Digital display flashes 88 for both sides. Can t set anything or turn on ice maker

I have a Samsung rf26xaewp side by side fridge that was built in 11/2009. On the front of ice maker the setting on the left is flashing 88. The setting on the right is bouncing between 88 an 89. I cleaned the back an looked at computer board, there is a red light on. Fridge feels like its thawing. Only thing ice maker will do is expense ice.

I have a Samsung RF265AABP model. I had the same problem, with the right 8 on refrigerator temperature flashing (top bar only on 7 segment display). The set buttons would not change the display either. The refrigerator and freezer both were about the right temperature (41F and -3F).

The problem was a broken temperature sensor wire on the ice maker. The sensor assembly often gets snagged on the ice tray or scoop or something and falls down, making it more likely to snag, and prevents the ice maker from cycling when frozen.

I fabricated a metal bracket to hold the temperature sensor assembly in place, and used a small tie wrap to hold the wire to the bracket, up and out of the way after soldering the broken wire of course.
If you have a volt meter you can do some diagnostics. Remove the cover from the back of the refrigerator to access the control board. Measure the voltages on the power supply, marked +12V and +5V
(yel and red, blk common). If the display reads 88 88 then the power supply is probably fine. Measure the voltages on the sensor connector CN30 at the bottom of the main control board (larger one). The gry wire on the left is common, and you should read approximately the following on the other wires starting on the left:
WHT 2.63 may depend on Pantry temp setting fresh or cold
BLU 3.59 R-DEF sensor refrigerator defrost I assume
WHT 2.55 R sensor, refrigerator temperature I assume
ORG 4.06 F-Def sensor, freezer defrost I assume
RED 3.54 F sensor freezer temperature, may depend on whether ice is frozen or still water in ice maker.
When the ice maker wire was broken, the readings on ORG and RED were 4.30 and 4.05 volts so I assume high readings above 4 volts might indicate a sensor open condition.


Control board access panel removed



Temperature sensor connector CN30

I have a Samsung RF265AABP model. I had the same problem, with the right 8 on refrigerator temperature flashing (top bar only on 7 segment display). The set buttons would not change the display either. The refrigerator and freezer both were about the right temperature (41F and -3F).

The problem was a broken temperature sensor wire on the ice maker. The sensor assembly often gets snagged on the ice tray or scoop or something and falls down, making it more likely to snag, and prevents the ice maker from cycling when frozen.

I fabricated a metal bracket to hold the temperature sensor assembly in place, and used a small tie wrap to hold the wire to the bracket, up and out of the way after soldering the broken wire of course.
If you have a volt meter you can do some diagnostics. Remove the cover from the back of the refrigerator to access the control board. Measure the voltages on the power supply, marked +12V and +5V
(yel and red, blk common). If the display reads 88 88 then the power supply is probably fine. Measure the voltages on the sensor connector CN30 at the bottom of the main control board (larger one). The gry wire on the left is common, and you should read approximately the following on the other wires starting on the left:
WHT 2.63 may depend on Pantry temp setting fresh or cold
BLU 3.59 R-DEF sensor refrigerator defrost I assume
WHT 2.55 R sensor, refrigerator temperature I assume
ORG 4.06 F-Def sensor, freezer defrost I assume
RED 3.54 F sensor freezer temperature, may depend on whether ice is frozen or still water in ice maker.
When the ice maker wire was broken, the readings on ORG and RED were 4.30 and 4.05 volts so I assume high readings above 4 volts might indicate a sensor open condition.


Control board access panel removed



Temperature sensor connector CN30

Broken wires at the ice maker or the temperature sensor falling out can cause that problem. Check your digital temperature readout at the top of the refrigerator with the doors open. If it reads 88 88 and has a flashing digit, check the ice maker temperature sensor for a cut or broken wire. The temperature sensor and rubbery gadget holding it in place often fall out of place when the drooping wires snag on the ice scoop or whatever. The sensor assembly is held in place by a wimpy plastic clip that breaks easily. Sometimes the wires get cut or broken when this happens.

After fixing this problem several times, I finally made a metal bracket from aluminum angle, drilled and tapped 4-40 holes in it, and drilled the plastic icemaker to mount it more permanently. I added a wire tie to hold the temperature sensor wire up and away from possible snag sources. The sensor wire and wire tie are not shown in the photo below, but if you have the tools to solder the wires and fabricate a bracket it helps a lot. It is easy to get the ice maker out, once you discover how to remove the drawer from the slides (two plastic clips at the rear of the slides).
Pull the front cover off, take out the two screws, and unplug the wire connector and it drops right out.





Ice maker assembly upside down on bench.



Aluminum bracket and screws




Bracket installed. The sensor is not shown in this photo, but the wire comes out the right side and crosses in front of the metal bracket. The wire tie holds it to the bracket near the top center (hole not shown).

Flashing blue lights on front of what model Samsung refrigerator?

I am not sure what model you have, but on my RF265AABP there are two buttons and digital displays at the top of the refrigerator, visible when the doors are open. One sets freezer temperature, the other refrigerator temperature. On my model if they read 88 88 with a blinking digit, it indicates a broken wire to a temperature sensor, usually the ice maker sensor since it tends to get snagged and damaged easily.

Check the ice maker temperature sensor. Mine (model RF265AABP) falls out easily and sometimes the wires break, causing the digital readout to read 88 88 and flash.

Try defrosting it completely then re start it again. Shut off the water suplly. Maybe the service guy forgot to turn the water supply off.

I have a samsung french door that was also displaying 88 8Y and found out that it's an error code for the ice maker, I removed the wire cover, disconnected the ice dispencer connector, and then removed the ice dispencer, made sure nothing was stuck inside, plugged in the connector, pushed the reset button, and then put everything back. Unplugged the unit for about 20 min, and when I plugged it back in everything worked. I can't take the credit for this, a thread at applianceguru.com/forum1/8630.html helped me out on this one.

try the control bd first this is a bad problem with this model