How to Reset A Whirlpool Ice Maker (In Under 5 Minutes)

Is your Whirlpool ice maker on the blink? This article will show you how to reset it in a jiffy!

Many ice makers, particularly Samsung ones, have a simple reset button. Unfortunately, Whirlpool ice makers rely on using a jumper wire to bypass the icemaker cycling thermostat and initiates a test cycle.

You need to insert a jumper wire between the T & H holes behind the Whirlpool icemaker’s plastic cover/housing. If that doesn’t work, you might be able to reset it by adjusting the feeling arm, turning it off and on again, or unplugging the ice maker.

That’s the short answer, but there’s more to it than that. Are you ready to find out how to reset your ice maker and enjoy a refreshing drink after dinner tonight?

Then let’s dive in to the ice-cold details.

How to Reset A Whirlpool Ice Maker (In Under 5 Minutes)

Is your Whirlpool ice maker making slushies instead of ice cubes? Or has it stopped working altogether? Whatever the case, a simple reset should solve your problem.

Check out the following steps that will explain what you should do to reset your Whirlpool ice maker.

Adjust the Feeler Arm

Adjust the what? Ok, I get it. When you first read this step you might conclude that you’ve bitten off way than you can chew trying to fix this alone. But trust me, adjusting the feeler arm is simpler than it sounds.

The feeler arm is the sensor inside the ice maker that stops it from making too much ice. It alerts the ice maker when the ice tray is full. When the feeler arm is fully in the upright position it’s OFF, and in the down position it’s ON.

If the feeler arm is stuck, it won’t be able to adjust itself according to the ice level in the tray. This will make the ice maker think that the tray is full when it isn’t. The feeler arm could be stuck for a few reasons. Here are some of them:

• The feeler arm is frozen
• The tension spring on the feeler arm is misaligned or stuck in place

So what can you do if the feeler arm is frozen or spring is stuck? Try to clear any ice under the arm, and then manually push down on the feeler arm. This should cause ice to break away from the arm. Push the feeler arm down repeatedly. This should loosen up the spring if it has gotten stuck.

You’ll know this has worked if you can hear the water valve begin to fill the ice maker. If the feeler arm is misaligned or stuck, the ice maker will remain in the OFF position and not make any ice.

Press the Reset Button

If you don’t think there’s a problem with the feeler arm, you should try looking for a reset button. Some models will employ a reset button on the ice maker itself, so it’s worth checking for it.

If you don’t know where the reset button is on your ice maker, you should check your user guide. But let’s be honest. Who really holds on to a user guide nowadays? If you can’t find it, (or know that you’ve already chucked it) look for your reset button in the following places:

• At the bottom of the ice maker
• Above the ice tray
• Underneath the ice tray

If that fails, you can simply Google it! Almost every manual is available online these days. Whirlpool host all of theirs online here:

https://www.whirlpool.com/services/manuals.html

Once you have located the reset button, do the following:

1. Press and hold the reset button.
2. Hold onto the button for ten seconds or until you hear a beep inside the unit.

Press the on/off Switch

If you can’t find the reset button nor the feeler arm, you can try pressing the on/off switch. This switch should also reset the ice maker and should get it working again properly.

But where can you find the on/off switch? You should be able to see it in one of two places:

• Underneath the ice tray.
• Underneath the ice tray and cover plate. (For some Whirlpool ice maker models you have to remove both)

Once you have located the on/off switch, do the following:

1. Remove the ice tray and cover plate (or just the ice tray). You can do this by simply pulling on them.
2. Turn the switch from on to off.
3. Remove power from the ice maker by unplugging the refrigerator
4. Wait 10 minutes.
5. Restore power by plugging it back in
6. Turn the switch from off to on.
7. Replace the ice tray and the cover plate as necessary. Your ice maker should be reset at this point.

Unplug the Appliance

So what can you do if you are still struggling to reset your ice maker? If you are having trouble locating the reset button or the on/off switch, unplug the appliance. Doing so will reset the ice maker.

Once you have unplugged the appliance you should do the following:

1. Wait ten minutes before plugging it back in.
2. Once plugged in, push on the feeler arm a couple of times. This will force water to pour into the ice maker which it will then cool and form into ice.

What You Should Do if the Ice Maker Still Won’t Reset?

Ok, so you’ve tried every trick in the book and you’re about ready to throw in the towel. You’ve:

• Adjusted the feeler arm
• Pressed the reset button until you were blue in the face
• Frantically pressed the on/off switch
• Unplugged the unit

What can you do once you’ve tried everything but the ice maker still won’t play ball? If you’re still having problems, then the issue with your ice maker may be more complex. It will probably need more than a simple reset to fix it.

What kind of problems am I talking about? Your ice maker may have one of the following issues:

• The ice maker cabinet isn’t colding enough (15F+ is too warm)
• A mechanical malfunction
• An electrical problem
• A damaged part such as the water valve

What should you do to fix problems like these? Take a look at the information below to find out:

What should you do if you can’t tell which category the problem falls into? In this case, consult your user manual. The manual will help you to troubleshoot some of the problems with the ice maker. This will help you to pinpoint the problem. If you don’t have the manual, try contacting Whirlpool directly for more help.

Still Stuck?

If these tips haven’t helped – don’t worry. There may be other quick fixes you can try.

We’re fortunate enough to have a lot of readers on our website, but unfortunately I can’t answer everyone’s questions personally. To help, we’ve teamed up with JustAnswer to connect you to a qualified Appliance expert.

You can connect with an appliance expert below, who will help you solve your specific issue. They do charge a small trial fee, so just remember to cancel the trial once you get your ice maker working again.

Why Do Ice Makers Need a Reset?

There are various reasons why an ice maker may need a reset, but similar to many computers or phones – often a reset is all that’s needed to get everything back to square-one!

A reset allows the ice maker to recalibrate sensors, reset feeler arms, free up ice maker fingers that may have become stuck in place, and more. 

Whatever the reason, it definitely makes sense to start here first.

Conclusion

It’s important to have a well-functioning ice maker. This is especially true when the warm weather comes. Has your ice maker stopped working? Then a simple reset may be just what it needs to give it a new lease of life. I hope this article has shown you how to reset your Whirlpool ice maker without calling a technician.

If this article has helped you, why not check out some of our other articles and free guides? You could even sign up for our email list!

Have a great day!

-Craig