My fridge/freezer ice maker isn’t dropping ice cubes. The ice maker is turned on. The water is turned on. The wire on/off arm is down. Freezer is at proper temperature. I can see the frozen ice cubes in the tray. How do I make the ice eject from the ice mold tray?
Ice Maker Won’t Eject Ice Cubes From Mold Tray
Simple reasons why your ice maker will not drop or eject ice
These are ways to fix the ice maker without having to take anything apart or test any parts…
1. The ice maker needs to be reset as an error has occurred. Press reset button
2. Ice cubes may have piled up in the bin and cause the ice maker to turn off. Level the ice
3. An ice cube may be jammed in the ice mold tray. Unjam the ice tray
4. The freezer is not cold enough for complete ice cube production. Check temp of freezer
(HINT – For optimum ice cube production, the freezer temperature should be between 0-5 degrees for best performance)
Remove power to the refrigerator to reset the ice maker
If the ice maker does not drop ice into the storage bin, unplug the refrigerator for 5 to 10 minutes to attempt to reset the ice maker control board/main control board. Removing power to the refrigerator can reset the ice maker if an unknown error has occurred.
Which ice maker parts can be at fault?
If the ice maker still does not eject ice and the freezer is at the proper temp, the ice is not jammed, the ice is not piled up in storage bin, and the refrigerator has been reset, you need to check the ice maker parts to confirm which part is at fault.
Check the Ice Maker Mold Thermostat, Ice Maker Mold Heater, and the Ice Maker Module. (If any of these parts are found to be faulty, it may be best to purchase a new ice maker as this may be more cost effective.)
The Ice Maker Module includes a motor that ejects the ice out of the ice maker mold tray. If this motor is faulty the ice will not drop/eject.
Ice Maker Module Control
The Ice Maker Mold Thermostat checks the temp of the ice maker mold tray. If the Ice Maker Mold Thermostat is faulty the ice maker will not drop ice cubes.
Ice Maker Mold Thermostat Unit
The Ice Maker Mold Heater heats up the mold which allows the ice cubes to easily drop. If the Ice Maker Mold Heater fails, the ice will not eject into the storage bin.
Ice Maker Mold Heater
NOTE: As certain parts may cost as much or more than a new ice maker, always determine what the most cost effective approach is when replacing certain parts. Here are new ice makers that can replace all parts and save you time.
Refrigerator Parts Available on Amazon – Ice Makers
Check the ice maker parts with a multimeter
Use a multimeter and check the Ice Maker Mold Thermostat, Ice Maker Mold Heater, and the Ice Maker Module for faults to see if this is causing the ice cubes to not drop. Check all of these parts for continuity. If any of these parts are found to be faulty, replace as needed.
How does the ice maker function work?
Have more questions? Here is how a typical refrigerator ice maker functions…
1. The ice cube eject motor cycles and spins the tongs to eject the ice cubes.
2. The water solenoid valve will then run for 20 seconds.
3. Water then enters the ice mold tray and begins freezing.
4. 120 to 180 minutes later the internal timer in the ice maker will start.
5. The internal timer energizes the mold heater for about 120 seconds.
6. The ice cube eject motor cycles and spins the tongs to eject the ice cubes.
This process of how a refrigerator ice maker creates ice may show you where the fault may be. There are other parts that may be faulty when the ice maker does not make ice. This article shows an ice maker not ejecting the ice with the assumtion that other parts are in working order.
How To Test Appliance/Ice Maker Parts?
How To Repair A Refrigerator Ice Maker For $20
How To Replace Refrigerator Ice Maker
Need help or have suggestions for how to fix an ice maker that does not harvest or eject ice cubes? Please leave your question or suggestion below.
I have a Samsung RFG298AARS. I replaced the entire ice maker assembly, and it still will not dump the ice. Pushing the reset button will dump the ice fine. Help.
I have a Kitchenaid Mod KSBS25INSS02 refrig. It makes ice fine, but when it ejects it from the ice maker, almost every time it leaves one cube hanging on the right hand side (looking from the door). When it does that, I guess the refrig senses that the ice has not ejected, and it won’t eject any more ice until I remove the “hanging” cube. Most of the time the hanging piece is just laying on the edge of the ice maker, but occasionally it will be partially sticking out of the mold and thus frozen onto the next cube being made in the mold. Any suggestions?
I have the same problem with model RS261MDWP. I also bought a new Ice Maker and have the same problem as you. Did you ever get it resolved?
I have a whirlpool side by side with ice and water in door. I can see it makes ice and dumps it into ice bucket and the light inside turns on when I open door as does the one on dispenser when I push button, it just doesn’t dispense ice out the door. I think the motor is bad, I just want to verify before I order one.
I have a Samsung model RS261MDWP refrigerator, the ice maker quit dispensing ice when I push the test switch it works fine, dispenses ice and returns to normal position and fills with water. I purchased a new ice maker and installed it and it does the same thing. I’ve tried resetting it several times to no avail. Is there anything else I can check?
Harvey Chao,
Concerning the Samsung ice maker in a RB215LABP, you can try replacing the ice mold but replacing the complete ice maker can be done for under $110.
If you choose to replace single parts within the ice maker = Here is the ice maker part by part from Samsung for the RB215LABP… Ice Maker Parts For Samsung RB215LABP
-RR
Samsung ice maker in a RB215LABP does not release ice into the bin below. If reset button is pushed, mold rotates about 180 degrees, but ice does not release from mold, which then rotates back and “refills” water onto existing ice still in mold. Does this ice maker have a mold heater or does it “twist/warp? the mold to “Pop” the ice free so that it then drops into the collection bin? If the latter, would replacing the ice mold (~$10 part) be a reasonable solution on the assumption that the end opposite the motor/gears has become “unanchored” so that the mold doesn’t twist/deform to pop the ice free. Thank you.
I have a Whirlpool side by side refrigerator with an ice maker. The ice is working fine but the ice side lever in the door won’t turn in the ice container and no ice will come out the door. Water side works fine. And, the ice maker is making ice.