WP Side by Side - Where is this part?

[whirlcool]

Our 6 year old WP side by side's water dispenser has stopped working. The Ice Maker still works and makes ice, but no water at the door. I suspect that the water solenoid has failed. Where did WP hide this device in the unit and how do you get to it? Back, bottom, inside? The model number is: ED25PDXFW01.

 

[coldspot66]

There is a cluster of water valves on the bottom left corner, in the back as you face the refrig from the front (Same side as the dispenser). When you draw water from the dispenser, do you hear a slight hum, but no water? If so, then the solenoid is working. If no hum, then the solenoid could be suspect. You might have to have it quiet to hear the hum. Does it have a water filter, and do you change it when you're supposed to? Let me know...hope this helps!

 

[rp2813]

Yes, I used to have a mid 80's WP and if you remove the bottom panel off the back of the frig you'll see the solenoids on the right. IIRC they didn't look like they were very difficult to replace and I doubt the design has changed much over the years.

 

[whirlcool]

When I press the water tap in the door on, the only sound I hear is that of the switch that is connected to the "paddle" on the front door. Now when the ice maker refills, I can hear a hum from the back of the refrigerator.
I guess it's a new solenoid.
I hope it's an easy replacement, the guy who put in a new fan motor last summer spent an hour on his back twisting into all kinds of contortions to replace that unit. I hope this isn't the same.

 

[rp2813]

Allen, if it's anything like my old WP, the solenoids are right there in plain view as soon as you remove the back panel and they appeared to be easy access on mine. If you're at all inclined, you might want to pull the panel off and take a look to see if this is a job you can do yourself. I think it's kind of unusual for these to fail. Never had a problem with my old WP and the dispensers on that one got a lot of use.

 

[whirlcool]

From what I gather from looking at a parts supply place, the soleinoid for this unit is a double one, one for the ice machine and another for the water dispenser formed together into one part.
I'll take the back off tomorrow and look at it. The replacement is about $55.00. Kinda pricy. But this refrigerator has been a pain in the butt since I bought it in 2000. And the same refrigerator is also sold under the Kitchenaid brand name.

 

[rp2813]

OMG Allen don't say that! I have a KA side by side that's only a couple of years old. I was hoping it wouldn't give me any trouble for at least several years.

 

[whirlcool]

This is just too much!

Last night I was dispensing some ice into a glass from the front of the Whirlpool refrigerator and the little black door that covers the chute from which the ice comes out broke off. It ended up in the glass with the ice.
Did I mention that the freezer door on the front around the ice/water dispenser is rusting through?
Let's see, in the past six years I have gone thru a compressor fan motor, various relays, defective defrost cycle relay.
I ordered all the parts I need from repairclinic.com and it came to $135.00 in repair parts to get this refrigerator fuly functional again. One can only imagine what a service tech would charge to supply parts and install them. Remember, we bought this unit in 2000. Hell, our last refrigerator was a 1969 GE side by side that was still running when we got rid of it.
Can anyone make any recommendations as to what manufacturer makes a reliable refrigerator these days? We don't need stainless, white finish would do nicely. One more breakdown, and I am sure there is another lurking in there, and out the door this thing goes!

 

[DADoES]

I think the main trick for a reliable 'fridge nowadays is stay away from door dispensers.

 

[exploder3211]

Welcome to my world.. Never seen one last longer than 7 or 8 years... Althoug WPool is usualy good.. Maybe one got a lemon

 

[rp2813]

My WP side-by-side from appx 1985 was still running when the refrigerator door hinge finally gave out a couple of years ago. No problems with the dispensers, only an occassional issue with the ice maker stopping in the months before the door fell off. A raising and lowering of the control arm usually got the ice maker going again. We were ready for a new fridge, and it didn't seem worth it to fix the door on the old WP so in came the shiny new stainless KA and so far it hasn't been a problem. I sure hope Allen's fridge isn't typical of WP's quality these days or I'm in serious trouble, considering with my model that has the ice bin in the door, there is an electric eye system that controls the ice maker. I am hoping it doesn't prove to be a problem because I'm sure it's very expensive to fix.