Jake

 

[wmupchurch]

Thank you! Test 3 turns on the fan and I can hear it working. The temperature in the freezer is 1 degree so I don't think the thermisor could be 16 degrees? Also, after I filled the icemaker last night, it froze and then dropped the ice.

 

[wmupchurch]

Hi, I ran 58 again and the readings are 01 and 11 for the two zones. Based on the error codes attachment you posted in another forum post, it looks like the thermistor is too cold, which makes me think that the ice build up that happened is still present in an area I can't easily reach, which is where the thermistor is located (the vents were easy to fix with the hair dryer). Since the fan runs, should I order the thermistor to start?

Also, do you have a guide on removing the two freezer drawers in the freezer? I can't seem to figure out how to 'disengage' the top drawer and start removing the parts to get to the pack wall. Once that's removed, I can see the instructions in other videos. Just need to figure out how to get started.

 

[Jake]

I ran 58 again and the readings are 01 and 11 for the two zones. Based on the error codes attachment you posted in another forum post, it looks like the thermistor is too cold, which makes me think that the ice build up that happened is still present in an area I can't easily reach, which is where the thermistor is located (the vents were easy to fix with the hair dryer). Since the fan runs, should I order the thermistor to start?

That thermistor comes with a new ice maker: W11579560

You can't buy it separately.

Jake

 

[wmupchurch]

Thanks Jake! I didn't realize there were 2 thermistors. Thought the one in the bottom freezer back wall was the only one. Just to confirm, when I buy the ice maker, is the only installation needed for the maker itself because the thermistor is actually in the unit? Just trying to confirm so I can plan the time for the project.

 

[Jake]

Just to confirm, when I buy the ice maker, is the only installation needed for the maker itself because the thermistor is actually in the unit? Just trying to confirm so I can plan the time for the project.

Yes, you have a freezer thermistor and the ice box thermistor. The ice box thermistor is the ice maker thermistor.

Service Test - 37: Ice Box Thermistor
The board will check the resistance value of the thermistor and display the results on the Temp display (01 = pass, 02 = open, 03 = short).

The freezer thermistor--->Service Test - 1: F(freezer)C(compartment) Thermistor
--->The board will check the resistance value of the thermistor and display flashes results on the Temp display (01 = pass, 02 = open, 03 = short)

Here's your tech. data sheet.