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GE Arctica SxS - water dispenser not working

05:18PM | 12/27/04

Member Since: 12/26/04
4 lifetime posts

GE Arctica SxS - water dispenser not working

make: GE

m/n: PSI23SGMDFBS

s/n: ZA 400058

Water dispenser in freezer door quit dispensing water. Ice maker is working fine. Disconnected water line coupling beneath the freezer door; water will dispense fine up to this point. So this eliminates the filter and valve as the potential cause. The problem must therefore be located somewhere in the freezer door.

Attempted to snake the line from the bottom of the door to the dispenser spout, but kept running into something hard along the way. The GE part diagram for the freezer door didn't clearly show the water line in any detail.

I then tried blow some hot water into the line with compressed air thinking that the problem might be a frozen line. Also tried heating the freezer door with a hair dryer. Neither of these techniques proved unsuccessful. I have read in previous posts that there was a known defect with the design of how the water line was routed in the freezer door on these models causing it to freeze.

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated at this point!

appliguy

02:44AM | 12/28/04

Member Since: 07/23/04
491 lifetime posts

G'day,

**Water dispenser in freezer door quit dispensing water. Ice maker is working fine**

Ice dispensor works ok?

**The GE part diagram for the freezer door didn't clearly show the water line in any detail.**

Probably would have to remove the line to check it properly.

**I then tried blow some hot water into the line with compressed air thinking that the problem might be a frozen line**

If it is frozen, it would likely need to be defrosted overnight to thaw out as the line is inside the foam insulation inside the door.

** I have read in previous posts that there was a known defect with the design of how the water line was routed in the freezer door on these models causing it to freeze.**

Where was this? I'd like to read that!!

http://www.applianceaid.com/gethroughdoor.html

Lower one on the page above may help to access one end of the water line to check it.

jeff.

Appliance Repair Aid

http://www.applianceaid.com/

nosoyfeo

07:18AM | 12/28/04

Member Since: 12/26/04
4 lifetime posts

jeff:

Oddly enough, someone named "Jeff" posted the information in question about past design problems with this model on the Fix-it For'em:

http://www.bobvila.com/wwwboard/messages/194766.html

My fridge is out of the 1-year warranty period, and I don't plan bearing the cost of a $500 replacement freezer door that supposedly corrected the problem.

Thanks for the pictures link, but I had already tried this route. The problem is I still can't freely access the internals to the freezer door. I may have cut off the power and thaw the the thing out as you suggest. Only problem is, what's to prevent a future reoccurrence if it's a bad design?

Thanks again!

appliguy

09:06AM | 12/28/04

Member Since: 07/23/04
491 lifetime posts

**The problem is I still can't freely access the internals to the freezer door**

You probably won't as the door is foamed together. The water line -should- be removeable for replacement.

**Oddly enough, someone named "Jeff" posted the information in question about past design problems with this model on the Fix-it For'em**

I read a few posts...didn't really mention and GE action taken and I haven't read anything from them either...no harm is asking GE if they have a problem!! Have your model#, serial# and purchase date handy when you call.

General Electric 1-800-626-2000 USA

General Electric 1-800-361-3400 Canada

jeff.

Appliance Repair Aid

http://www.applianceaid.com/

nosoyfeo

10:38AM | 12/28/04

Member Since: 12/26/04
4 lifetime posts

jeff:

The plastic door recess that the spout protrudes through can't be physically removed. So I'm assuming that you propose to pull the spout and the associated line out. Will the line come out easily if it's foamed in? Will I be able to fish it back in once I've removed it?

I'll call GE about it. It's worth a try, anyway.

appliguy

04:20PM | 12/28/04

Member Since: 07/23/04
491 lifetime posts

If the line cannot be pulled from the top and pushed from the bottom to remove it from the FZ door....your left with plan B ( thawing ) or plan C ( replacing the door ).

jeff.

Appliance Repair Aid

http://www.applianceaid.com/

nosoyfeo

06:33PM | 12/29/04

Member Since: 12/26/04
4 lifetime posts

jeff:

Well, I went directly to plan B. I cut the power and thawed the freezer for about an hour. Sped up the process a little bit by using a hair dryer. I was then able to blow air through the section of line in question. I reconnected the line at the coupling and viola, the water dispenser was working once again.

This is the first time that this has happened since we've owned it (about 2.5 years), so hopefully it won't be a recurring problem.

Thanks again for taking the time out to assist me on this!

appliguy

02:18AM | 12/30/04

Member Since: 07/23/04
491 lifetime posts

Thankx for the update!! :)

jeff.

Appliance Repair Aid

http://www.applianceaid.com/

mat031

08:31AM | 01/02/10

Member Since: 01/01/10
1 lifetime posts

most likely cause is frozen line. raise the temperature one degree at a time for a few days.