If your ice maker has stopped completely, the problem is almost always one of five things — and four of them are free to fix. Run the diagnostic in order before you assume the icemaker module is dead.
Most ice maker symptoms get diagnosed and fixed on the first visit. Flat $129 diagnostic — fully waived when you approve the repair.
Step-by-step
On most icemakers, the metal wire arm has to be in the down position. If it's up, the icemaker is off. Built-ins have a toggle on the icemaker face.
Use a freezer thermometer. Above 10°F, the icemaker thermostat won't trigger a harvest cycle. If your freezer is warm, fix that first — the icemaker is just a symptom.
Trace the 1/4" line from the back of the fridge. It usually leads to a saddle valve or shutoff under the sink, behind the fridge, or in the basement. Confirm it's fully open.
Filters older than 6 months are the #1 cause of slow or no ice. Use the OEM filter for your model — aftermarket filters cause low-pressure issues on Samsung, LG, and GE.
Most icemakers have a small test button or jumper holes on the front. Press the test button (or jumper T-H per your service manual). The arm should sweep, then water should fill for ~7 seconds. No water = inlet valve or supply.
Unplug fridge. Disconnect the icemaker solenoid lead at the inlet valve and ohm it out — should read 200–500Ω. Open or shorted = replace the valve ($40–$80 part).
Stop and call
Safety + model triggers
Manual harvest test sprays water everywhere or won't shut off.
Inlet valve solenoid stuck open — close the supply line immediately to prevent flooding.
Ice maker hums but the arm won't sweep, AND the freezer light flickers.
Module short pulling the main board down — stop powering it.
Built-in column, undercounter Scotsman / U-Line, or Sub-Zero ice machine.
Different harvest design (gravity vs. pump), different parts, brand-trained tech only.
Other reasons to call
FAQs
Run this checklist: bail arm down, freezer at 0°F, water shutoff open, filter under 6 months old. About 80% of 'sudden stop' calls resolve at one of those steps without a service call.
Most modern icemakers have a reset button on the front (small button or hole next to the test button). Press and hold for 10 seconds. Some models reset by lifting the bail arm up for 10 seconds, then back down.
10–15 years for the icemaker module itself. The water inlet valve and filter housing typically need service before the module does.
The harvest motor or ejector arm is stuck — usually a frozen-up bin or a jammed cube. Empty the bin, thaw any ice bridge with a hair dryer, and trigger a fresh cycle.
Module replacement: $250–$380 all-in. Inlet valve: $189–$280. Full diagnostic with our flat $149 fee — waived when you approve the repair.
Related service
Refrigerator ice makers, undercounter ice machines, and standalone Scotsman or U-Line units — we fix every kind. Same-day windows across the Twin Cities and Central MN with OEM parts on every truck and a flat $129 diagnostic that's waived when you approve the repair.
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