If you have a GE side-by-side refrigerator, chances are good that it also has a built-in ice maker. This feature is a wonderful addition to your appliance as it allows you to get ice whenever you need it. With time, you may need to troubleshoot your refrigerator's ice maker or even reset it. Fortunately, resetting the ice maker is a fairly straightforward process.
Important Safety Considerations
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Before you begin any repairs or troubleshooting involving your refrigerator, be sure it's unplugged. The only reason you should troubleshoot an appliance that's still connected to live power is if you need to manipulate buttons on the control panel. Otherwise, having it plugged in while you remove grilles or look behind or under the unit can be extremely dangerous.
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In addition, it's best not to move the refrigerator without assistance. Ask a friend or family member to help you move the refrigerator out from the wall. These appliances are extremely heavy and attempting to move them by yourself may result in injury. There's also a risk of tipping the appliance over, so use extreme caution.
GE Ice Maker Isn't Working
When your GE refrigerator isn't making ice, you'll first want to identify the shutoff switch for your refrigerator's ice maker. Shut off this part of the appliance and leave it off for at least 30 seconds.
While the power is off, locate the arm within the ice maker, which is a thick wire. This arm, also called a feeler, is what tells the unit to stop producing ice when it comes into contact with ice cubes. Restore power to the ice maker.
Next, push up on the arm or feeler three times. This will reset the unit. Restore all power and attempt to run an ice-making cycle. If it works, you're all set. If not, be sure that nothing is clogging the ice machine chute and try the entire process again if ice cubes were lodged inside.
Temperature Considerations
To produce ice, both the refrigerator and the ice maker need to be kept at the proper temperature. If your attempts to reset the unit fail and there's no ice lodged in the machine's chute, it's possible that your temperature settings are incorrect.
Refer to your machine's owner's manual to check the ideal temperature for your refrigerator and ice maker. A sensor issue could also be causing you trouble if the temperature is reading as correct but ice still isn't being made. A repair technician can assist you in determining if this is the issue.
Continued Troubleshooting
If your attempts to troubleshoot your refrigerator's ice maker don't work, you may need to order a GE ice maker replacement. Refer to the owner's manual that came with your unit for the manufacturer's phone number. Someone from GE can confirm for you which ice maker you need to order for your particular refrigerator.
You may need a professional refrigerator repair technician to install your replacement ice maker for you. GE may be able to help you locate such an individual or even arrange the repairs for you.
It's also possible to replace your GE ice maker yourself. However, if you're at all unsure how to complete the switch, it's best to entrust that project to a pro. This repair involves wiring and settings on your GE side-by-side refrigerator that are a bit more complex.