You can tell if something is wrong by checking whether or not your GE refrigerator is making ice. This article guides you on how to fix ice making problems in your refrigerator.
Table of Contents
GE Refrigerator Keeps Making Ice – How to Fix
If you find that a GE refrigerator keeps making ice, it means something is wrong with the ice maker in it.
To find out the origin of the problem, troubleshoot the following parts of the ice maker:
1. Ice Bucket
Check the ice bucket. Make sure it sits properly in the refrigerator, right under the ice machine. If it is even slightly out of place – too far in or a little out – the ice maker won’t be able to detect when it is full. As a result, it will keep producing ice.
There is also a shelf that is on top of the ice bucket. You will find it in many GE refrigerators. Ensure it is set in place atop the ice bucket. Being slightly out of place affects ice production.
2. Feeler Arm
If your GE refrigerator keeps making ice, check the arm of the ice maker to see if it is broken. If it is broken, the ice maker will continually produce ice. You will have to replace the entire ice maker assembly because you cannot fix or replace just the feeler arm.
On some ice makers, the arm is a rod, made out of metal, that sits on the ice maker’s side. On others, the arm is plastic and lies horizontally underneath the ice maker.
If the arm on your ice maker is metal, it should move down and up. Down is the On position, when the ice maker produces ice. Up means the ice maker is off, so it stops making ice.
If the arm is stuck in the down position and doesn’t go up, it is broken and the ice maker will keep making ice.
But if the arm is plastic, it should move out and in when the ice maker is making ice, instead of up and down.
When the arm is in or under the ice machine, the ice maker is off. And when it is out beside the ice maker, it is on. The position in which you find it will tell you if it is broken.
3. Freezer Shelf
On some GE refrigerator models, there is a shelf in the freezer. Its job, among other things, is to hold the ice bucket up. You put the shelf in when installing the ice maker.
If it is not correctly installed or inserted, the feeler arm won’t be able to tell the ice level in the bucket. Consequently, it will keep making ice.
However, if none of the above works, you can try any of the following:
4. Unplug the Ice Maker
Most GE refrigerator ice makers are plugged into the inside back wall of the freezer. Disconnect it from the plug and wait a while. Plug it back in and watch to see if there is an improvement.
5. Disconnect Water
If unplugging the ice maker from the socket does not fix a GE refrigerator that keeps making ice, disconnect the water supply to it. You can only turn it back on when you absolutely have to make ice. If the machine does not have water, it cannot male ice.
6. Replace the Sensor or Control Module
It is likely the sensor of the ice maker is no longer working. Due to this, the ice maker has no way to know when the ice bucket is full. So it keeps making ice.
It could also be that the control module has failed. You will have to take the ice maker apart to find these parts and test them to determine their functionality.
If either or both of them are bad, it is likely the GE refrigerator will keep making ice. Therefore, replace them as soon as possible.
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7. Reset the Ice Maker
Disconnect the refrigerator from electricity and leave for about 30 seconds. When this time elapses, reconnect the refrigerator to power.
Press the ice maker feeler arm down 3 times. Do this in quick succession and within 15 seconds of reconnecting the unit to power.
If the ice maker has a plastic paddle, pull it out 3 times in quick succession. Doing this may help fix a GE refrigerator that keeps making ice.
Note: Before disconnecting the refrigerator from power, be sure to switch the ice maker off. Some ice makers have toggle switches, some have slide switches, some are controlled from the panel in front while others work with just the feeler arm.
GE Refrigerator Not Making Ice – Solutions
Do the following if a GE refrigerator is not making ice:
1. Check the Cord
GE ice makers usually have a cord that plugs them into the ice maker. So, remove the ice bucket to inspect the cord. If it is not properly or fully plugged in place, push it firmly but gently. Otherwise, the ice maker won’t work at all.
2. Check the Switch
Check the power switch of the ice maker to see if it is on. If it is not, move it to the on position or simply push the feeler arm down to the On position. However, how you do this will depend on the refrigerator model you own.
Usually, the ice maker has a switch with which to turn it on or off. Depending on the model, the switch could be a toggle type, a slide-type or simply controlled from the control panel.
3. Check the Water Supply
When you are sure the cord of the ice maker is fully and properly plugged in and the switch is on, check the water supply.
Take a look at the refrigerator’s back to be sure the water line is in and that there are no kinks. Next, check the water valve to be sure it is open and the pressure is right.
Also, check the filter to see if it is leaking from any spot and to ascertain if it is properly installed.
Finally, check the connection of the water line to the ice maker.
4. Check the Temperature in the Freezer
Set the freezer temperature to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. To complete the task, set the temperature in the refrigerator to 37 degrees Fahrenheit.
If the temperature in the freezer is higher than 15 degrees, the ice maker won’t produce any ice. This is due to the fact that it has a thermometer in it to detect the temperature around it.
So if the temperature is higher than the recommended point, it means the compartment is too warm for the ice maker. Therefore, it won’t work.
You can use refrigerator or freezer thermometers to determine the accurate temperature readings for each compartment.
5. Check the Content
Check the items in the freezer. If they are too few, it means the compartment will have a hard time maintaining a temperature cold enough for the ice maker to work.
Therefore, stock up on food and other items that can hold the cold air in the freezer. The frozen items act like ice packs in an insulated cooler. The same goes for the refrigerating compartment.
This is especially needed if you have set the unit to the coldest recommended point yet it is not cold enough.
In the event you are not keen or ready to put more food into the refrigerator, fill jugs or bottles with water and put them into the unit. They will have the same effect as when you fill it with groceries. The point is to keep the refrigerator at least ¾ of the way full.
6. Check the Water Filter
Take a look at the filter indicator on the control panel of the refrigerator. If it is blinking, replace the water filter because it is too clogged or old. But if your model does not have a control or display panel, you can still replace the filter if it has stayed in use longer than 6 months.
If there is a water dispenser, try to dispense water and get ¾ of a water glass within 10 seconds. Dispense directly from the water line if your model has no water dispenser.
If this does not happen, the filter could be reducing the water pressure. Replace the filter and check the flow of water again.
Some GE refrigerator models come with a timer or sensor that check the water filter. When it is old or too clogged, the timer or sensor automatically switches the water functions of the unit off. It is one of the safety steps to keep you safe from contaminants.
Besides, an old filter restricts the flow of water to the ice maker and even the water dispenser.
Ensure you use the right type of water filter for the GE refrigerator model you own. Otherwise, there will be problems with the water supply.
7. Check the Ice Chute
This is usually applicable if the ice maker cannot dispense ice, although a blocked chute could affect the process of making ice sometimes.
Open the door of the refrigerator and check the ice chute for chunks of ice stuck in it. If there is any, turn the ice maker off. Then, take a wooden or plastic spatula or spoon and break the ice chunks off.
Even if you don’t see any ice in the chute but suspect something, pour warm water down the chute. Do this until the water runs free.
Ice can build up or get stuck in the chute when the refrigerator does not defrost normally. It could also happen if the flap over the chute does not rest flush against the chute or the door of the unit does not seal tightly.
Troubleshoot the components of the defrost system to determine which has failed. And also check the door seal to see if it is loose or needs a replacement.
8. Check the Ice Bucket
Take the ice bucket out of the refrigerator and inspect the ice in it. If it is too full, reduce the ice in it or dump everything out. But this will be an indication that the ice maker is working fine but something is wrong with the ice chute.
There is also the chance that the ice in the bucket has refrozen and formed huge chunks. You can either break them up into smaller chunks or dispose of them. Then, make a fresh batch of ice.
The ice maker will stop making new batches of ice if the ice bucket is full. It has a sensor that checks the ice level in the bucket so that it does not make more ice than the bucket can contain.
Therefore, empty the ice bucket regularly. And if you don’t use ice often, turn the ice maker off when it is not in use. This will prevent cycles of ice making for ice that is rarely used.
9. Check the Ice Maker
Once in a while, the ice maker itself fails. This can result in a number of problems, including an inability to make ice.
Therefore, test the parts of the ice maker to determine which has failed. If the ice maker is no longer working optimally, it is time to replace it with a new assembly.
Be sure to buy using the model number of the refrigerator or the parts number of the old ice maker.
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Here is a video showing an easy fix for an ice maker that is not making ice in a GE refrigerator…
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GE Monogram Undercounter Ice Maker Not Making Ice – Quick Fix
The following are possible reasons why a GE Monogram ice maker is not making ice and how to fix them:
1. Faulty Thermistor
Check the thermistor for continuity. Use a multimeter to do this. If you have an automatic ranging multimeter, the range should be between 10 and 12 k Ohm on a 20 k Ohm range.
If the range falls below the recommended spot, it is an indication the thermistor has failed. Replace it as soon as you can.
But if you are using a manual ranging multimeter, OL means the thermistor is faulty and should be replaced.
2. Defective Start Relay
Test the terminals of the start relay, attached to the compressor, to check for continuity. Use a multimeter. If there is no continuity, replace the relay.
Make sure that all the wires on the relay are correctly attached to the compressor. If even one wire is unattached, the compressor may not run as it should.
3. Bad Control Board
Unplug the ice maker and plug it back in again. When you do this, the fill valve usually is the first part that starts working. This happens even when the valve is not connected to any water supply source.
If this does not happen, then disconnect the wire harness plug from the valve. Now, connect the probes of the multimeter to the plug. Set the meter to alternating current, at 200v. You should get 120v if all is working fine.
Now, if you don’t get up to 120v from the valve, it means it is not getting enough voltage supply from the control board. The problem is not the valve but the control board. You need to replace it.
4. Empty Water Reservoir
Hook the ice maker water line to a water source. Ensure the pressure of the water flowing into it is sufficient and that there is nothing blocking or obstructing the line in any way.
An empty water reservoir means the ice maker won’t have water with which to make ice. It should also fill to the level needed for the ice making cycle to commence.
5. Disconnected Water Tube
There is a plastic tube that goes from the dispenser to the recirculation pump. It is likely to be disconnected, leading to little or no water supply to the ice maker.
If it is disconnected at the dispenser or pump end, you may have to replace it. But if you are not sure about checking this tube, consult the user manual of the ice maker or contact GE for support.
It is also likely the recirculation pump is not running. It is important to check this part, too.
Recap
When a GE refrigerator is making ice, it shows the unit is in good working condition. But when it is making too much ice, little ice or no ice, it is time to find the origin of the problem.
Following the troubleshooting steps in this article will guide you in fixing the problem. However, if it persists, report the issue to GE and request service.
Alternatively, consult with any of our appliance technicians. No appointments needed, no expensive in-house calls and no waiting time.
Always unplug the refrigerator before repairing any part of it. Doing this is the first step in ensuring your safety from electric shock.
Finally, run maintenance checks on your refrigerator from time to time. You will be able to find potential faults and problems before they spring up if you do this. And this is not only for a GE refrigerator that keeps making ice but also for other issues.
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