FIXED WRX988SIBM03 Whirlpool refrigerator icemaker water fill line freezing

[SleepieAce]

Model Number

WRX988SIBM03

Brand

Whirlpool

Age

6-10 years

Good evening. I have a WRX988SIBM03 Whirlpool French door refrigerator that stopped making ice a couple weeks ago. All tests were normal except the ice maker water fill test. Since I had changed the dual water valve for this problem 3 months ago, I suspected that perhaps the filter was old and changed it. That didn't help. I then tried changing the dual water valve again on the off chance that I had purchased a bad one. That didn't help. I now suspected ice in the fill line and changed the inlet tube heater. This caused the icemaker to work for about 4 days before it quit again.

This time I was able to get the icemaker out quickly enough (practice has got me down to less than five minutes to remove it) to verify that there's ice in the inlet tube. Thinking that perhaps the wires had been damaged, I changed the wiring harness in the top of the refrigerator compartment. That hasn't helped either. I have tested the valve and its putting out water at high pressure for at least 7 seconds. Diagnostic test 19 says that the heater is on, but it is definitely not warm to the touch. Is there perhaps a fuse somewhere? What is the easiest place to test to see if the heater is getting power? If it isn't getting power, what is the likely culprit? I'm running out of ideas. Thanks for any help.

 

[Jake]

Good Morning.

Here's your tech. data sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YPwMc-CyHgKzi3mqPVAEcWq_ibmzttDG/view?usp=share_link

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)

On the main control board check for 115 volts P2-6 to P1-2--->Fill tube /fascia/pantry heater output. Service Test 19. 01 = 115 Volts. 02 = 0 Volts.

P2-6 is the RED wire
P1-2 is the WHITE/BLACK wire

Here's the main control board for your model you can order, if needed: W10843055

The main control board is located behind the refrigerator on the exterior wall behind its cover. If you need to replace it, make sure you disconnect power to your refrigerator first.

 

[SleepieAce]

Thank you for the tech data. I bought the service manual a couple years ago when all of the repairmen in my area refused to work on it. I'll check the voltage and see if that's it.

 

[Jake]

Ok, sounds good.

 

[SleepieAce]

Good morning. So due to Mother's Day I got around to testing the board this morning. I put the refrigerator on test 19 and verified that it showed 1...heater on. The control board seems to have little numbers to designate which side of the plug is 1, and of course it looks like they're reversed from each other. I tested these two wires, which are red and black/white:

I got a reading of .8 Volts AC, which is a fail. Before I order the board, I just want to make sure I tested the correct wires.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Jake]

Yes, you nailed it!

Order the new control board and that will fix it.

 

[SleepieAce]

Thank you so much for your help. I was very frustrated.

 

[Jake]

You're Welcome, let us know how it goes.

Remember to make sure you disconnect power to your refrigerator first, before you replace it.

 

[SleepieAce]

As a follow up, the control board was installed and the icemaker has been working continuously for 3 days now. I have also noticed that the faceplate to the icemaker is slightly warm to the touch in spots. I had not noticed this before all of the issues, but then I wasn't looking. If it stops being warm it should be a hint that this is happening again.

Once again, thanks. I was seriously starting to consider a stand alone icemaker.

 

[Jake]

Excellent, glad to hear the new control board fixed it.

Thanks for the update!

I have also noticed that the faceplate to the icemaker is slightly warm to the touch in spots. I had not noticed this before all of the issues, but then I wasn't looking. If it stops being warm it should be a hint that this is happening again.

Yes, it should be a little warm, that's normal.