WRS973CIDM00 Ice maker issue

This is a whirlpool, side by side, in door ice maker. It did experience the broken wire issue at the bottom of the freezer door hinge. I repaired this issue by soldiering the wires back together and covering each soldier joint with shrink tubing. Adjusted the positioning of the wires to provide for free movement and minimum bending.

After repairs the ice maker (IM) still didn't produce any ice. Here is what I have done and checked:
Diagnostic test #45 (Ice Water Fill test) Works, will fill ice tray with water.
Test #44 ( Icemaker harvesting test) Works, Ice maker will rotate tray to harvest ice and return tray to upright position. However, at end of test, tray is not at a level position. Have noticed, once out of the test program the tray will level itself off.
Test #47 (Thermistor test) Good, reads 01 with no ice in tray. Haven't done this test with ice in tray.
Test #48 (Ice bucket detection switch) Good.

If I use #45 test to place water into the tray, IM will harvest that tray of ice. The tray will return to home position, but it will not automatically fill with water again.
Will the IM work if the "change filter" light is lit? This is the only thing I have not reset or replaced. There is water flow (approximately 1.5 oz lower than recommended but this would just produce smaller ice cubes).
YES, the IM switch is turned on and working properly.

What triggers the "fill" command? Seems the wiring all runs back to the "Gemini Flash" module. I will have to verify continuity to this module, but believe it to be good at this time. Since all the diagnostic tests work.

Just trying to see if I am overlooking something simple. Otherwise, I will have to dig deeper to prove or disprove the Gemini Flash module is defective. Any ideas on how to test this module?

This refrigerator is only two years old, so shouldn't be having these issues (severed wire issue is a known issue with no support offered by Whirlpool).

Thanks for any input.

 

Additional information:
Filled tray with water and let it freeze. Test #47 now reads 11 = Valid temp cooler than harvest temp.

I would think this would be the control signal to cause the ice to be harvested. Yet, IM has not moved. Will give it some additional time to see what happens.

Can I assume all the wiring is good, since I am getting changes in the readings and functions of the IM all work in diagnostics? Doesn't all this come from the Gemini Flash module? If this is true, than things are pointing towards a bad module.... Dang, need a description of how this module works....

 

Pretty involved ice maker. It runs on multiple DC voltages.
The logic is not controlled within the ice maker.
The two pdf documents below will give you plenty of info.
Let me know when you have them as I don't leave them posted.

Ice maker service: W10869036
tech sheet: W10751694

 

@PJmax
Thanks for the documents. I have the Service and wiring diagrams and have been using those to troubleshoot and wire trace.
Didn't have the IM Tech sheet, so really appreciate that one!! I am basically down to the reset to routine, but it doesn't seem to work as written:
Manufacturing Reset Routine
Before replacing the UI, perform the Manufacturing Reset Routine to reset the User Interface and Control Box settings.
1) Unplug the refrigerator, then plug the refrigerator back in.
2) Open FC Door for 10 seconds, and then close the door.
3) Open RC Door for 10 seconds, and then close the door.
4) Simultaneously press and hold SW1 and SW2 for 3 seconds. All UI indicators will illuminate.
5) Wait until the UI displays “-5” GET TO THIS STEP AND NEVER GET THE "-5", Just keeps flashing 01.
6) Unplug the refrigerator, then plug the refrigerator back in.
7) If the IM is still not working correctly, replace the UI.

I will play with it some more tonight, after work.

I did notice. I had ran the harvest test yesterday. The tray assembly didn't return to a level state (home), it was just off a little bit. However, when I unplugged the refrigerator and plugged it back in; the IM rotated the tray a little CCW and CW until it settled out at the correct level state (home). Still hasn't begun the fill cycle....

Thanks for your input!!!!

P.S. I did download your documents, so you can take them back down.....

 

Tell me if these look right to you:

Fill mode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIM6Nt62_CM

Harvest mode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c3UDmyKhtk

Also have ran the thermistor test and it reads good in both conditions: with ice and without ice in the tray.

All these tests seem to be working, yet IM will not produce ice automatically. ?????

 

Additional symptom: If I use fill mode to put water in ice tray and leave water in tray. IM will harvest that batch of ice, but will not refill tray with water....

 

Not real familiar with that ice maker. I'm on the road and will read further on it when I get back.

It's obviously not the motor or the harvest sensor as they are working.
It seems to be coming back to the tray position switch.
Is that a monitorable item in the diagnostics ?

 

FWIW...Whirlpool refrigerators and ice makers/dispenser are just plain junk!
My 17 month old unit will no longer dispense ice. It makes ice butr won't let me have it!

 

Okay after a few days of the ice maker taking a backseat to other more important things, I have noticed the ice maker will go into "harvest mode" by itself. This makes me ask a couple of questions:
1. Why would it enter harvest mode, if there is no ice in the tray? Is this a timed event and has nothing to do with any needed change in the thermistor sense, like I thought?
2. Still does not fill with water. What conditions need to be met in order for the fill command to be sent to the water valve? Because this doesn't seem to be happening. Diagnostics prove the fill circuit will function, given the correct commands.

Is there a way to measure these signals or duplicate them....
As you can see, I don't like to just throw parts into a machine, I would like to try to determine what is at fault. I could replace the ice maker and/or motherboard and it would be fixed, but I would like to understand why.

Norm201 I do appreciate your opinion, wasn't very valuable to my situation, but I can understand your frustration. If you provide your make and model, type of ice maker involved... May be able to help you get yours going at the same time. If you have a side by side, look at the wiring at the bottom of your freezer door hinge. Some models, have been known for this wiring to be installed incorrectly and breaking the wires. Just a thought.

 

Thanks,for the offer.
But I already am getting help from the other DIY forum and I think they pin pointed my cause of no ice dispensing. I don't have a cure as yet, but at least I know why. In my case I'm getting warm air introduced in the ice storage compartment, and that is jamming the dispenser mechaism.
Wish I could be of more help to you.
It may sound silliy since most appliance come from the same factory floor, but I'll never buy another Whirlpool fridge again.

 

Norm201 Your ice maker is located in the refrigerator compartment? Samsung has had this issue for years.

 

Not a Samsung. Whirlpool. The guy who designed this disater should be hung!