FIXED WRF989SDAM03 Ice maker not working - error codes E2 and E3

[BlueWRXPride]

From what I gather, when ice is harvested, there is a heater which starts to melt the ice, breaking it free from the mold so the motor can push it into the bin. Is that right? I ran test 58 to test that portion and after waiting 5 minutes, the display didn't change from 11, indicating the heater is on, but the temp is cooler than harvest temp. What could that indicate?

 

[Jake]

Should I run 59 to test just the motor or could I damage it since there's ice in there and it wouldn't be running the heater first?

Run test 59.

Service Test - 59 Ice Maker Motor
--->Press SW3 to activate a Motor sequence and toggle through each step. Digit 1 displays the state of the motor. Digit 2 displays the status of the motor. Once initiated, the sequence cannot be exited.
Digit 1 0 = Motor OFF, 1 = Motor Rotating CW until home position, 2 = Motor OFF, 3 = Motor Rotating CCW until home position.
Digit 2 0 = In Progress, 1 = Harvesting Completed, 2 = Harvesting Not Completed.
NOTE: Harvesting Not Completed does not exit the step, but indicates the timeout of 70 seconds has passed.

 

[BlueWRXPride]

Any risk in damaging something if I run that with ice in the tray and without running the heater first (or without the heater working) to break the ice free from the tray?

 

[Jake]

No risk at all.

 

[BlueWRXPride]

CW failed with 02 and CCW passed with 01. When I first installed this replacement ice maker, I'm 99% sure I ran that test and they both passed. Sure having frozen ice in there isn't an issue?
Here's where it stops after the CW test:

And here's where it stops after the CCW test:

 

[Jake]

Sure having frozen ice in there isn't an issue?

Remove the ice manually and verify the tests again to see.

 

[BlueWRXPride]

I took the ice maker out, removed the ice, reinstalled it, ran 59 and both CW and CCW passed. I also ran 57 with no ice in there and it passed. Seems to indicate there's some issue with the heater functionality. Even after running 59, when I check error codes with 56 it tells me E2 and E3.

 

[Jake]

Ok, got it.

But I'm still puzzled why your getting E2 and E3 codes.

You have something else odd going on and you will need to contact Whirlpool at 1-866-698-2538 and have a tech come out, the tech can call the factory on a special FACTORY HOTLINE tech number from your house, and the factory can get involved in investigating why this is happening.

 

[BlueWRXPride]

Darn, was sure hoping to avoid calling in a repair person...well I guess that's all I've got at this point

 

[Jake]

Yes, I wish it could be something simpler.

 

[BlueWRXPride]

I want to do some more debugging, checking resistance of the IM thermistor, checking voltage when the heater turns on, etc. How / where do I access the main controller board to probe the outputs of it?

 

[BlueWRXPride]

I think there's something wrong with the circuit that sends 115v to the IC heater. I hooked my multimeter to pins 1 and 4 on the 4pin connector going from the IM to the fridge. According to the wiring diagram you provided, it looks like it should provide 115v to the heater when you toggle test 59 with SW3. When I do that, I see a flicker of some voltage, but then it goes back to zero. I posted a video of what it looks like. Seems like that indicates there's an issue with the main controller board or the power supply board. What do you think?

https://imgur.com/fC5RpvY

 

[Jake]

Here's the main control board for your model:
Control Board WPW10589837


Its located in the back of the refrigerator, this video gives u the general idea of where its at:

Service Test - 58 Ice Maker Heater Activation and Thermistor
• Press SW3 to activate the Ice Maker Heater and to toggle between On and Off. Digit 1 displays the state of the heater. Digit 2 displays the thermistor state.
Digit 1 0 = IM Heater OFF, 1 = IM Heater ON
Digit 2 0 = Temp warmer than harvest temp, 1 = Temp cooler than harvest temp, 2 = Open, 3 = Short

At connector P12 on your main control board P12 pin 6 to P1 pin 2 should be 115 Volts.

Service Test - 59 Ice Maker Motor
• Press SW3 to activate a Motor sequence and toggle through each step. Digit 1 displays the state of the motor. Digit 2 displays the status of the motor. Once initiated, the sequence cannot be exited.
Digit 1 0 = Motor OFF, 1 = Motor Rotating CW until home position, 2 = Motor OFF, 3 = Motor Rotating CCW until home position
Digit 2 0 = In Progress, 1 = Harvesting Completed, 2 = Harvesting Not Completed
NOTE: Harvesting Not Completed does not exit the step, but indicates the timeout of 70 seconds has passed.

 

[BlueWRXPride]

Do you think it'd be more likely that the control board is at fault, or the electric supply board (WPW10453401)?

 

[Jake]

You'd need to take the voltage reading and see, usually its the main control board.

 

[BlueWRXPride]

You'd need to take the voltage reading and see, usually its the main control board.

Ok I tested P12 pin 6 to P1 pin and got a similar response. Upon hitting sw3 the multimeter showed a voltage spike for a moment and then went back to 0v. So does that point to the control board or a different board?

 

[Jake]

Was it 115 or 120 volts?

 

[BlueWRXPride]

It didn't stick around long enough to register a reading. Just enough to show a transient before settling back at zero.

 

[Jake]

Ok, then it is probably a bad control board.

 

[BlueWRXPride]

I'm pleased to report that I replaced the control board, and now the IM heater test passes, as ice is once again being made! Oddly though I still get error E3, but ice is definitely being made so...