ICE DISPENSER INTERMITTENLY WORKING

MY WHIRLPOOL MODEL GS6NVEXSL00M IS ALMOST 5 YEARS OLD AND THE ICE DISPENSER HAS BECOME ERRATIC BOTH IN THE CUBE AND CRUSHED ICE CONDITIONS.

THE ICE DISPENSER DOOR WORKS OK. I CAN HEAR THE MICRO SWITCH CLICKING (THIS UNIT DOES NOT USE LEVERS FOR THE ICE AND WATER DISPENSERS. I REMOVED ALMOST ALL THE ICE FROM THE STORAGE BIN AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO USE THE ICE DISPENSER. IT WOULD MAYBE DISPENSE ICE TWO OR THREE TIMES THEN STOPPED. IT ACTS LIKE IT JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE POWER TO DRIVE THE AUGER AND THE UPPER STIRRING ARM. NO, THE UNIT ISN'T FROZEN UP. THE DISPENSER JUST STOPPED WORKING NORMALLY ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. THE ICE MAKER IS OK.

I DID NOTICE THAT THE AUGER SEEMS SLOPPY AS IT HAS SOME LATERAL MOVEMENT WHEN PUSHED BY MY FINGERS (OUT IN THE OPEN). YES, THE AUGER FASTENING SS SCREW IS TIGHT.

SINCE THE WATER DISPENSER AND LIGHTS WORK NORMALLY, I'M A LITTLE SUSPICIOUS OF THE ICE DISPENSER'S MICRO SWITCH OR THE ACTUAL IDI MOTOR OR ITS' WIRING CONNECTIONS.

DO YOU HAVE OR CAN YOU DIRECT ME TO LOCATE THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR REMOVING THE ICE DISPENSER COWLING SO THAT I CAN GAIN ACCESS TO THE IDI MOTOR? THIS UNIT HAS THE ICE STORAGE BIN ABOVE THE IDI MOTOR DRIVE COUPLER. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL OWNER'S MANUAL BUT IT DOESN'T SHOW HOW TO TAKE THE ICE DISPENSER COWLING OFF.
THANKS,
MELVIN LANGLEY

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Answer

Hi,

If you take the ice bin out you should see the motor coupling. See if that coupling is striped out or broken. If so replace it. It could be a weak motor so check to see if the motor turns strong with the ice bin out. If not replace the motor.

If the motor isn’t the problem you will have to take the ice bin apart to see what is broken. The parts are sold individually so you will have to take it apart to see which part or parts are worn or broken.

Thank you,
Shawn/administrator