How to Change the Ice Maker Motor on a Kenmore Refrigerator

About Kenmore Refrigerators

• Kenmore refrigerators come in a wide variety of styles, including models with the freezer on top, the bottom or even to the side. In many of these Kenmore appliances, the ice maker is an optional accessory. This allows the purchaser to save money by not paying for an unneeded feature. The ice maker is mounted inside the freezer compartment.

How Icemakers Work

• The icemaker draws in water through a water supply line from the nearest source, which is typically the kitchen water supply valve. The water is then dispensed into a series of shallow molds that hold the individual ice cubes. When frozen, the cubes drop out of the freezing compartment and into an ice tray. A sensor mounted on the icemaker rises along with the level of ice in the tray and shuts off the icemaker when the tray is full.

Working Safely

• Electricity from the main appliance powers all Kenmore icemakers. Therefore, to safely work with an icemaker motor in a Kenmore, you should shut off the power to the appliance. This means either unplugging the refrigerator or, if the plug is in a hard-to-reach spot, turning the electricity off at the main circuit breaker where the refrigerator is connected.

Replacing the Icemaker

• Before replacing the icemaker, it's a good idea to remove the icemaker area door to give yourself more room. Loosen the two screws at the top that hold this in place. Most of the screws used in Kenmores are of the hex head type. Remove any additional screws on the underside of the ice tray. Gently press back on the tab holding the tray in place and slowly pull the icemaker and tray out of the freezer. After the body of the maker is out, look for the wiring harness leading from the motor into the refrigerator. Unclip the old icemaker from the freezer and set aside. Connect the harness to a new icemaker and slide the icemaker tray and motor back into the freezer. Lock the unit in place with the tab. Replace any screws removed.