dameyerfamily
Premium Member
- Model Number
- WRF989SDAM03
- Brand
- Whirlpool
- Age
- 6-10 years
We have owned our WRF989SDAM03 French Door Whirlpool refrigerator since 2014. We had one little issue when we first bought, but it was minor and covered under warranty. A couple years later, we had some issue with it and I can't remember the initial concern at this time, but the repairman determined some one accidentally turned the temperature on the fridge or freezer way to low (likely someone just hitting random buttons not knowing how to work the dispenser screen and accidentally adjusted it down too low. As a result, we have had issues since with our internal lights (some of them, not all) and the meat/veggie drawer light display, and the dispenser screen. I will describe the issue with each. At the time, the repairman suspected that the control boards for each of those connections were killed when the internal temp was too low for too long. We never got it replaced or addressed because he warned us it would be rather pricey. And several years later after dealing with an annoyingly dark fridge/freezer and messed up screen displays, I wanted to look into how to repair it (myself, if possible).
1. Interior lights: From my research so far, I understand the LED lights are all on an old single circuit type set up (like old christmas lights). I understand the side lights are on their own circuit, and the ceiling fridge and one freezer light is on another. Weirdly, with our situation, the two lights by the ice maker are working while the 3 lights by the filter, the freezer, and the 4 side lights are all out completely. We have temporarily installed some rechargeable motion activated lights that will illuminate the fridge when it is opened and then turn off with no detection of motion, so basically when the fridge is closed. It has got us by, but it is rather dim in the fridge in certain areas and it is annoying to recharge the lights on a weekly basis.
2. Meat/Veggie drawer display: Just completely gone. Nothing.
3. Dispense display. The lights along the bottom where the buttons that show what each button's functions are are all normal, but the far left ice/water button and word/number lights on the center display are jacked up (the part where you would look for the numbers during diagnosistics). They image is very dim in certain areas, so sometimes you can't tell what it says. I have figured it out now with just repeated practice knowing what the display looks like on the screen, but man is it a headache and looks bad.
I have been researching these issues all morning to see where I could start. I have found info on parts for the LED control box, the control board, the dispense control board, and the interior refrigerator control board. Each of these parts individually are a pretty hefty price, so combined to do all of them would be >$500 just for parts. What would be wonderful is if there is just one thing that I can replace that might fix most or all of the problems in one shot. Is this possible, or do you think I am going to have to piece my way through this and try each one individually to see what works? The dispenser screen is the least of my worries and the most minor. And even the refrigerator draw control display is not that bothersome because we didn't really use it that much anyway. But the interior lights thing is pretty annoying and necessary. Thoughts on where to start? Or if there is one big sha-bang fix for all of them?
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Now, for our other issue. A few weeks ago we had a really loud whirling/grinding noise coming from the freezer. With some googling, you tubing, and some exploring hands on, we discovered there was ice build up in the back of the freezer behind the back panel and the fan blades were contacting the ice. We defrosted the back of the freezer and now the fan moves freely and quietly and freezer works normal.
Ever since we fixed that issue, our ice maker has stopped or reduced in dropping ice into the ice bin. Its never empty, and we still dispense ice in a cup a couple times a day, but there is a very little bit in there at all times (like less than 20 cubes at a time). I tried turning on the fast ice function with no result. I then tried to run through the diagnostics to see what the issue was (of course, challenged by the display issues noted above, so I am not 100% confident in what I was interpreting). Initially the issues I was seeing was at E5 error code on test 56, a "harvesting not competed" code on test 57, and "temperature warmer than harvest temperature" code for test 58. I am not even sure what these mean or how they relate to our issue because there is no indication in the tech sheet on whether those are defective codes or what is considered normal for those readings.
The code for the ice bin sensor test 15 came back correct. All of the ice maker and door motor, fill test, and water dispensing tests all came back what appears to be normal if I was reading it correctly. I noted that E5 was related to the thermistor, but the test 32 related to the thermistor came back functional. After a little more researching, I found a recommendation to reset the fridge by unplugging it. Since that was easy, I did it. When I went back into diagnostics, the E5 code was gone and now displaying E0 (no errors). All the other tests came back the same as before. When I checked the next morning, there were about 6-7 new ice cubes in the bin, but still less than 25 total in the whole thing. I am absolutely baffled at this point. Would our best bet be just to replace the whole ice maker assembly and hope that fixes the issue, or is there something else I am missing or haven't tried? I am tempted to just say screw it and go invest in one of those amazing Sonic ice makers! Haha
I appreciate anyone's insight or assistance to help me get even one thing heading in the right direction with these issues. Please and thank you so much!
I have attached images of the internal LED lights for fridge and freezer, drawer display, my temporary light rig up, dispenser display screen (circled the faded display - you can see the other 5 lights on the bottom are very bold, the two circled are dimmer), and a video of the diagnostic code screen to show the lighting issues.
1. Interior lights: From my research so far, I understand the LED lights are all on an old single circuit type set up (like old christmas lights). I understand the side lights are on their own circuit, and the ceiling fridge and one freezer light is on another. Weirdly, with our situation, the two lights by the ice maker are working while the 3 lights by the filter, the freezer, and the 4 side lights are all out completely. We have temporarily installed some rechargeable motion activated lights that will illuminate the fridge when it is opened and then turn off with no detection of motion, so basically when the fridge is closed. It has got us by, but it is rather dim in the fridge in certain areas and it is annoying to recharge the lights on a weekly basis.
2. Meat/Veggie drawer display: Just completely gone. Nothing.
3. Dispense display. The lights along the bottom where the buttons that show what each button's functions are are all normal, but the far left ice/water button and word/number lights on the center display are jacked up (the part where you would look for the numbers during diagnosistics). They image is very dim in certain areas, so sometimes you can't tell what it says. I have figured it out now with just repeated practice knowing what the display looks like on the screen, but man is it a headache and looks bad.
I have been researching these issues all morning to see where I could start. I have found info on parts for the LED control box, the control board, the dispense control board, and the interior refrigerator control board. Each of these parts individually are a pretty hefty price, so combined to do all of them would be >$500 just for parts. What would be wonderful is if there is just one thing that I can replace that might fix most or all of the problems in one shot. Is this possible, or do you think I am going to have to piece my way through this and try each one individually to see what works? The dispenser screen is the least of my worries and the most minor. And even the refrigerator draw control display is not that bothersome because we didn't really use it that much anyway. But the interior lights thing is pretty annoying and necessary. Thoughts on where to start? Or if there is one big sha-bang fix for all of them?
**************************
Now, for our other issue. A few weeks ago we had a really loud whirling/grinding noise coming from the freezer. With some googling, you tubing, and some exploring hands on, we discovered there was ice build up in the back of the freezer behind the back panel and the fan blades were contacting the ice. We defrosted the back of the freezer and now the fan moves freely and quietly and freezer works normal.
Ever since we fixed that issue, our ice maker has stopped or reduced in dropping ice into the ice bin. Its never empty, and we still dispense ice in a cup a couple times a day, but there is a very little bit in there at all times (like less than 20 cubes at a time). I tried turning on the fast ice function with no result. I then tried to run through the diagnostics to see what the issue was (of course, challenged by the display issues noted above, so I am not 100% confident in what I was interpreting). Initially the issues I was seeing was at E5 error code on test 56, a "harvesting not competed" code on test 57, and "temperature warmer than harvest temperature" code for test 58. I am not even sure what these mean or how they relate to our issue because there is no indication in the tech sheet on whether those are defective codes or what is considered normal for those readings.
The code for the ice bin sensor test 15 came back correct. All of the ice maker and door motor, fill test, and water dispensing tests all came back what appears to be normal if I was reading it correctly. I noted that E5 was related to the thermistor, but the test 32 related to the thermistor came back functional. After a little more researching, I found a recommendation to reset the fridge by unplugging it. Since that was easy, I did it. When I went back into diagnostics, the E5 code was gone and now displaying E0 (no errors). All the other tests came back the same as before. When I checked the next morning, there were about 6-7 new ice cubes in the bin, but still less than 25 total in the whole thing. I am absolutely baffled at this point. Would our best bet be just to replace the whole ice maker assembly and hope that fixes the issue, or is there something else I am missing or haven't tried? I am tempted to just say screw it and go invest in one of those amazing Sonic ice makers! Haha
I appreciate anyone's insight or assistance to help me get even one thing heading in the right direction with these issues. Please and thank you so much!
I have attached images of the internal LED lights for fridge and freezer, drawer display, my temporary light rig up, dispenser display screen (circled the faded display - you can see the other 5 lights on the bottom are very bold, the two circled are dimmer), and a video of the diagnostic code screen to show the lighting issues.
