GI1500XHS9 Whirlpool Ice Maker - Instructions

The process to repair was very simple, I removed the back of the refrigerator to expose the motor area. I then removed three screws that held the condenser motor in place. once it was loose I detactched the electrical harness and removed the old motor. I then placed the new motor in place and secured it with the screws and reattached the new electrical harness that came with the new part. Once completed I reviewed it to make sure I didn't miss anything. I then replaced the cover over the motor area and enjoyed my success in repairing my own appliance with no added cost for labor, which would have been expensive I'm sure. The part purchased came with clear and consice instructions very easy to follow.

This ice maker is really a Kitchenaid appliance.

1. Remove all ice and drain water pan by removing drain cap.
2. Disconnect waterline and unplug ice maker
3. Set icemaker on a work bench unless you like working on your knees, head down.
4. Remove flip out chute and ice scoop bracket.
5. Remove water pan by removing thumb screws
6. Remove single 1/4" head cap screw that holds plastic cover over pump.
7. Remove discharge hose from pump. Pull clear plastic 1/8" diameter water supply line from notch in left edge of pump base.
8. Remove three cap screws holding pump. Two are visible. The third one is behind the pump and requires an 8" extension on the socket.
9. After the three screws are removed the pump drops down. The electric connection must be unplugged. Pinch the tabs on either side to release the plug.
10. Reverse procedure to install new pump. Unless you have really small hands or love being frustrated, don't bother to reinstall the third screw that is behind the pump. The pump stays in place just fine without that screw.
11. After reinstalling the icemaker, clean thoroughly by washing all inside surfaces with a strong bleach solution.
12. Run a cleaning cycle with one quart of strong bleach solution in the water tray. At the conclusion of the cleaning cycle, drain the water tray. Place unit into service. DON'T FORGET TO CLEAN REGULARLY. If the water supply is not chlorinated molds and algae will develop in recirculation hose.

We have a side-by-side fridge/freezer and we experienced a hot center post (where doors come together) and the fridge made loud noise. Also, the (old) fan motor would start, but then quit, so our issue was the motor.

For me the repair was very easy, but for an unexperienced person it may prove to be difficult. If you must order a motor/fan, do NOT order the metal fan as a plastic fan comes with the motor. What's strange is the new motor is different than the old one, but it still mounted without any required modifications. I did NOT use the wire harness that came with the motor either as it was different too, but my old one was still good.

Check all of your parts as my fan had a cracked blade, but I used "superglue" and it's fine now.

Fridge stays cold and my wife had to lower the temperature in the fridge as she was blasted by the cold!

The procedure was straightforward. I removed the cardboard backing on the lower back of the refrigerator to expose the fan unit. I then undid the electrical harness at the fan. I then removed the three screws securing the fan motor to the metal bracket. This is the hardest part in that I had to reach through and get to the screws with my small tools. I then removed the old motor and blades and placed the new motor and blades. Again, a bit tricky trying to get the three screws mounted into the bracket...small tools and hands helps. After that I used the electrical harness supplied with the kit to plug into the new motor and I was done.

I removed the 2 screws on each side of the grid and disconnected the electrical plugs attached to the grid. I slid the broken unit out. I then carefully slid the new unit in making sure not to pinch any of the electrical wires. I replaced the mounting screws, plugged the 3 connectors back into place and turned the ice maker back on. I had ice cubes within a couple of hours

I removed the cutter grid and unplugged the light bulb and wire heating plug ins. I slid the front cover plate off the cutting grid and loosened the screws on the front of the cutter grid and unthreaded the broken, top grid wire, leaving the bottom wire in place as it was in tact.
I then threaded the new wire through the cutting grid frame starting in the center and threading right and then left. While the threading was not difficult, the wire was easily kinked. The process up to this point was only 15 minutes or so.

Once it was completely threaded, I worked for a couple of hours trying to smooth and straighten the wire so that is was somewhat taut and straight enough to create symetrical ice cubes.
My frustration came in pulling on the wire from the center point to each outside ending point where it was to be wrapped around the screw and the screw tightened back down. The wire was fragile enough that it would break, by the time I was finished I barely had enough wire left to touch the screw let alone hook around the screw.
After 3 or four days of successful opperation, the grid quit cutting again. As I took it apart, it was obvious that the weight of the ice was enough to pull the wire, that was already too short, away from the screw. I refastened it again, but think it is unlikely to hold.
If it won't hold, I would be hard pressed to purchase another wire. I may bite the bullet and purchase the entire grid mechanism with the wires already installed. Even though the cost of the entire grid mechanism is $200 more than the purchase of another wire, it may well be worth the ease of installation!

Very easy to replace. Down load the Manual online for a completely operating manual. Thermistor can be tested with an Ohm Meter. Proper values are listed in operating manual.

The most difficult part of this order was identifying the part. The manual and picture for this model icemaker called the part a Ice level Sensor. No such item could be identified at Parts Select or at Kitchen Aid. After looking at item after item on the parts diagram it was determined the new name was a bin Thermostat not to be confused with the Thermistor, Ice control.
Replacement was quick and easy and took 5-10 minutes. Working fine now.

removed the clip that the motor was attached too put the new motor back on reinstalled the clip back on the fridge plugged the wire harness in and works perfect now . it was easier to remove the clip than to try to install the motor by itself its just to tight and you cant get in there

Followed instructions supplied. It was relatively easy and the parts fit exactly right. Sears wanted twice as much for the part and service would have charged me another $100 to come to my home. I saved over $100 doing the project myself.

First I removed the cutter grid assembly by removing two screws. Also disconnect the wire that powers the grid. Once on the bench, simply remove the broken cutter wire. String in the new wire, starting at one end and working back and forth to the other end. Tighten the terminal screw on the first end, and then "strum" the wires, one at a times, pulling the wires taught. Pull the excess wire thru the second terminal, until all wires are taught, with equal tension. Tighten the second terminal screw, and cut off excess wire at both ends. Re-assemble cutter grid into Ice Maker.
Problem solved!

In pre-replacement of the circulation pump, i had read a story about how to make sure you cover the drain hole to prevent hardware from falling down it. Well I followed the instructions in doing so by covering the hole with a paper towel. After removing the pump i noticed some build up behind it. So like any other person i cleaned it up, and i just happened to use the paper towel covering the hole. Im sure you know what im going to tell you next. When replacing the pump i dropped a screw and yes down the drain it went. After a few laughs between my boss and I, I had to share this. When you block the drain with something leave it THERE until the job is done.

I removed the cutter cover in the front of the ice maker (3 screws), than removed the circulating pump cover (1 screw). Remove the drain tube from the cover before removing the cover from the icemanker. The drain tube is removed by pulling straight down and twisting. Remove the circulating pump, utilizing the 4 inch extension (3 screws). Reinstalled all in reverse.

Note: install a plug in the drain hole in the bottom of the ice maker (paper towel etc). I dropped a screw on the installation and it fell in the drain hole. It did not impede the drain flow. It has now found a new home.

First I removed the front door by removing the screw on the top hinge. Then removed the upper hinge plate. This allowed removal of the top corner retaining screw. Removed screws at three other top corners. Now I could raise the top at a 45 degree angle to remove the controller cover. The controller was connected with several wire clips and held in place with two screws. Quick swap out and reverse order completion. Ice maker works like new!

I removed 4 screws holding the motor mounting bracket and removed the assy from the unit. I then removed 3 screws holding the motor to the bracket. I put the fan blade on the new motor and reattached the motor to the bracket. I plugged in the wiring adapter to the motor and reinstalled the bracket in the unit with the 4 screws. Finally I attached the unit wiring connector to the motor.
It was relatively easy.