Frigidaire Ice Maker Not Working: What to Check

A Frigidaire ice maker that stops making ice usually comes down to one of a few things: the ice maker is switched off, the freezer is running too warm, water is not reaching the ice maker, or ice is jammed in the bin or chute. If the freezer holds near 0°F, water flows and the ice maker still sits idle, a part such as the water inlet valve or the ice maker assembly has probably failed and a technician should test it.

This site is an independent directory of repair companies and is not affiliated with Frigidaire or its parent company, Electrolux.

Before you touch anything

• Unplug the refrigerator, or switch off its breaker, before reaching into the ice maker, removing the bin assembly or taking off any panel.
• Close the household water shut-off valve before working near the water line, the valve at the back of the unit or the filter housing.
• Never chip or pry ice loose with a knife, screwdriver or ice pick. Let a jam thaw, or work it free by hand or with a plastic utensil.
• Never open, drill or puncture anything in the sealed cooling system. Refrigerant and compressor work is for a technician certified under EPA Section 608.

1. Confirm the ice maker is turned on

This is the most common cause, especially on a new install. How you turn it on depends on the model:

• Wire signal arm (top-freezer models): Frigidaire's top-freezer instructions say to lower the wire arm to the down position to turn the ice maker on. Lifting it until it clicks and locks in the up position turns it off. The ice bin should sit under the ice maker, pushed as far back as it will go.
• Display or switch (side-by-side and French door models): Check the control panel or the switch on the ice maker itself, and make sure the display lock is not engaged.

The ice maker also stops by itself when the bin is full, so empty the bin and look for a clump of cubes holding the arm up.

2. Give a new refrigerator time

Frigidaire allows up to 24 hours after the refrigerator gets cold before ice should appear. Air trapped in a newly connected water line can cause two or three cycles that drop little or no ice, and with nobody using ice, filling the bin can take a day or two. If the first batches look cloudy or taste odd, Frigidaire suggests throwing out the ice made in the first 24 hours.

If the ice maker is on but no water line is connected yet, the fill valve chatters loudly. Frigidaire says to turn the ice maker off until the water is hooked up.

3. Check the freezer temperature

Frigidaire ships its refrigerators set to 0°F in the freezer and 37°F in the fresh food section, and treats roughly -6°F to 6°F as an acceptable freezer range. Put an appliance thermometer near the ice maker for a few hours. If the freezer reads warmer than that, fix the cooling problem first; our guide to a freezer not freezing covers the usual causes,.

Some models also have a Quick Freeze setting that temporarily speeds up ice production.

4. Check the water supply and filter

With the water shut off and the refrigerator unplugged, ease the unit out and look at the supply line behind it. A kinked, crushed or disconnected line will starve the ice maker. Then:

• Make sure the household shut-off valve is fully open once you turn the water back on.
• Replace the water filter if it has been in longer than about six months, which is Frigidaire's suggested interval. A filter that is cracked, frozen or not fully seated can stop water flow.
• After any filter change, prime and purge the water system by running water through the dispenser before judging the ice maker.

Frigidaire puts normal output at roughly 2 to 3 pounds of ice a day. If you are getting ice but not enough, the usual suspects are a freezer set too warm, an old filter or a pinched supply line. The general ice maker troubleshooting guide walks through the same checks across all major brands.

5. Clear jams in the bin, auger and chute

On models with a door dispenser, the bin uses an auger to push ice to the chute. When ice melts and refreezes, the auger can lock up and the cubes fuse into a block. Frigidaire's no-ice guidance says to check that both doors close fully, then remove the bin and clear any ice wedged between the ice maker and the bin. Let fused ice thaw rather than chipping at it. If the auger was turned while the bin was out, it may need to be rotated in 45-degree steps before the bin will seat again.

Wash the bin by hand with mild soap and warm water and dry it before putting it back.

Frigidaire display codes tied to ice and temperature

Codes vary by model, so check your use and care guide too.

If an HI alert appears, check your food. The FDA says the freezer should hold 0°F, and USDA guidance is to throw out perishables that sat above 40°F for more than two hours. Thawed food that still has ice crystals or is at 40°F or below can be refrozen, according to FoodSafety.gov.

What usually fails and what a technician tests

When the easy checks pass, a technician will typically look at:

• Water inlet valve: Frigidaire uses an electric valve that opens to fill the ice maker. A tech checks whether it gets power and whether water actually flows when it does.
• Frozen fill tube: Ice in the tube feeding the mold blocks every fill.
• Ice maker assembly: The motor, ejector and control inside the ice maker can fail; on many models the whole assembly is replaced as one part.
• Dispenser parts: The auger motor and the solenoid that opens the ice chute door can fail and leave a full bin that will not dispense.
• Defrost and cooling: Frost buildup that keeps returning, or a freezer that will not hold temperature, points to defrost or sealed-system trouble. Only an EPA-certified technician should handle refrigerant.

When to stop and call a pro

Call for service if the freezer is cold and the ice maker is on, but no water enters the mold after a day; if you hear the valve buzz with water connected; if water leaks from the back connections or the filter housing after you have reseated the filter; or if the display shows a code Frigidaire marks for service. You can browse ice maker repair companies near you, or start from the Frigidaire ice maker and freezer repair page.

What a Frigidaire ice maker repair costs

Published cost guides give a rough picture:

HomeAdvisor notes that a diagnostic fee of about $60 to $100 is often credited toward the repair. For a fuller breakdown, see ice maker repair cost, and if the refrigerator is old and needs more than one repair, read repair or replace before you decide.

Keep it running

Change the filter on schedule, keep the freezer near 0°F, and turn the ice maker off before a long trip. If a standalone freezer is the problem rather than the refrigerator's ice maker, see freezer repair. Homeowners in larger metros can go straight to local listings, such as ice maker repair in Houston or ice maker repair in Atlanta.