1200 - Instructions

All Instructions for the 1200
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Icemaker producing few or no cubes and often leaving "kling-ons" on ice tray
816 of 915 people found this instruction helpful.
  • Bernie from Diamond Bar, CA
  • Easy
  • 30 - 60 mins
  • Nutdriver
Interior surface of ice tray felt rough & flaky (coating deteriorated) so cubes would not release.
Unplug appliance.
Remove timer cover by hand pressure @ edge.
Remove single attachment screw & bracket at lower front of icemaker.
Disconnect wiring harness from socket @ rear of compartment.
Tricky part was determin ing what type of connection held the other two attachment points along the long edge of the icemaker. I did not have repair manual or useful drawing but looked @ PartsDirect pic of side brackets & used a small mirror to confirm that mine were also some sort of "snap in" attachment.
Remove icemaker unit by pushing upward and outward on the unit. I takes a good bit of pressure and will pop loose, but be careful not to break attachment bracket from freezer wall.
Scavenge shut off bar and wiring harness from old icemaker once you have it out & attach to new one before installing it back in freezer.
Again, you might find a mirror useful to align those pesky snap-in brackets with the new unit.
Since you probably kept your freezer running while waiting for the part, the plastic snap-ins will be cold and brittle. I warmed them up first by applying a dampened cloth heated in the microwave to make them a little more pliable.
A good push of the new unit towards the snap-ins along with some upward force will get it stable.
Reattach the metal screw in bracket & connect the wiring harness to rear plug... and don't forget to plug the whole thing back in.
It will take awhile for the first batch of cubes dump as the timer may need to cycle completely around to get to the fill cycle... be patient.
Dump the first couple of batches of cubes just to make sure you're free of any residue.
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Water overflowed ice maker turnning ice bucket into solid mass of ice
280 of 383 people found this instruction helpful.
  • Harry from Grand Ledge, MI
  • A Bit Difficult
  • 30 - 60 mins
  • Pliers, Screw drivers
My ice maker has been shedding its non-stick coating for over a year. Within the last month of so, it started pouring water into the ice bucket below, turning it into a solid mass of ice. So I purchased a new ice maker assembly. I encountered two problems not mentioned in the 21 or so do-it-yourselfer repair stories that precede this on e. First problem: one of the three screws that hold the ice maker to the refrigerator wall is hidden behind the large (black) end of the ice maker and is difficult to access. Before trying to replace the ice maker, make sure you have the physical dexterity to remove that screw. Second problem: it is not apparent how to remove the wire harness that plugs into the ice maker assembly. BEFORE you can remove the wire harness, you MUST remove the large white cap that covers the black end of the ice maker assembly and then push in a retaining tab to release the wire harness. If you don't do this, the wire harness will not release. Other than those two problems, it was relatively easy to remove three screws, unplug the wire harness, transfer three small, metal parts from the old ice maker to the new, plug in the new wire harness, mount the ice maker assembly so that the water tube is in the proper position, and then re-install the three screws. The ice maker works fine now. (P.S. I was told by an expert that the real problem might be a malfunctioning fill valve. I would have replaced the fill valve if replacing the ice maker assembly had not fixed the problem.)
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The Bearing Cup Assembly was broken and ice would jamb against it during the ice making cycle.
110 of 140 people found this instruction helpful.
  • David from Chester, CA
  • Really Easy
  • Less than 15 mins
  • Nutdriver, Screw drivers
I removed the ice maker from the refrigerator, by removing one screw on the underside bracket and loosening the two screws at the top side, then lifting the ice maker off the loosened screws. I then unplugged the electrical harness that supplies power from the refrigerator to the ice maker. I then disassembled the ice maker by removing the front cover which is snapped in place, then removing two recessed screws at the front. I removed the broken part, I then reassembled the ice maker with the new part. I replaced the two recessed screws at the front and snapped on the cover. Then I reinstalled the ice maker in the refrigator by plugging in the harness, slipping the ice maker over the loosened screws in the refrigerator and replacing the screw that was removed from the underside bracket. Tightening all the screws completed the project.
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no water getting to ice maker
80 of 95 people found this instruction helpful.
  • Kevin from Boston, MA
  • Really Easy
  • Less than 15 mins
  • Screw drivers, Wrench (Adjustable)
The ice maker had been slowly dying and one day just stopped making ice. No water was getting to the trays.

I read that this could be caused by a failure of the valve, even though the continuity test indicated that the solenoid was okay.

I ordered the part Friday afternoon. It was delivered Saturday. I did the repai r in 10 minutes.

I pulled the fridge away from the wall.

I unplugged the fridge. I closed the water supply valve.

I unscrewed the two mounting screws using a flat head screwdriver.

I pulled the old valve out from refrigerator.

Using an adjustable wrench I detached the water supply from the valve. I detached the hose leading to the ice maker from the valve.

I pulled the electrical connectors from the connectors on the valve.

I attached the hoses to the new valve, attached the electrical connector, screwed the new valve in its place, opened the water supply, plugged the fridge back in, checked for leaks, and waited for a few hours.

My ice maker is working better than it has in at least two years.
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not making ice
78 of 93 people found this instruction helpful.
  • Pat from Dallas, TX
  • Really Easy
  • 15 - 30 mins
  • Screw drivers
Installed new ice maker. It was easy - loosen two screws and unplug old wire harness. Put new unit in place. Did not realize new unit would not come with wire harness, but transferred old one to new ice maker (easy) and, "voila" some ice in 24 hours -- much ice since then. I am a 68 year old woman and it was "sort of fun" doing thi s job.
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No ice in ice trey
79 of 104 people found this instruction helpful.
  • Wayne from Leesburg, FL
  • Really Easy
  • 15 - 30 mins
  • Screw drivers, Socket set
The easiest thing to do was pull the ice make off. After taking the 3 screws out of the wall of the freezer, take a screwdriver (flathead) and push on the tab for the electrical plug and wiggle the cord out. Then you can take 3 screws out for the main cover and another 2 screws on the next cover. There's the part, pop it out and replace h olding pins and start the process of putting back together the opposite way you took it apart.
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getting "black plastic" pieces on ice
53 of 60 people found this instruction helpful.
  • Kathy D from Waterford, MI
  • Really Easy
  • 30 - 60 mins
  • Nutdriver, Screw drivers
I didn't know what the plastic was - just that it was unappetizing. Reading other posts, it must have been the teflon coating. The refrigerator is 13 years old and reading other posts, I guess I'm lucky it lasted that long.

My boyfriend did the repair and here is his story:

The first ice maker we received was cr acked on one corner. Not knowing how it got that way, I was concerned that there might be additional internal damage and that the unit wouldn’t work properly. Part Select was contacted and a replacement unit was sent with no difficulty.
As other reviewers have said, the replacement was quite easy, taking less than half an hour. The only tools I needed were a screwdriver and a nut driver. To begin, unplug the refrigerator and turn off the water supply to the ice maker. Loosen, but do not remove, the two top attachment screws. Then remove the bottom screw. Lift the unit up off the top screws and remove the water inlet hose at the top right. It’s probably a good idea to have a container handy to catch the small amount of water that comes out, but you’ll need a third hand for this.
The electrical wiring harness is very short and may be tricky to disconnect. On my refrigerator there is a round vinyl connector that plugs into a receptacle on the back wall of the freezer compartment directly behind the ice maker. This was removed with no difficulty (accidently, actually). Once the unit is out of the refrigerator you can remove the connector from the ice maker by using a screwdriver to depress the latch tab that is visible in a window in the unit housing. When installing the connector in the new unit make sure it is fully seated. Next, reconnect the round vinyl connector to the receptacle on the back wall of the freezer compartment. This was the worst part of the whole procedure. You have to support the unit close to the back of the freezer (due to the short harness) with one hand while inserting the connector with the other. This requires both arms in a confined space. The first time I did it I apparently didn’t get a good electrical connection on one end of the harness, and it didn’t work. Because the connectors are directly behind the ice maker I had to remove the unit and re-install it, but it was much quicker the second time, less than 10 minutes.
Once the connectors are in place put the water inlet hose into the opening at the top right. You may need to re-use the retaining clip from the old unit for this. Slide the two top mounting ears down between the screw heads and the back wall of the freezer compartment and tighten the screws. Then install the bottom screw. Plug in the refrigerator, turn on the water and make yourself a frosty beverage.
All in all, a relatively quick and painless procedure.

Another note - we kept saying "is there ice yet"? I think the metal bar that controls the ice maker needed to be raised and lowered a few times before it would work properly as it seemed to raise 1/2 way but the ice would not drop so I put it down and it worked its way up. Had to do it a couple of times over a 4 hour span but once going, it is working like a champ.
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Ice-maker had ice, but did not dispense the ice when pushing in the button.
42 of 43 people found this instruction helpful.
  • mark from marietta, GA
  • Easy
  • 30 - 60 mins
  • Nutdriver, Screw drivers
First I removed to ice-bucket and noticed the plastic that holds the motor with a head of what I would call a two-prong fork had broken off the plastic (enclosure). Thus it lost contact to the ice bucket's screw that pushes the ice forward when the dispense button is pressed. After ordering a new enclosure I had to remove one screw nut and pull the wire plug (to the motor) out carefully. Then I had to remove eight screws holding the motor and related parts to the old enclosure and attached it to the new enclosure. The only tricky part was taking that fork off. It screws off, but in the opposite way. Also, I had to get a pair of pliers to hold the turn shaft from turning when taking the fork off.
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ice maker did not make ice
49 of 64 people found this instruction helpful.
  • DAVID from TINLEY PARK, IL
  • A Bit Difficult
  • 30 - 60 mins
  • Nutdriver
The ice maker was not getting water. I hotwired the water valve by switching the connectors for the water dispenser and ice maker water valves and water flowed into the icemaker when the water dispenser lever was pushed. I wronly assumed the water valve was good. I removed the icemaker and determined that the gear motor was not getting po wer in the position the icemaker had stopped.In this position, the thermostat determines when the motor gets power so I replaced the thermostat. The icemaker still would not get water! As it turns out, the water solenoid was sticking due to a deteriorated rubber washer which let the solenoid plunger get too far out of the magnetic field. I replaced the water solenoid assy and all is well. Don't get fooled by hotwiring the valve. If it isn't getting water, the solenoid probably is the culprit.
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Icemaker was dumping water into ice bin and the ice maker shut off arm broke its rear mount
51 of 72 people found this instruction helpful.
  • GORDON from CUPERTINO, CA
  • Very Difficult
  • More than 2 hours
  • Nutdriver, Pliers, Screw drivers
First I removed the 14.3 tons of freezer contents, closed the water valve, shut off the juice, and removed the freezer bins, the freezer door and the three screws that held the element in place. After bringing in 397 hand tools from my garage inventory, I loosened the unit and, after extensive evaluation, I finally disconnected the wiring connector from its freezer rear wall connector counterpart. You ain't gonna believe the rest of my story--of total ineptitude by an experienced fix-it-yourself dummy.

I searched the internet for a replacement ice maker and found it at partselect.com. I called Sears to ask if I could add my refrigerator to my existing appliance repair account. Sears said sure--it would cost me only one arm, three toes and one grandchild. I abruptly declined their magnanimous offer—I don’t give up my arms and toes so easily.

I visited the local Maytag repair parts and service retailer, who advised they didn't do parts anymore. Expecting their repair price would be greater than Sears, I resorted to partselect.com. I called them to be assured what I was buying was not mistakenly a 747 Landing Gear. On the afternoon (West Coast) of 4/28/10, I ordered (via internet) one PS21215123 Ice Maker Assy. Much to my pleasant surprise, it arrived via FedEX on 4/30/10 (no freight charges to me).

My repair/replacement efforts were hampered by the effects of my right rotator cuff surgery a few months before and major left wrist surgery two months ago to remove fractured bones and torn ligaments.

Undaunted by my physical handicaps, I forged forward. After re-installing the unit, I turned the water supply and electricity back on. It was graveyard dead. I wisely then bought two bags of ice as an interim solution to the severe needs of my wife and me for our daily chilled evening cocktails. I removed the unit, checked it out and re-installed it. I bought two more bags of ice. All the while, I turned the water and electricity off and on as required by reasonable safety standards. High tediousness!

Several more home maintenance tasks then arose for Sergeant Super Fixer, but I returned to the ice maker problem on 4/8/10. Last chance--remove the device and insure there was no frozen ice in the inlet tube--or call the local partsless repairman. No ice found, but I did learn the wiring connector to the unit was awry--no contact! While explaining that to my wife, I realized the two upper mounting screws were intended to be partially installed into the freezer wall to accommodate the unit's slotted mounting holes! Then, tighten the screws. Oh my God! During my 143 installations and removals, I had installed those screws blindly--using the (handicapped) skills of my right and left hands without any benefit of direct eyesight.

I returned to my challenging project this morning (4/9/10), fully utilizing all the expertise I had gained yesterday. Fifteen minutes of amusing effort! Turn on the juice! Turn on the water!Two hours later, ice cubes were dropping into the bin like rhinoceros bisquits in the jungle.

Hallelujah! I now am free for the next challenge!

HINT: Put a bed pillow (an old one, or your wife's) in the freezer compartment to soften the harshness of its cold metal on your back, if you use the "crawl in on your back" approach.
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Yoke auger tore hole in plastic ice enclosure
36 of 37 people found this instruction helpful.
  • Craig from East Fairfield, VT
  • Really Easy
  • 15 - 30 mins
  • Nutdriver, Pliers
Very simple repair. First Remove ice tray. Next remove enclosure. Believe there were 3 screws to remove enclosure (1 bottom, 2 top). Slide enclosure out slowly to gain access to power connector mounted on back wall. removed components from enclosure (motor and solenoid). Take extra care removing solenoid with spring/rod as it is 3 separate pieces (spring, rod, and coil). Easy to figure out reassemble but easier if you take note during disassembly. Took me a while to get yoke off from motor assmbly. noticed they were reverse threads (lefty). So to remove yoke from shaft had to turn CW vs CCW on regular threads. Once had yoke off, rest of assembly was easy. Mounted motor, reinstalled yoke. Put entire re-assembled enclosure back in fridge. Slide in part way, to give yourself plenty of room to plug power connector in. Reattach assembly with 3 screws. Works like a champ.
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Water valve failed, flooded kitchen
28 of 29 people found this instruction helpful.
  • James R from Valley Springs, CA
  • Easy
  • 15 - 30 mins
  • Nutdriver, Wrench (Adjustable)
Turned off water supply and unplugged appliance. Removed lower panel on back of refrigerator with 1/4 " nutdriver. Then removed supply line, and line to icemaker. removed valve from back panel and replaced with new valve. wrapped water connections with teflon tape, turned on supply line, checked for leaks, everything o.k..Replaced back pa nel and in 45 minutes had first drop of ice. Job requires moderate mechanical ability and minimum tools. Saved a PANT load of money by doing it myself. VERY satisfied with Partselect.com
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Plastic Tray which holds the ice depenser motor broke
27 of 27 people found this instruction helpful.
  • Michael from Alpharetta, GA
  • Easy
  • 15 - 30 mins
  • Pliers, Wrench set
The motor had broken loose from the plastic enclosure, so I first unplugged the motor from the power supply in the rear of the freezer compartment in order to remove it from the freezer. I then removed the four screws which held the motor against the plastic enclosure. I also removed the screws which hold the plastic enclosure to the fre ezer compartment.

The most difficult part of the repair was removing the 2 pronged fork from the shaft of the motor as it was reversed threaded on the motor. I held the motor in place on while using two pair of pliers to remove the fork from the end of the motor shaft. I used one pair of pliers to hold the shaft in place while using the other pair of pliers to turn the fitting in the opposite direction.

Once this was off, it took only 5 minutes to reattach the motor to the new enclosure and place it back into the freezer. Total repair time was about 30 minutes because I had to figure out how to get the fork off of the motor shaft. Everything else went very smooth. The new part fit perfectly.
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Ice auger motor broke away from the ice enclosure
28 of 30 people found this instruction helpful.
  • Thomas from Granite Bay, CA
  • Easy
  • 15 - 30 mins
  • Nutdriver, Screw drivers
Quiet a simple repair. First I removed the ice maker bin and the plastic side panel on the right hand side. From there, I was able to remove the ICE ENCLOSURE . It unhooks. Next I removed the ICE DESPENSOR ENGAGEMENT YOKE. It has reverse threads so be careful. Next I removed the ICE AUGER MOTOR. Its located at the back of the ICE E NCLOSURE and held in place by 4 phillips screws. You also need to remove the SOLENOID YOKE ASSEMBLY which is located just to the left of the ICE AUGER MOTOR. It unscrews with 2 phillips screws. Next I reassembled the ICE AUGER MOTOR and SOLENOID YOKE ASSEMBLY to the new ICE ENCLOSURE. Then I reinstalled the ENGAGEMENT YOKE and snapped the unit back in place.
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Icemaker arm was broken
33 of 45 people found this instruction helpful.
  • Jason from Austin, TX
  • A Bit Difficult
  • 30 - 60 mins
  • Nutdriver, Screw drivers
The tiny piece of plastic that holds the wire that shuts off the icemaker, broke early on with our fridge (after just a few months.) We superglued it, but last week it bit the dust for good.

Once I got this part, I removed the freezer door and trays, and pulled the icemaker out by removing 3 flathead screws and unplugging the c ables. Laying in the freezer on the floor was a bit unconfortable, but not too bad.

Then I inspected the icemaker. There was no obvious way to remove the part without disassembling the front of the unit (where the motor is) to release the spindle and free the part, so I did that - 3 or 4 nuts was all that held it together. Once that was out, I removed the spindle, swapped out the part, and put it all back together and back in the freezer. Plugged it in and waited.

It took a while to start making ice. Like 5 hours. Now it's going pretty slow (much slower than before.) Haven't had time to look into it, but my suspicion is the rubber hose that feeds water into the icemaker is blocked with ice or kinked. In any case, we have ice now (but not a lot), and the unit shuts itself off properly. However, we went from having too much ice (thing never shut off) to too little (thing makes ice too slow), so I need to shoot for somewhere in the middle ;)
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All Instructions for the 1200
1 - 15 of 480