Whirlpool icemaker - did "test harvest" and it worked. Now what do we do?

Here are the tests for the IDI Optics ( the red light)

Is it coming from inside fridge compartment or freezer compartment or from outside back. If it is from freezer compartment and you have no water line connected to ice maker. Then it might be just your ice maker trying to go into fake harvesting mode. Make sure the Icemaker is off. Icemaker arm should be up.

There are many problems that will prevent the ice maker from working. It could be frozen over, the inlet water valve could be inoperable, the harvest thermostat may be bad. If you can remove the ice maker, you might be able to tell what might be the problem.

Yes, every time the icemaker cycles, it will switch in power to the icemaker water valve. the icemaker is pretty much a standalone device. All it needs is power and water supply, and valve. If it has both, and is not working properly, then the icemaker is bad.

Hi, The optics almost never go in those unit's, the problem is in the icemaker module itself. If you can jump it thru a fill and then no advancing thru to harvest afterward ( provided your freezer is below freezing ) it's the module. You can either replace just the head/module or the entire icemaker. For the difference of only about $50 I always replace the complete assembly. The most common one being about $150 complete, # 2198597 and this should be the one for your fridge since you mentioned the optic component's. Hope that help's. Thanks for choosing "fixya" for your fridge inquiry. Please take a moment and rate this solution if indeed it solves your problem. Thanks again and good luck. Macmarkus :)

icemaker has to reach 10F (22 degrees below freezing) to start harvest cycle. a thermostat closes a circuit to a motor and heater to start the process. if there really is no problem with the water supply, problably icemaker is bad. also check fill tube freeze up.

You need to replace the icemaker . Pt # 2198597 . When you open the freezer door . the laser flash 2 times , then pause , then 2 more times continually (normal) ? If the laser does not light at all , then icemaker is in the harvest mode ( may be stuck , replace icemaker ) . If in harvest mode , even slightly , jumper will not work .

Due to your refrig having the ice bin on the door , it could be a little bit more difficult to diagnose . Pour about 1/2 cup of water into the icemaker . If it doesn't dump , then the problem is the icemaker . When you open the freezer door , does the laser lite flash 2 times then pause then 2 times etc.? If the lite does not flash , it means the icemaker is in the harvest mode (dumping) . If stuck in the harvest mode , replace the icemaker . If the icemaker dumps the frozen cubes , then the black fill tube above the fill cup , could be frozen , or the water inlet valve is bad . If you feel ice in the black tube ,(water valve bad due to slow drop leak ) you'll need to pull the fridge from the wall , and see if there is a plastic coupling on the tube going up to the icemaker . If not , you should get one in case of future problems . Cut the tube (or disconnect the fitting ) (if you can blow thru it , black tube is not stopped up with ice ) and turn the icemaker off . Turn the freezer setting down a number or two . Go by ocassionally to see if you can blow thru the line . This water line goes between the top of refrig and the inner liner . Bad design because if it freezes , no way to get to it . Can try hair dryer on top of refrig . I have known it to take several days for this line to thaw .

Remove the front kickplate and clean your coils (only what you can see) .Also check your settings .An icemaker harvests (operates) at 5 degrees . Operates doesn't look like it's spelled correctly , but you get the meaning .

Pour about 1/2 cup of water into icemaker . If it harvests(dumps) then problem is the water valve.....if not , then icemaker is the problem .