Symptoms
- Ice maker cycles repeatedly without pausing
- Bin overflows with ice
- Loud or frequent motor noise from the ice maker area
- Excess ice spills into the freezer compartment
Likely causes
- CommonShutoff arm or bin sensor not detecting full binIf the arm is stuck down or the sensor is dirty, the unit thinks the bin always has room.
- CommonIce bin not seated correctlyA bin that's slightly out of position can prevent the sensor from reading it properly.
- PossibleIce overflowing and jamming the arm in the down positionOnce ice piles up around the arm, it can't rise to signal the bin is full, creating a cycle.
- Less commonFaulty control moduleThe module itself may not be processing the full-bin signal correctly.
What to do
- Unplug the unit and remove excess ice from the bin and around the shutoff arm.
- Make sure the ice bin is fully and correctly seated under the ice maker.
- Clean any dust or frost off the bin-full sensor if your model uses an infrared sensor rather than a mechanical arm.
- Plug the unit back in and manually raise the arm to confirm it stops the cycle, then lower it to resume.
- Monitor the next few cycles to see if it properly detects a full bin going forward.
- If it keeps overproducing despite a clear, correctly seated bin, the control module likely needs testing.
Tools and parts
- Flashlight
Ice maker assemblySearch: “refrigerator ice maker assembly replacement”
When to call a pro
If the bin is properly seated and clear but the ice maker still won't stop cycling, have a technician test the control module.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.