Appliance repair

[nrc]

Our seven year old Kenmore side-by-side has developed a sense of humor. We always get ice from the door but almost never water. So it's always set to ice. But now it likes to switch to dispensing water at random. Sometimes it does this in the midst of getting ice. I guess it thinks it's funny to water our drinks. Eventually it decides that it's not going to switch back to dispensing ice at all. We've been nothing but nice to it and this is how it thanks us.

I've taken the dispenser out of the door a couple of times to explore a fix. There's a control board and a ribbon cable that goes to the button panel which appears to be embedded in the dispenser bezel. Usually after taking it all apart and putting it back together it works for a while.

I haven't been able to determine for certain whether this is a short/open in the button panel or a problem with the control board. This may be moot because the button panel says "unavailable" on all the sites I've checked (including Sears). I'm likely going to order the $100 control board and give it a try. Anyone know what Sears does if you call their repair people and a part like this is unavailable?

[cameraman]

Is the part unavailable because it has been replaced by another, ostensibly non-defective this time around, part number?

[KLang]

Seven years isn't much for appliances. I bet a replacement is available.


Sent from my iPad Air using Tapatalk HD

[Gnam]

Can you turn off the water to the door without turning off the water to the ice maker?

[dando]

Just went through two ice maker repairs in my new digs. The second repair I had sounds like yours. I had a burned out solenoid (only dispensed crushed ice), and it was finicky switching b/w ice and water. I would be surprised if Sears/Kenmore didn't have a replacement part under a different part #. If you want a PITA, try finding a repair outlet for Samsung. :saywhat:

[chop456]

There's probably a mom and pop appliance parts place somewhere near you if Sears claims they can't get it. Ours is great.

[indyfan31]

I haven't been able to determine for certain whether this is a short/open in the button panel or a problem with the control board. This may be moot because the button panel says "unavailable" on all the sites I've checked (including Sears). I'm likely going to order the $100 control board and give it a try. Anyone know what Sears does if you call their repair people and a part like this is unavailable?

You may be looking for too specific a part. A while back Sears came out to fix my oven's digital display and button panel; the controls were intermittent. He replaced EVERYTHING, button panel, display, and the entire control chassis; it all came in one box. I would agree with Klang in that 7 years isn't long enough for the part not to be available.

[Andrew Longman]

I can recommend youtube. I fixed a Fridgidare ice maker and kenmore dishwasher 2-3 times with showmehow videos. Bought parts here http://www.partselect.com/Appliance-Parts.htm

[G.]

Is the part unavailable because it has been replaced by another, ostensibly non-defective this time around, part number?

I needed a part a while back for a Kennmore. Could NOT find it. Could find a few parts that were just about right, but several different PNs and tiny pictures.

I found the manual online (I think it was directly from Sears) and it had been updated, showing the old PN (just like what I had in my hand) and the new replacement PN.

Found the new PN available all over the place. Could not find the old.
That kinda floored me.

Grab a fresh copy of the manual.

(if you're ready to give the specifics, I'll bet someone here would hunt it down.)

I Second the alien concept of watching repair videos. Watching how-to vids can give you insights about how the company supplied info might not be correct as published. I'm talking to YOU Sears!



I can fix almost anything (that's not electronic or a watch) with a ball-peen hammer and duct tape. This includes people that annoy me. :D

[nrc]

Can you turn off the water to the door without turning off the water to the ice maker?

I don't see a way to disable water to the door without disabling the switch that also requests ice. But the "mode" buttons are the problem. Even if I could disable the flow of water, I think the controller would still switch to water mode.

[Gnam]

Does the dispenser have the ability to dispense ice and water at the same time like this one?

http://kitchen.manualsonline.com/manuals/mfg/kenmore/1065118.html?p=18

[Gnam]

This guy had a similar problem and also thought it was the control board.

http://www.applianceblog.com/mainforums/threads/33123-Ice-Maker-generates-water-from-water-dispenser

[Gnam]

Another vote for the control board.

http://www.shopyourway.com/questions/1076636

[nrc]

Is the part unavailable because it has been replaced by another, ostensibly non-defective this time around, part number?

The Sears site lists replacements for a lot of parts but it says "no replacement available" for these.

The model is Kenmore 59657059600.

http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/part-model/Kenmore-Parts/Refrigerator-Parts/Model-59657059600/0582/0165000/M0703103/00004?blt=06&prst=&shdMod=
http://c.searspartsdirect.com/lis_png/PLDM/M0703103-00004.png

I'm leaning toward it being the control board (67006544, 18 on the diagram). I'm wondering if the button panel (67005615, 14 on the diagram) might now be included with the facade (67006543, 15 on the diagram). Even if I can find that somewhere, I'm probably replacing the control board first.

[nrc]

Does the dispenser have the ability to dispense ice and water at the same time like this one?

http://kitchen.manualsonline.com/manuals/mfg/kenmore/1065118.html?p=18

Mmmm. Not quite like that. There is a button panel that selects a mode from water, crushed, or cubed and then there are two actuator buttons. One of the actuators dispenses whatever is called for by the mode, the other is for filling large containers and always dispenses water.

[mapguy]

Former Sears Home Repair Refrigeration technician here. 596 indicates that it was made by Amana. Normally less than ten years old would mean that there shouldn't be a problem getting parts. Having said that, Amana were not known for their side by sides but for their bottom mounts. Although the time frame looks like it was after the Whirlpool/Maytag merger. I suspect a wonky board. Typically fridges have a 10 year life span. Don't spend more than $100 on it.

Quick tip of the day. Check your coil under the fridge. Vacuum it with a good shop vac twice a year. More if you have pets. The fan motor at the bottom loves to pull in the clag and it gets stuck in the coils. Shortening the life of your compressor.

[Gnam]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEkOT3IngMQ