The Virtual Repairman's Appliance Help

[IanMaize]

Good evening VR!

Well, now that I'm famous from the Washer forum, I figured it was time to switch venues and parlay my fame into success in the Refrigeration forum!

I have an Amana bottom-freezer, model ARB1914CW, said refrigerator having an icemaker that is acting up a bit.

Initial problem - the little swing arm that turns the icemaker on and off, is supposed to sense when the ice bucket is full, and turn an 'on' icemaker temporarily 'off' until the ice quantity is low enough to warrant making more ice. Well, that function has not worked for a while. Not really a huge issue, just have to remember to turn off the icemaker every few days, then turn it back on when almost out of ice.

Current, seemingly related issue - the icemaker is 'off' (swing arm in the up position, past the detent), after being left 'on' and having filled the entire ice bucket, most of the rest of the freezer, and continuing to inject water into the system enough to make a nice block of ice around itself.

So, in its 'off' position, there is an odd sound coming from the icemaker region, intermittent but relatively consistent. When it's going on, it sounds sort of like a creaking door that someone is opening and closing about six inches at a time. Fairly quiet, but audible from the next room. This will go on for about ten or fifteen minutes, then stops and comes back again in a few hours.

My hunch - some part of the icemaking cycle is still taking place, even with the little bar in the 'off' position. I don't know what part of the cycle could cause that type of noise, but more importantly, I don't know if that part of the cycle is somehow causing damage to the system or the refrigerator by continuing to operate even in the absence of the rest of the icemaker working.

Your thoughts?

Sincerely,

Ian Maize

[Virtual Repairman]

Hi Ian;;

Replace that icemaker, as it has bad internal switching. The Amana part is D7824706Q and it costs about $75 at our distributors only (800-507-4040). This is a modular icemaker made originally by Whirlpool for many of the other brands in the field. The new icemaker comes naked, you transfer the power cord and feeler arm from the old one, both of which simply unsnap.

Depending on usage and water quality in your area, the water inlet valve in back may also be affected, but this is rare.