GE icemaker quit…

[dat723]

Hi folks! Newbie to the site here. I’m looking for troubleshooting aid for a GE TFX27FLN model side by side refrigerator icemaker. All the electronic diagnostic panel show the icemaker to be functioning ok, but no ice. Is it possible that the inlet water solenoid has failed? Does anyone know where to locate prints, etc. for troubleshooting and what is the best method for determining the working status of the solenoid?
Appreciate all your input!

When the time comes for us to leave this world someday, the only things we get to keep are the things we gave away. Unknown

[DanO]

** All the electronic diagnostic panel show the icemaker to be functioning ok, but no ice. Is it possible that the inlet water solenoid has failed? **

If the icemaker is just not filling but still going through its regular motions, yes, that may be a possibility. A simpler cause of that may just be the ‘fill tube’ that goes through the rear of the cabinet to the icemaker frozen closed.

** Does anyone know where to locate prints? **

You can see exploded view parts diagrams for your fridge model at the following link. I don’t know how much they’ll help in troubleshooting though.

– GE TFX27FLN Exploded Parts Views
LINK > http://www.appliance411.com/data.php?psm=TFX27FLN

** and what is the best method for determining the working status of the solenoid? **

You can read about how the fill valves on appliances wok at the following link.

– How do I test water fill valves?
LINK > http://www.appliance411.com/links/jump.cgi?ID=801

JFYI

Dan O.
http://www.Appliance411.com/parts/?ref411=GE+Fridge
The Appliance Information Site
=D~~~~~~

[r4r4r4]

I agree with DanO. On many models the icemaker tubing runs outside on the back of the refrigerator from the bottom where the water valve is to the top where it penetrates the refrigerator/freezer and is routed along the top because it’s the easiest way to get to the fill line in the freezer. On the back of the fridge there is usually a snap fitting that you can unsnap and blow into to see if the tube going into the fridge is not iced up. If you blow into it (blowing toward the fridge inlet) and get resistance it is likely that your hose is frozen. I have unfrozen this tube using a hair dryer blown (on HOT setting) outside the refrigerator along the top of the refrigerator as well as at the location where the tube goes into the fridge and, after making crude cardboard cutouts to trap hot air, blow hot air directly where the water comes into the icemaker inside the freezer compartment. You can check your progress by blowing into the tube to see if you have cleared the frozen line.

You can also test your solenoid valve two ways; if you have a water dispenser in the fridge, if you disconnect the icemaker water valve electrical connectors and the water dispenser water valve electrical connectors…and then connect the dispenser valve elec. conn. to the icemaker valve itself (cross-connect), when you attempt to then draw a cup of water the ice dispenser should fill. This checks the Ice Dispenser Valve and solenoid independent of its circuitry. You can also check the circuitry by not lifting any wires, but by disconnecting the snap fitting mentioned above and directing it to a bucket, it should start to fill the bucket during the next fill cycle (usually 15-20 minutes).

Last resort: Some have an ON-OFF “Vacation switch” inside or adjacent to the icemaker that should be “ON”, and some have electric eyes that look at the ice storage tray or bin and, if they do not have a clear path between eyes (ice piled too high) they will not produce more ice.

Good Luck! Frustrating indeed and very expensive if you end up calling a serviceman.

[Author]

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