How To Fix A Refrigerator That's Not Dispensing Ice

The Ice Bucket Auger is located in the ice bin and when the dispenser is activated, will rotate to pull the ice forward to the outlet chute of the bin. The auger is driven by a motor mounted behind the bin with a set of drive forks on the gear box shaft. The gear box turns very slowly but has lots of power to push the ice. If the auger is not turning you should first verify the motor is operating. The motor/gear box normally makes enough noise that you can hear it with the freezer door closed.

If the motor is not operating then you can check it for continuity with a multi-meter. Remove power from the appliance before performing this test. If the motor has continuity then you should verify that the motor is receiving power when ice dispense is selected. This is a live voltage test and should only be performed by a qualified person. If no power is being supplied to the motor terminals then you should inspect the control actuator and switch.

The ice dispenser actuator is the mechanical part that activates the dispenser micro switch. It is normally a plastic lever that pivots when depressed by your tumbler, and it may be covered with a soft plastic pad. You can usually hear a click when the switch is contacted. If the auger motor and dispenser door are not receiving power, then you should inspect the actuator and switch. Remove the control panel cover and verify that the actuator contacts the dispenser switch properly and if not, check the actuator housing bracket, switch mounting bracket and the actuator pivot. Replace any defective parts. If the actuator is contacting the switch, you will need to check the switch or control board for the source of the problem. You should disconnect power to the appliance when working near electrical circuits.

The dispenser micro switch is a momentary contact switch that when activated it will supply power to the auger motor and the solenoid for the dispenser door. The switch sits behind the pad or lever that is pressed to dispense ice. You will need to remove power to the appliance and then remove the control panel cover to access the switch. You can check the continuity of the switch with a multi-meter.

Some models of refrigerators use an electronic control to supply power to the auger motor and dispenser door solenoid. If you have verified that they are not getting power and the actuator and switch are operating properly, then you may have a defective electronic control.