A Kenmore Ice Maker Is Not Ejecting Ice

Basic Troubleshooting

• The first thing a Kenmore service representative will do is go over the basic troubleshooting of the unit. He’ll ask you to ensure that the refrigerator is on and the ice maker unit is on. You also need to check that the entire unit is plugged into a working electrical outlet, that electricity is on in the building, and that the breaker or fuse associated with the area is working. Then he’ll ask if you’re attempting to use the ice maker the way you're instructed to do in your owner’s manual, which may vary depending on the model. These are all simple user errors that prevent ice from dispensing, but that can be fixed quickly without a service call.

No Ice At All

• If the unit isn’t producing ice, it won’t dispense any. Remember that most ice makers required about 24 hours after being installed or emptied to start producing ice. There could also be a problem with the water line, the water valve or the ice maker’s mechanism if there’s no ice to eject. Check that the valve is open and there aren’t any visible obstructions to the water line, such as a kink in the line.

Jams

• If your ice maker is making ice but not ejecting it, the most common cause is that there is ice in the ejector chute. This can happen from time to time in a normally functioning Kenmore ice maker. To fix it, use a plastic utensil to clear the chute and dislodge any ice jams. Do not use anything sharp or metal because it may damage your ice maker. After you clear the jam, your unit should work normally again.

Auger Problems

• Another common problem with Kenmore ice makers is that the auger can stop functioning. The auger is the metal spiral in the ice bin that turns and moves ice from the bin to the ejector. If it stops working, no ice will come out of the unit. If ice has frozen around the auger, you can empty the ice bin and clean it out to get it working again. Otherwise, there may be a problem with the auger's mechanism, which will require a service call.