How do i get to the fill valve on my ice maker?

When the ice maker calls for water, the valve sends water to the ice maker in the appropriate amount and then shuts off, sending no more water until the ice maker calls for it again. If the water fill line is freezing up, this will cause a leak the next time the ice maker calls for water. The water has to go somewhere. The problem is more than likely the the water valve. It is not shutting off completely and it is allowing a small trickle of water to be constantly sent to the ice maker. This causes the fill line to freeze up and clog. Replace the water valve and defrost the water fill line and solve the problem.

Improve the FixYa experience for everyone by voting.

Suggested approach to fixing your problem:

Your ice maker is designed to fill with water for 6 to 8 seconds. Depending on your city water pressure, anything longer than eight seconds will overfill the ice tray and either over flow the ice maker or create cubes that have difficulty ejecting.
There are two basic issues that commonly cause an overfill condition.

• The first is an ice maker that is sending power to the water inlet valve for a period longer than eight seconds.
• The next problem which is the subject of this answer is a water inlet valve that is closing too slowly. The power to the valve is being shut off in the correct amount of time, but due to imperfections in the valve, it is closing in a delayed fashion.

How to Diagnosis:

The easiest way to determine if your water inlet valve is the culprit, is to install a meter volt meter across the leads of the water inlet valve.

1. Set the voltage range for 110v.
2. Manually cycle the ice maker and watch the meter.
3. When the ice maker begins to fill with water the meter will read voltage coming from the ice maker.
4. Note the difference in time between when the voltage is cut from the valve and when the water quits filling the ice maker.
5. If the water shuts off immediately when the voltage is removed, the valve is likely operating correctly.
6. If this is the case, it is likely that the voltage will be applied to the valve for a period of time greater than eight seconds.
7. This generally indicates an ice maker control problem.
   

However, if the voltage is removed from the valve and it continues to fill, the valve is likely at fault. This indicates that due to particle build-up or mechanical failure the valve has lost its ability to shut immediately. In that case, simply replace the valve and it should fix your problem.

Is ice maker not working, do you mean it has no power at all.Then its faulty control board.But if there is power to ice maker and its not making ice then its not board but it can be faulty valve.---------

Ice maker stopped making ice. For this problem you have check few things. First thing, is the water filling in the ice maker chamber and then ice maker not making ice? Or, the water is not filling in the ice maker chamber so it's not making ice. If the water is not filling in the ice maker chamber then it's clear that ice is not getting made due to no water in the chamber. For no water filling, the problem is either water supply valve turned off so water is not filling. Turn on the water supply and it will fill. But if the water supply is turned on then the other possibility is ice blockage in the water fill tube. There is a tube from which the water runs and enters the ice maker chamber. If this tube is blocked then water will not enter the chamber. The tube needs to be defrosted, by using hair dryer. This procedure melts the ice collected in the tube and water starts running again. But if water fill tube is completely clear and no ice blockage or any other blockage. Then other possibility is water valve at the back of ice maker unit. This water valve is for letting the water in the ice maker. The water valve open only for 7 seconds and in this time the water fills in the ice maker chamber and then water valve closes and the same procedure runs again in the next water filling cycle.------- For your information I will mention that there are two valves. One is the main valve the back of the fridge section. This main valve lets the water enter the refrigerator and other valve is at the back of ice-maker section. This other valve lets the water to enter the ice maker. In most of the cases the fault is water valve at the back of ice maker section. ------------- The other above possibilities which I gave you is water not filling in ice-maker chamber so it's not making ice. But now consider that water is filling in ice maker chamber but it's still not making ice. Then the problem is ice maker unit itself. This unit is controlled by main board. But in most cases if water is filling the ice maker but it's not making ice then its faulty ice maker unit. So see if the problem is water not entering the ice maker then the water fill tube is frosted by ice or the water valve at the back of ice maker is faulty. Replace the valve. ------------

You can get required parts from sears part direct online site or from repairclinic.com site.

--------

This will help. Thanks. Helpmech.

Ice maker stopped making ice. For this problem you have check few things. First thing, is the water filling in the ice maker chamber and then ice maker not making ice? Or, the water is not filling in the ice maker chamber so it's not making ice. If the water is not filling in the ice maker chamber then it's clear that ice is not getting made due to no water in the chamber. For no water filling, the problem is either water supply valve turned off so water is not filling. Turn on the water supply and it will fill. But if the water supply is turned on then the other possibility is ice blockage in the water fill tube. There is a tube from which the water runs and enters the ice maker chamber. If this tube is blocked then water will not enter the chamber. The tube needs to be defrosted, by using hair dryer. This procedure melts the ice collected in the tube and water starts running again. But if water fill tube is completely clear and no ice blockage or any other blockage. Then other possibility is water valve at the back of ice maker unit. This water valve is for letting the water in the ice maker. The water valve open only for 7 seconds and in this time the water fills in the ice maker chamber and then water valve closes and the same procedure runs again in the next water filling cycle.------- For your information I will mention that there are two valves. One is the main valve the back of the fridge section. This main valve lets the water enter the refrigerator and other valve is at the back of ice-maker section. This other valve lets the water to enter the ice maker. In most of the cases the fault is water valve at the back of ice maker section. ------------- The other above possibilities which I gave you is water not filling in ice-maker chamber so it's not making ice. But now consider that water is filling in ice maker chamber but it's still not making ice. Then the problem is ice maker unit itself. This unit is controlled by main board. But in most cases if water is filling the ice maker but it's not making ice then its faulty ice maker unit. So see if the problem is water not entering the ice maker then the water fill tube is frosted by ice or the water valve at the back of ice maker is faulty. Replace the valve. ------------

You can get required parts from sears part direct online site or from repairclinic.com site.

--------

This will help. Thanks. Helpmech.

Ice maker stopped making ice. For this problem you have check few things. First thing, is the water filling in the ice maker chamber and then ice maker not making ice? Or, the water is not filling in the ice maker chamber so it's not making ice. If the water is not filling in the ice maker chamber then it's clear that ice is not getting made due to no water in the chamber. For no water filling, the problem is either water supply valve turned off so water is not filling. Turn on the water supply and it will fill. But if the water supply is turned on then the other possibility is ice blockage in the water fill tube. There is a tube from which the water runs and enters the ice maker chamber. If this tube is blocked then water will not enter the chamber. The tube needs to be defrosted, by using hair dryer. This procedure melts the ice collected in the tube and water starts running again. But if water fill tube is completely clear and no ice blockage or any other blockage. Then other possibility is water valve at the back of ice maker unit. This water valve is for letting the water in the ice maker. The water valve open only for 7 seconds and in this time the water fills in the ice maker chamber and then water valve closes and the same procedure runs again in the next water filling cycle.------- For your information I will mention that there are two valves. One is the main valve the back of the fridge section. This main valve lets the water enter the refrigerator and other valve is at the back of ice-maker section. This other valve lets the water to enter the ice maker. In most of the cases the fault is water valve at the back of ice maker section. ------------- The other above possibilities which I gave you is water not filling in ice-maker chamber so it's not making ice. But now consider that water is filling in ice maker chamber but it's still not making ice. Then the problem is ice maker unit itself. This unit is controlled by main board. But in most cases if water is filling the ice maker but it's not making ice then its faulty ice maker unit. So see if the problem is water not entering the ice maker then the water fill tube is frosted by ice or the water valve at the back of ice maker is faulty. Replace the valve. ------------

You can get required parts from sears part direct online site or from repairclinic.com site.

--------

This will help. Thanks. Helpmech.

It can be issue with water fill valve.

Ice maker stopped making ice or filling with water . For this problem you have check few things. First thing, is the water filling in the ice maker chamber and then ice maker not making ice? Or, the water is not filling in the ice maker chamber so it's not making ice. If the water is not filling in the ice maker chamber then it's clear that ice is not getting made due to no water in the chamber. For no water filling, the problem is either water supply valve turned off so water is not filling. Turn on the water supply and it will fill. But if the water supply is turned on then the other possibility is ice blockage in the water fill tube. There is a tube from which the water runs and enters the ice maker chamber. If this tube is blocked then water will not enter the chamber. The tube needs to be defrosted, by using hair dryer. This procedure melts the ice collected in the tube and water starts running again. But if water fill tube is completely clear and no ice blockage or any other blockage. Then other possibility is water valve at the back of ice maker unit. This water valve is for letting the water in the ice maker. The water valve open only for 7 seconds and in this time the water fills in the ice maker chamber and then water valve closes and the same procedure runs again in the next water filling cycle.------- For your information I will mention that there are two valves. One is the main valve the back of the fridge section. This main valve lets the water enter the refrigerator and other valve is at the back of ice-maker section. This other valve lets the water to enter the ice maker. In most of the cases the fault is water valve at the back of ice maker section. ------------- The other above possibilities which I gave you is water not filling in ice-maker chamber so it's not making ice. But now consider that water is filling in ice maker chamber but it's still not making ice. Then the problem is ice maker unit itself. This unit is controlled by main board. But in most cases if water is filling the ice maker but it's not making ice then its faulty ice maker unit. So see if the problem is water not entering the ice maker then the water fill tube is frosted by ice or the water valve at the back of ice maker is faulty. Replace the valve. ------------

You can get required parts from sears part direct online site or from repairclinic.com site.

--------

This will help. Thanks. Helpmech.

Ice maker stopped making ice. For this problem you have check few things. First thing, is the water filling in the ice maker chamber and then ice maker not making ice? Or, the water is not filling in the ice maker chamber so it's not making ice. If the water is not filling in the ice maker chamber then it's clear that ice is not getting made due to no water in the chamber. For no water filling, the problem is either water supply valve turned off so water is not filling. Turn on the water supply and it will fill. But if the water supply is turned on then the other possibility is ice blockage in the water fill tube. There is a tube from which the water runs and enters the ice maker chamber. If this tube is blocked then water will not enter the chamber. The tube needs to be defrosted, by using hair dryer. This procedure melts the ice collected in the tube and water starts running again. But if water fill tube is completely clear and no ice blockage or any other blockage. Then other possibility is water valve at the back of ice maker unit. This water valve is for letting the water in the ice maker. The water valve open only for 7 seconds and in this time the water fills in the ice maker chamber and then water valve closes and the same procedure runs again in the next water filling cycle.------- For your information I will mention that there are two valves. One is the main valve the back of the fridge section. This main valve lets the water enter the refrigerator and other valve is at the back of ice-maker section. This other valve lets the water to enter the ice maker. In most of the cases the fault is water valve at the back of ice maker section. ------------- The other above possibilities which I gave you is water not filling in ice-maker chamber so it's not making ice. But now consider that water is filling in ice maker chamber but it's still not making ice. Then the problem is ice maker unit itself. This unit is controlled by main board. But in most cases if water is filling the ice maker but it's not making ice then its faulty ice maker unit. So see if the problem is water not entering the ice maker then the water fill tube is frosted by ice or the water valve at the back of ice maker is faulty. Replace the valve. ------------

You can get required parts from sears part direct online site or from repairclinic.com site.

--------

This will help. Thanks. Helpmech.

The new ice maker should tell the dual water valve on rear of refrigerator to turn on if the tray makes a complete cycle. So the new ice maker is defective or the water valve on back is stuck open that leads up to the ice maker. Unplug the wires to the water control valve on back of the refrigerator and then turn the ice maker on. If the water continues to flow I recommend replacing the water valve. If the water stops coming to the ice maker I recommend returning the new ice maker. You only need to unplug the side of the water control valve leading to the ice make. I also recommend a pre-filter for the incoming water before the water control valve. Makes the water and ice better and keeps trash from damaging the water control valve. Let me know your results or if you need more assistance, Thanks, Sea Breeze

Does your water have minerals?
Faulty Water Valve
Your ice maker is designed to fill with water for 6 to 8 seconds. Check to see that the ice maker is not sending power to the water inlet valve for a period longer than what you unit is designed for. Does your water have minerals?

Also check to see if the water inlet valve is closing too slowly. The power to the valve is being shut off in the correct amount of time, but due to wear and tear in the valve, it is closing too slow.

Check the timing on the value. Put a volt meter across the leads of the water inlet valve. Set the voltage range to cover the 120v voltage. Cycle the ice maker and watch the meter. When the ice maker begins to fill with water the meter will read voltage coming from the ice maker. Time the difference between when the voltage is cut from the valve and when the water quits filling the ice maker.

If the water shuts off immediately when the voltage is removed, the valve is probably good. Since it was off 10 days the particle build-up on the valve may be the problem since it could solidify. You could try working the valve back and forth or replace it.

If the valve closed quickly then the problem is the valve was opened too long.
If that is the case then you have an ice maker control problem. In that case see if the timing can be adjusted.

Sounds like a water valve problem to me. Force the ice maker to cycle. (turn it off and let it get cold for at least an hour then turn it back on). Test for voltage on the ice maker side of the valve. The valve is usually in the back near the floor. Just follow the water line. Another solution. switch the wires on the water valve. then try the water dispenser and see if it makes the ice maker fill up. See if when the ice maker cycles water comes out the door. If the ice maker causes water in the door , replace the valve, If door switch causes ice maker to fill up replace ice maker again.