Over the last couple of weeks, my Maytag MSD2656KEU has decided I don’t deserve crushed ice anymore. I can have cubes, but selecting crushed ice is a no-go. Press the button, nothing happens. The CUBE light stays lit.

This past week, this fridge decided to disallow water also. "Want ice water, vthoky? Tough luck! You can have ice, and only the big cubes. That’s the way it is, and you’ll like it!”

I figure this has to do with the magic circuitry behind the ice/water dispenser’s front panel, but I don’t have a guess as to how to start diagnosing it. Anyone else had similar issues?

Try YouTube. I diagnosed and repaired my older Maytag washer a couple times this way.

If it's relatively new, be prepared for it to be unfixable, but it does sound like you're right about it being a circuitry problem that should be a plug-and-play fix.

did you try cussing it and slapping it around

I replaced my Whirlpool fridge icemaker and control boards with parts from Appliance Brad.

Maytag, Amana, and Whirlpool are all the same company. Brad can get you the parts.

quote:

Originally posted by lyman:
did you try cussing it and slapping it around

I did try a little dirty talk, but… well… this thing is frigid.

Crushed ice is the "default" on this design.
There is a solenoid that pulls a flap open on the bottom of the bucket to allow for ice cubes rather than crushed. So if you are not getting crushed ice, it's stuck in the open position. Pull out your bucket. the rod that runs along the bottom is what controls the flap. make sure that it moves freely. Then look at the opening at the back that the rod fits into. You should be able to either tape the door swich on the side or hold it with the bucket out (lights should go off when the switch is actuated. When you push the ice paddle, you should see the "stirrup" on the solenoid move up. The rod/flap or the solenoid is the issue.

Good morning, Brad, and thank you very much.

I’ll dig into it after coffee.

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ETA:

Coffee is hot, ice is cold. That's a good start.

I removed the bucket and dumped out the ice. The screw-like rod in the bottom of the bucket does turn freely. I held down the door switch and pressed the paddle, and I can see the "claw" that drives the rod turn smoothly. (Side note: I didn't know before that this mechanism turns one direction to deliver cubes and the opposite direction to deliver crushed ice. Slick!)

I don't think I'm seeing the stirrup and solenoid you mention.



On the front panel, pressing the "Water" or "Crush" button has no effect (can't choose them), and the LOCK light is not lit.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: vthoky,

quote:

Maytag MSD2656KEU

Unplug it and let it sit 5 minutes, nothing will thaw, then plug it back in the old "hard reboot"

Much of what Brad suggested is what you find online in searching, Repair Clinic generally has a good tech board for help as well I've used them in a pinch.

https://www.repairclinic.com/R...ispenser-Not-Working

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Unplug it and let it sit 5 minutes, nothing will thaw, then plug it back in the old "hard reboot"

Done! It didn't solve the problem, but it was a mighty good opportunity to scrub the top of the fridge. (Eww.)

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Unplug it and let it sit 5 minutes, nothing will thaw, then plug it back in the old "hard reboot"

Done! It didn't solve the problem, but it was a mighty good opportunity to scrub the top of the fridge. (Eww.)

Yeah, it's amazing the dust that attaches to these, might as well clean the back of the fridge too!

Read a bunch of tips at repair clinic, you can go there stick the model number in and find all kinds of tips on what to look for and do before buying parts to toss at it.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
I don't think I'm seeing the stirrup and solenoid you mention.

Well I should have looked closer, they have changed the design. The updated version doesn't use this design. I will e-mail you the complete service manual for your model. Ice dispenser diagnostics start on page 36

Oh, that’d be awesome. Thank you very much.

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Edit: Got it! I’ll start studying.