Whirlpool ice makers offer fantastic versatility, innovation, and a premium feel, just as refrigerators do. You can easily install them in your current Whirlpool refrigerator or use them independently.
But sometimes, it just happens that the ice maker gets stuck in one position, and its ice maker arm is stuck up. After all, it is a complex machine with many moving parts.
A broken or damaged control arm may hinder the functionality of the ice production process, thus causing more damage to the ice maker, or an ice cube is jamming the movement of the ejector of the ice maker arm.
In this article, we will figure out the best ways to solve this problem and get your Whirlpool ice maker arm free from being stuck and back to working again.
Whirlpool Ice Maker Arm Stuck In Up Position
A broken or damaged control arm may hinder the functionality of the ice production process, thus causing more damage to the ice maker, or an ice cube is jamming the movement of the ejector of the ice maker arm.
Here are some things you can do if your ice maker arm is stuck in the up position.
1. Clear The Space Around Ice Maker Arm
If your ice maker arm is jammed, ensure no external obstructions stop its movement.
One of the most common reasons for the ice maker to be jammed or stuck in one position is blockage caused by external elements.
Make sure that none of the food and other ingredients push or press against the ice maker’s arm and stop its movement.
An overpacked freezer might also be responsible for this, so try to clean it too.
Clearing out the freezer shelves can solve most of the problems related to the ice maker arm. A full freezer is blocking the arm’s movement.
Avoid overcrowding the freezer and use only the pace and dimensions that the appliance will allow or are mentioned in the user’s manual.
Regularly clean the exposed areas to remove any buildup or spills. This helps with the freezer’s efficiency and allows you to spot anything responsible for obstruction of the arm’s movement.
2. Manually Reset Your Ice Maker Arm
Manually reset your ice maker arm by slowly and gently pushing the arm back down. This can be quickly done at home.
The second step to solving the stuck position of your ice maker arm is straightforward.
Could you press down the arm from its position?
Make sure to do it sparingly or jerkily. This might cause severe harm to it, or you could even risk breaking the arm.
This is a great fix when stuck in the upright position and only needs a little pressure to lower it back down. However, avoid this step if it is stuck tight and you feel the arm can not go down further without breaking or damaging something.
3. Defrost The Freezer
Your arm might be stuck because it is frozen there, so defrost the freezer first.
Whirlpool refrigerators have a forced defrost mode.
To defrost the ice maker arm properly without causing any damage, use one of the items from the list below:
- Freezer temperature adjustment: The freezer temperature can be easily adjusted, with “9” being the coldest and “1” being the warmest. Your freezer is generally set at 3 or 4. Change it to “1,” so defrost the freezer.
- Forced defrost mode: Pressing the refrigerator temperature three times for ten seconds activates the FD (Forced Defrost) code. Refer to the user’suser’s manual for a detailed step-by-step for your model.
It should take around half an hour, although some models may take closer to an hour. While they’re operating, keep the fridge and freezer doors closed.
However, you can also use manual ways to unfreeze.
- Unplug the refrigerator and remove the ice and other food components.
- Locate the water refill tube that runs to the ice maker.
- Use a hair dryer on low speed but warm setting. Point it at the refill tube and defrost it.
4. Reset The Freezer
To reset your Whirlpool ice maker, press the reset button located at the bottom of the appliance. However, if that doesn’t work, you can reset it by adjusting the control arm. Turn it off and on again, or unplug it for 5 minutes.
Usually, there are four different ways to reset the refrigerator ice maker without adding any extra damage to the appliance.
- Adjust the control arm. Switch it on and off to reset the refrigerator.
- Press the reset button on the bottom of the appliance.
- Unplug the ice maker at the mains. Make sure to put away edible items in the freezer.
- Unplug the appliance. Plug it again after ten minutes and push on the control arm several times.
If none of the above ways to reset the ice maker get it working back on, there is a chance that your refrigerator has either a mechanical or electrical problem.
In both cases, it is recommended to reach out to a professional. Attempting to fix mechanical problems on your own could invalidate your warranty.
5. Align the Ice Maker Arm
Once you have reset the ice maker, you can easily align the arm without force.
First, check if the arm’s position has changed or popped to the other side due to the reset.
Generally, resetting the ice maker helps the arm change its position, too; however, if it has not, you can raise the arm to the desired position.
Your ice maker should now be up and running.
How To Replace The Arm On A Whirlpool Ice Maker?
To replace the ice maker arm, follow the steps below:
- Remove the faulty ice maker arm by pressing it out of the head and then pulling it down from the other end using the other hand.
- Please insert the new ice maker arm in its place.
- Gently pull the other end of the ice maker arm out.
- Test the new ice maker arm to see if it is working fine.
You can find the ice maker arm replacement either in the hardware store near you or on amazon, based on the model of your ice maker.
Final Remarks
It is incredibly frustrating when you suddenly have guests over or have just returned from a hot day outside, and there is no ice for your drink.
In this article, I tried to tell you the exact way to make your Whirlpool Ice Maker’s arm unstuck.
- Clear the space around the ice maker
- Manually reset the ice maker
- Defrost the freezer
- Reset the freezer
- Align the ice maker arm
My name is Rick Kinney and I am the founder of ExHandyman. I have worked as a handyman for many years, and fixing stuff is my greatest pleasure in life.