Title Ice Room Frozen, Bucket Stuck on 2016 and 2017 FDR With Direct Contact Ice Makers Create Date 4/3/2017 Service Bulletin Number ASC20170403001 Symptoms Ice Bucket Stuck No Ice/Low Ice Production Ice not dispensing properly MODELS: RF22K9381, RF22K9581, RF22KREDB, RF23FSEDB, RF23HCEDB, RF23HSESB, RF23HTEDB, RF23J9011, RF24FSEDB, RF24J9960, RF25HMEDB, RF263BEAE, RF263TEAE, RF26J7500, RF28HDEDB, RF28HDEDT, RF28HFEDB, RF28HFEDT, RF28HMEDB, RF28JBEDB, RF28K9070, RF28K9380, RF28K9580, RF30KMEDB, RF32FMQDB, RF34H9960 Serial Number Range: 2016-2017 Production Only. Use the table below to determine the production date of the refrigerator. Note: Previous bulletins do not apply to these newer refrigerators. There is no reason to seal ice rooms or check the fill tube position. CAUSES: There are several possible causes. Three are described starting below. Possible Cause 1: Ice cubes get stuck between the icemaker and right side wall of the ice room, creating a jam condition. As ice is harvested, new cubes pile up above the stuck cubes and some cubes remain in the ice maker mold. The infrared beam is not blocked, so the ice maker continues to make and harvest ice, causing incoming water to overflow the ice maker mold and run into the air ducts, where it freezes. This also causes the ice maker bottom tray to freeze excessively, due to constant attempts to make ice. Additionally, water can run down under the ice bucket and freeze, causing a stuck ice bucket.
Possible Cause 2: A clogged drain can cause similar symptoms within the ice room. The drain can become clogged for a variety of reasons, such as accumulation of debris in the duck bill. The bucket can become stuck due to ice forming on the floor of the ice room. Ice dispensing can also be affected. Possible Cause 3: The auger motor assembly was replaced during a previous service call and the Styrofoam block was not removed. This results in restricted air flow and frost/ice forming on the ice maker bottom tray.
Repair Method: 1. Before performing any repairs, remove the ice bucket and check the condition inside the ice room. o If the ice bucket is stuck, use a steamer to melt the ice until you can remove the bucket. Be sure to place a towel under the ice bucket to catch water as it drips down as shown. Note: NEVER use a heat gun or hair dryer to defrost the ice room. 2. Remove the ice maker, following proper procedures. When the ice maker is removed, unplug the refrigerator to ensure the cooling loop does not frost over. 3. Remove the auger motor/fan assembly. If the Styrofoam block is still in place, remove it and discard it. Make sure ALL ice and water has been removed from all surfaces in the ice room. 4. Using needle nose pliers, carefully remove the small plastic rectangular frame from around the base of the cooling loop. Reinstall the frame, making sure the lip is at the bottom. Important: Newer frames will have a lip on both the top and bottom. This is normal. Just reinstall the frame. For older, single lip frames, however, if the lip is at the top, water can run down into the air duct below the cooling loop. To prevent this, make sure that for frames with a single lip, the lip is at the bottom. See below.
5. Using a sharp knife, cut the plastic edge(s) on the bottom of the air duct. There are two styles of ducts, as shown below, so you may only need to cut off one side. Do not cut the Styrofoam, only the plastic edges. The purpose is to prevent water from running down into the air duct and forming ice. Air Duct with edges removed 6. Pull the refrigerator out, remove the back cover and the ice room drain tube (far right as you face the back). Check the duck bill for debris. Clean out the duck bill, making sure that the slits are open, so water can pass through. Do not cut the duck bill. 7. Steam the drain tube inlet in the ice room, and then check if steam/water comes out at the back. If the drain was frozen, this may take some time. Drain tube inlet 8. When the drain line is clear, reinstall the duck bill, drain tube, and back cover. 9. Reinstall the original auger motor.
10. If ice cubes were stuck between the ice maker and the right wall, replace the ice maker. 11. Reinstall the ice bucket. Plug in the refrigerator. This information is published for experienced repair technicians only and is not intended for use by the public. It does not contain warnings to advise non-technical individuals of possible dangers in attempting to service a product. Only experienced professional technicians should repair products powered by electricity. Any attempt to service or repair the product or products dealt with in this information by anyone else could result in serious injury or death. Information provided in this bulletin is subject to change or update without notice.