John Lewis JLAFFB2011 American Style FF – ice maker fault

[wanji]

This Fridge Freezer is I hope still in John Lewis 3yr warranty, but just in case;

Came downstairs yesterday morning to find FF powered off. Still cold inside, so a recent event. Found the circuit breaker tripped, so I reset it. Note, this FF has its own radial feed on an MCB – I didn’t want it on the kitchen RCCB circuit.
Fridge Freezer powered up, played its little tune and seemed all was well. Except, the ice maker no longer works. It occasionally makes the ice-tray eject motor noise, but delivers no ice. Looking inside the ice maker I see that water is never fed into the ice tray. Water supply is connected and functioning, the chilled water dispenser mode works fine.
Do these Daewoo machines perhaps have a history of failing water-valve solenoids? Might such failure be dramatic enough to trip the supply breaker?

[wanji]

Re: John Lewis JLAFFB2011 American Style FF – ice maker faul

Following up my own post;
I heard the freezer make the “squirting water into the ice-maker” noise, but looked inside and found the ice tray still empty.
Pulled the FF away from the wall and immediately noticed the water!
There’s a thin grey polypropylene pipe running from bottom to top at the right hand rear (as seen from behind). I assume that’s what feeds the water to the freezer. Except this pipe has come adrift from the white plastic fitting at the top. Every time the freezer tried to top up the ice tray it was spraying water over the back of the cabinet (and on to the power socket – hence the circuit breaker trip).
The grey pipe does not simply push-fit back into the white fitting. Something must have come adrift inside.
Good news is that the FF IS still under warranty and the Daewoo technician is booked for Wednesday 🙂

[wanji]

Re: John Lewis JLAFFB2011 American Style FF – ice maker faul

OK, all fixed. Technician diagnosed a failed heater element in the freezer compartment. The one around the incoming water feed that’s supposed to stop water freezing in the pipe. With the pipe plugged with ice, next time the water valve opened the water pressure blew apart the rear pipe coupling. He returned on Saturday with the new heater tube and fitted it in minutes.
Fingers crossed, but all seems fine now. Plenty of ice cubes, no water leak!
10/10 for the Daewoo guys.

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