The #IceMaker in our LG #refrigerator recently stopped operating correctly. The ice tray fill wasn’t balanced and when attempting to empty the ice tray, the motor rotating the ice tray would get stuck and make a disturbingly loud knocking noise for about 20s.
After YouTubing the issue to see if I could #DIY this or call for help, I determined I could save some clams and DIY the replacement.
Off to Amazon I went!
At Amazon, I quickly found an #IceMaker that looked just like mine and was compatible with my LG #refrigerator model.
Oh, goody!
Since I didn’t quit feel like performing paid work this morning, I decided, “Today’s the day! Let’s swap out this ice maker and give this family ice again!”
Whoopsie! The part numbers do not match despite these ice makers appearing to be identical twins!
The original #IceMaker is on top, the replacement ice maker on the bottom.
Further inspection reveals an obvious difference: the harness plugs are quite different.
The original white plug (top) is wider than the yellow replacement plug (bottom), which is longer.
Dammit!
Perhaps I can swap the plugs? Let’s see if they are wired the same.
Promising. They are.
I got a pair of needle nose pliers, and attempted to remove the green wire from the back of the plug. It wouldn’t budge. I ended up tearing the insulation. No bueno.
Keep in mind I don’t know what I’m doing. This is me cowboying DIY.
At the same time of this event, I actually called in for help with my Samsung clothes dryer. The repair person had finished up and noted I was dealing with ice makers. I explained to him my dilemma and he offered this #advice:
1) Always make sure you buy a replacement part that matches the part number on your original, not the model number of the appliance
2) If not Amazon, try EBay
3) There is a compartment over the motor where the harness clips on to the motor and sensor. See if they match.
Shall we?
BOOYA!
More plugs! The replacement (yellow) appears the same as the original (white)!
I’m going to take a chance and swap the harnesses!
Before mounting the replacement #IceMaker with the original harness, I repaired the boo boo to the green wire on the original plug with some electrical tape.
After some wire management, the ice maker is mounted and ready to install into the #refrigerator door.
Did I succeed?
I do not know yet. The replacement #IceMaker definitely responded to power when I plugged it into the #refrigerator door and further responded when I turned the ice maker on.
I am still waiting for ice. Hopefully, when the equipment cools back down from room temperature it will begin operating, but I am also expecting this hack to fail.
More later…
CANELA BLANCA