WRX986SIHZ02 loud water dispensing and intermittent water to ice maker

[SteverinoLA]

Model Number

WRX986SIHZ02

Brand

Whirlpool

Age

1-5 years

I have a year old Whirlpool WRX986SIHZ02 french door fridge with the in-door ice maker. I have 2 problem that I think are likely related (but maybe not):

1) Water dispenser works fine but it's very loud, especially heard in the tubing on the top left door side of unit. I assume air getting into the water tubing. I've replaced the filter 4 times now using only the $60 OEM EDR2RXD1 and the 2nd filter had no noise issues, but the other 3 do. I've reseated it 100 times but no luck. No other issues other than this loud annoying noise when dispensing water, but...

2) I use a lot of ice every day and I frequently find the ice maker stops making ice. No error codes for any of the ice making service menu items, but there is no water released into the ice making unit itself. I can feel this w/my finger. I can run service test 45 to dispense water to ice maker but no water arrives. I can tell this since the ice tubing noise isn't there and also can feel no water in the tray w/finger. At some point, it will refill the ice tray and I'll get some ice for a period.

Could the air (presumably) in the water lines cause this issue? Where could air be getting in the water line beyond the seal for the water filter when installed?

 

[Jake]

What I do is draw 10 full glasses of water from the water dispenser every time I replace the water filter, to get the air out.

The intermittent water to the ice maker is going to be hard to nail down, could be the water inlet valve to the ice maker, I'd check for 120 volts to the ice maker side of the dual water inlet valve when you do TEST 45.

Here's the dual water inlet valve for your model: Valve W11482383

This video gives you the general idea of how to access it:

 

[SteverinoLA]

Thanks, Jake Will do when i get back. The air making the water dispensing very noisy never goes away no matter how many gallons go water go through it. I think it may be the seal where the filter attaches, only b/c out of the 4 filters I've used in last 1.5 years, 1 of them had no noise.

 

[SteverinoLA]

Extra bonus. It was weird I couldn't find many videos on RepairClinic or elsewhere for my Whirlpool fridge. But now you've fix that -- my Whirlpool is literally this KitchenAid inside, just with an extra 4th fridge drawer. Now I'm finding a goldmine of info. Thank you again Jake!

 

[Jake]

Glad to help Steve!

I think it may be the seal where the filter attaches

I was thinking the same thing.

Here's the water filter housing for your model, that has that seal in it: Housing W11482384

 

[SteverinoLA]

Hey Jake. I came back from vacation and spent some more time on this issue and think I discovered what's actually not working when ice production stops -- the ice maker water line is freezing. I dumped out all the ice before I left and came back 3 weeks later to no ice at all. I read 25+ plus ice maker threads on this forum along with tech sheets and service menus for other models. Then I realized there was an ice maker related service menu item way outside the ice maker group in menu -- #19: ice maker fill tube heater status.

When ice production working, I can hear the water flowing through the line, and it's silent when ice production dead. Sure enough, if I go to #19 and leave ice fill tube heater on until the service menu times out (sometimes once more), then I can do #45 fill test and water flows to the tray. I originally complained in thread starter about noisy water to dispenser which I assume is air getting in the line b/c the sound is lie what you hear initially after changing the filter and you recommended replacing the filter housing. I do indeed hear this loud water line right there at the filter housing unit as well as the connections at top front left of door.

Interestingly, the water flowing from filter to the ice make through fill tube does not make any noise, only the water going to dispenser is loud. I'm fascinated about how modern appliances work, eg. the in door ice maker and have learned a lot via various downloads found on this forum. I have a few questions I hoping answer just for my own knowledge:

1) According to some document I downloaded here, the ice fill tube heater is supposed to turn for 45 mins, then turn off for 45 mins. #19 Fill tube heater is always on every time I go the service menu entry. Any idea if that is normal?

2) The Fast Ice function lowers the temp a few degrees to make ice faster. This really works, as in I get a tray of ice every 30 mins or so when enabled. Granted it's pretty small ice cubes, but that's really fast. Maybe too fast and something is freezing the fill tube?

3) Finally, Do you think this noisy water lines and the ice maker fill tube freezing are both symptoms of the same defect? Could air getting into water line to dispenser somehow make the ice fill tube freeze much quicker and so replacing the filter housing and/or filter valve would solve?

Thanks so much. Been lurking here for a few years. You and Appliance Parts Pro help me fix my old dryer and then dishwasher for super cheap cause I did it myself.

 

[Jake]

I'm attaching your tech. data sheet below.

Service Test - 19: Ice Maker Fill Tube Heater Status
--->Control the ice maker fill tube heater by selecting SW3 (toggle between on and off) (01 = on, 02 = off).

1) According to some document I downloaded here, the ice fill tube heater is supposed to turn for 45 mins, then turn off for 45 mins. #19 Fill tube heater is always on every time I go the service menu entry. Any idea if that is normal?

Post that document so I can see if too please.

2) The Fast Ice function lowers the temp a few degrees to make ice faster. This really works, as in I get a tray of ice every 30 mins or so when enabled. Granted it's pretty small ice cubes, but that's really fast. Maybe too fast and something is freezing the fill tube?

Not likely, but the small cubes concern me. What pressure is good to the refrigerator? Water pressure from the water dispenser and good when you get a glass of water from the water dispenser? Should be a good strong water flow.

3) Finally, Do you think this noisy water lines and the ice maker fill tube freezing are both symptoms of the same defect? Could air getting into water line to dispenser somehow make the ice fill tube freeze much quicker and so replacing the filter housing and/or filter valve would solve?

Yes, because the water filter housing and water filter also fill the ice maker.

 

[SteverinoLA]

Post that document so I can see if too please.

Attached is the doc I found linked in some thread here. It's old (2013) but I was just assuming the "theory of operation" is still relevant to my very new fridge. Look on page for what I highlighted.

2) The Fast Ice function lowers the temp a few degrees to make ice faster. This really works, as in I get a tray of ice every 30 mins or so when enabled. Granted it's pretty small ice cubes, but that's really fast. Maybe too fast and something is freezing the fill tube?

Not likely, but the small cubes concern me. What pressure is good to the refrigerator? Water pressure from the water dispenser and good when you get a glass of water from the water dispenser? Should be a good strong water flow.

It's a newish filter so strong flow at the dispenser. Ice size is relative so not sure if my ice is smaller than expected. Attached a couple pics. This Whirlpool ice maker is used in several in-door models for Whirlpool and KitchenAid, so I would assume same size as those.

3) Finally, Do you think this noisy water lines and the ice maker fill tube freezing are both symptoms of the same defect? Could air getting into water line to dispenser somehow make the ice fill tube freeze much quicker and so replacing the filter housing and/or filter valve would solve?

I also notice that when the ice maker is actually working as expected, that I see small ice slivers frozen on the tray the delivers ice from mold to container. Another sympton that my ice maker is just running too cold?

 

[Jake]

Those cubes look about right to me.

Another sympton that my ice maker is just running too cold?

What's the temperature of it?

 

[SteverinoLA]

Well for this model, there is no temperature readings in service menu, only pass/fail confirmations of the thermistor. Maybe I can fit my remote temp monitor inside the ice maker or if not, at least gauge the ice box temp...

 

[Jake]

Yes, sorry that's what I meant to say.

Also, If you don't have freezer thermometer you can get the RED Liquid or digital freezer thermometer. Walmart, Target sells them usually at about 10 dollars and they last a lifetime.

 

[SteverinoLA]

Yep, I use one of these Accurite remote monitors to keep track of my fridge and freezer temps, just b/c they took the temps out of the service menu and I'm paranoid about this kind of stuff, ha.

The ice container is b/t 11F and 18F. Unfortunately can't fit one of these remote monitors inside the ice maker compartment. Is the ice bin temp much lower than expected?

 

[Jake]

The ice container is b/t 11F and 18F. Unfortunately can't fit one of these remote monitors inside the ice maker compartment. Is the ice bin temp much lower than expected?

It needs to be 10 degrees F or lower at at times where the ice maker mounts.

 

[SteverinoLA]

Roger. Last question before I replace some parts -- are there any service menu checks or tests that I should look at as far as the ice maker water fill tube freezing? No #56 ice maker error codes ever, always E0. But wondering if there's anything else to check in service menu?

 

[Jake]

In your tech. data sheet I posted in post #7 above, DO--->Service Test - 45: Ice Maker Water Fill Test
NOTE: Before initiating this test, go to Service Test 57. Initiate ice maker harvest to ensure that all ice is ejected from mold before filling.
--->After an initial 3-second delay, displays the ice maker water fill state on the UI display. Press SW3 to start water fill.
Pressing SW3 will toggle between on and pause (02 = off, 03 = on, 04 = paused).

Then Service Test - 19: Ice Maker Fill Tube Heater Status --->Control the ice maker fill tube heater by selecting SW3 (toggle between on and off) (01 = on, 02 = off).

 

[SteverinoLA]

In your tech. data sheet I posted in post #7 above, DO--->Service Test - 45: Ice Maker Water Fill Test
NOTE: Before initiating this test, go to Service Test 57. Initiate ice maker harvest to ensure that all ice is ejected from mold before filling.
--->After an initial 3-second delay, displays the ice maker water fill state on the UI display. Press SW3 to start water fill.
Pressing SW3 will toggle between on and pause (02 = off, 03 = on, 04 = paused).

Then Service Test - 19: Ice Maker Fill Tube Heater Status --->Control the ice maker fill tube heater by selecting SW3 (toggle between on and off) (01 = on, 02 = off).

Yep, that's exactly what I've been doing every single day this week during my testing:

1. Hear the ice maker turning over but no ice dropping out or just check w/finger to find no water in the ice maker tray
2. Go to service menu #19 and activate the ice fill tube heater. Leave this on until the service menu times out (10 mins or so)
3. Use service menu #45 to fill the tray and confirm water is flowing b/c I can hear it
4. Now I get ice for a while but within 16 hours or so, the full tube is frozen again
5. Repeat this process

I've been experimenting w/Fact Ice On or Off since that affects the temperature of the ice maker but seems same pattern regardless of Fast Ice. OK, time to call Whirpool.

 

[Jake]

Sounds like that fill tube heater is bad then.

Here's the fill tube heater for your model:

Whirlpool W11087201 Heater (AP6048052) - AppliancePartsPros.com

HEATER W11087201 / AP6048052 made by Whirlpool

click.linksynergy.com

Here's the video: https://www.repairclinic.com/Repair...erator-Fill-Tube-Heater-Replacement-W11087201

At the main control board P2-6 to P1-2 is the fill tube heater output, you can volt test at those locations, when the heater is ON your meter should read about 115 volts.

Fill tube /fascia/pantry heater output--->Service Test 19. 01 = 115 V. 02 = 0 V

 

[SteverinoLA]

I am still waiting for the repairs. I took every thing you mentioned in this post and said I want every one of those parts replaced. Now sdcheudled for 3/27. Anxious to see the confirm problem solved but I guess we won't know exactly which part solve what.

 

[Jake]

Yes, I agree Steve.

Yes, let us know what happens on March 27, I'm very curious too!

 

[SteverinoLA]

Will do. Appreciate your help. You are way smarter than every appliance repair person combined. My unit is under the 2nd year warranty but it so helpful to come here and get your assessment so I can then tell the local guy exactly what parts I want replaced. Thanks!