Whirlpool WRX986SIHZ00 No Ice, Flaky Lights

[hat]

Model Number

WRX986SIHZ00

Brand

Whirlpool

Age

1-5 years

I've searched through the forum here and found some very similar issues but none quite the same as this mine. The ice maker quit working in the refrigerator a month or so ago. Then a little while later, after unplugging the fridge to move it and plugging it back in, none of the lights inside worked but the outside panel still was lit up and responded to touch. When the lights are out, water will not dispense. Sometimes if you hold the door open the lights will eventually come on, but then when you close it the panel sometimes still shows that the door is open. These issues always co-occur - when it's working, everything is fine, but when one issue occurs, the other happens with it. Eventually it seems to be back to normal and works as expected for days. The red LED in the ice maker tray is sometimes on and sometimes off, but I can't find any information on what the light is indicating.

I've been trying to test the ice maker in service mode and so far it looks like it passed the tests I've read about here. I can't find a full service or operator manual though so I can't say for certain. On this forum, I've read about this model having a non working LED short the LED control board and cause issues with water dispenser, etc., and a bad ice maker assembly stop ice, but I doubt that they both went bad at once so I am wondering if I'm not looking at an issue with the main control board or wiring. I am willing to test whatever if someone can point me in the right direction or to a service manual - I am familiar with wiring schematics and multimeters.

Thank you

 

[Jake]

A couple of people had this issue, Unplug your refrigerator first, then remove all the electrical connectors to the LED light board then plug the refrigerator back in and see if everything starts working again.

This is the LED light board for your model:
Control Board W10830288

That board is located in the back of the refrigerator on the back exterior wall. Pull the refrigerator out from the wall, then Unplug the refrigerator, then you will see a cover over it, just remove that cover and remove the electrical connectors on that LED light board.

If it still does the same thing, unplug the refrigerator then remove the Pantry UI Board and plug the refrigerator back in and see if everything starts working again.

Here's the Pantry UI Board for your model:

Whirlpool W10758049 Cntrl-Elec (AP5957237) - AppliancePartsPros.com

CNTRL-ELEC W10758049 / AP5957237 made by Whirlpool

click.linksynergy.com

This should be the video to access it:

 

[hat]

Thank you very much. I had seen the LED control board but not the Pantry board. I found a broken ground eyelet at the left bottom corner at the back of the refrigerator but it still did not fix the issue. However, unplugging the (water saturated) Pantry control board fixed the issue. I'll silicone the new one when it goes in.

 

[hat]

Ice maker gave up again. Pantry board still unplugged but no more ice is being made. I forgot to mention that I cleaned the fins under the front of the fridge too while I was working on it. I have tried fast ice and normal and I don't feel any water in the trays. The red led by the ice on off switch is turned off as well.

That's still progress though, I was happy to see some ice while it was working.

 

[Jake]

The red led by the ice on off switch is turned off as well.

That should be set to ON not OFF.

Thank you very much. I had seen the LED control board but not the Pantry board. I found a broken ground eyelet at the left bottom corner at the back of the refrigerator but it still did not fix the issue. However, unplugging the (water saturated) Pantry control board fixed the issue.

Excellent, glad to hear that.

 

[hat]

It is set to on but the red LED is not turned on.. when the ice maker isn't working it isn't on either.. is there troubleshooting I can do for that component?

 

[Jake]

It is set to on but the red LED is not turned on.. when the ice maker isn't working it isn't on either

That is odd, don't think I've run across that before.

is there troubleshooting I can do for that component?

I'm attaching your tech. data sheet below, you can get into the diagnostics and DO--->Service Test - 56: Ice Maker Error Codes then tell us what error code you get.

 

[hat]

Great, thank you! I have error code E2 which I'm assuming means I need to order a new ice maker assembly. I doubt they sell the components in those separately.

 

[Jake]

Yes, E2 means you need a new ice maker, or you got something jammed in the ice maker blade that rotates the ice out of the ice tray.

Here's the ice maker for your model: W11579560

Here's the video to access/replace it: