Maytag Refrigerator Error Codes

Troubleshooting chart on following pages contains symptoms that may be seen in malfunctioning units. Each symptom is accompanied by one or more possible causes and by a possible remedy or test to determine if components are working properly.

Problem	Possible Causes
Unit does not run	No power to unit. Check for power at outlet. Check fuse box/circuit breaker for blown fuse or tripped breaker. Replace or reset.
	Faulty power cord. Check with test light at unit; if no circuit and current is indicated at outlet, replace or repair.
	Low voltage. Check input voltage for proper voltage. Take appropriate action to correct voltage supply problem.
	Faulty motor or freezer temperature control. Check all connections are tight and secure. Jumper across terminals of control. If unit runs, replace control.
	Faulty timer. Check with test light. Replace if necessary.
	Faulty relay. Check relay. Replace if necessary.
	Faulty compressor. Check compressor motor windings for opens/shorts. Perform compressor direct wiring test. Replace if necessary.
	Faulty overload. Check overload for continuity.
Refrigerator section too warm	Excessive door opening. Consumer education.
	Overloading of shelves. Consumer education.
	Warm or hot foods placed in cabinet. Consumer education.
	Cold control set too warm. Set control to colder setting.
	Poor door seal. Level cabinet. Adjust hinges. Replace gasket.
	Refrigerator airflow. Check damper is opening by removing grille. With door open, damper should open. Replace if faulty. Turn control knob to colder position.
	Interior light remains on. Check switch. Replace if necessary.
	Faulty condenser fan or evaporator fan. Check fan and wiring. Replace if necessary.
	Faulty compressor. Replace compressor.
Refrigerator section too cold	Refrigerator temperature control set too cold. Adjust refrigerator temperature control.
	Refrigerator airflow not properly adjusted. Check air flow.
Freezer and refrigerator sections too warm	Temperature controls set too warm. Reset temperature controls.
	Poor door seal. Level cabinet. Adjust hinges. Replace gasket.
	Dirty condenser or obstructed grille. Check condenser and grille. Clean.
	Faulty control. Test control. Replace if failed.
	Refrigerant shortage or restriction. Check for leak or restriction. Repair, evacuate and recharge system.
Freezer section too cold	Freezer temp control set too cold. Adjust freezer temperature control.
	Faulty control. Test control. Replace if failed.
	Cold control capillary not properly clamped to evaporator. Reposition clamp and tighten.
Unit runs continuously	Temperature control set too cold. Adjust temperature control.
	Dirty condenser or obstructed grille. Check condenser and grille. Clean.
	Poor door seal. Level cabinet. Adjust hinges. Replace gasket.
	Interior light remains on. Check switch. Replace if necessary.
	Faulty condenser fan or evaporator fan. Check fan and wiring. Replace if necessary.
	Faulty control. Test control. Replace if failed.
	Refrigerant shortage or restriction. Check for leak or restriction. Repair, evacuate and recharge system.
	Refrigerant overcharge. Check for overcharge. Evacuate and recharge system.
	Air in system. Check for low side leak. Repair, evacuate and recharge system.
Unit runs continuously. Temperature normal.	Ice on evaporator
Unit runs continuously. Temperature too cold.	Faulty defrost thermostat. Check thermostat. Replace if necessary.
Noisy operation	Loose flooring or floor not firm. Repair floor or brace floor
	Cabinet not level. Level cabinet.
	Tubing in contact with cabinet, other tubing, or other metal. Adjust tubing.
	Drip pan vibrating. Adjust drain pan.
	Fan hitting another part. Ensure fan properly aligned and all attaching hardware and brackets are tight and not worn. Tighten or replace.
	Worn fan motor bearings. Check motor for loss of lubricant or worn bearings. Replace if necessary.
	Compressor mounting grommets worn or missing. Mounting hardware loose or missing Tighten hardware. Replace grommets if necessary.
	Free or loose parts causing or allowing noise during operation. Inspect unit for parts that may have worked free or loose or missing screws. Repair as required.
Frost or ice on evaporator	Defrost thermostat faulty. Check defrost thermostat. Replace if failed.
	Evaporator fan faulty. Check fan motor. Replace if failed.
	Defrost heater remains open. Check defrost heater continuity. Replace if failed.
	Defrost control faulty. Check control and replace if failed.
	Open wire or connector. Check wiring and connections. Repair as necessary
	Refrigerant shortage or restriction. Check for leak or restriction. Repair, evacuate and recharge system.
Unit starts and stops frequently (cycles on and off)	Loose wire or thermostat connections. Check wiring and connections. Repair as necessary.
	Supply voltage out of specification. Check input voltage. Correct any supply problems.
	Overload protector open. Check overload protector for continuity. If open, replace overload.
	Faulty compressor motor capacitor (some compressors do not require motor capacitor). Check capacitor for open/short. Replace if necessary.
	Faulty fan motor. Check fan motor. Replace if failed.
	Restricted air flow. Check condenser and grille for dirt. Clean.
	Refrigerant shortage or restriction. Check for leak or restriction. Repair, evacuate and recharge system.

Maytag Refrigerator System Diagnosis

 

Maytag Refrigerator Troubleshooting

Problem	Solution
Freezer control and lights are on, but compressor is not operating	Refrigerator is in defrost mode. Normal operation. Wait 40 minutes to see if refrigerator restarts.
Temperature controlled drawers are too warm	Control settings are too low.
	Freezer controls are set too low.
	Drawer is improperly positioned.
Refrigerator does not operate	Refrigerator is not plugged in
	Dial control in freezer is set to OFF (select models).
	Touch temperature controls are set to “–” (select models).
	Fuse is blown, or circuit breaker needs to be reset. Replace any blown fuses. Check circuit breaker and reset, if necessary.
	Power outage has occurred. Call local power company listing to report outage.
Refrigerator still won’t operate	Refrigerator is malfunctioning. Unplug refrigerator and transfer food to another refrigerator. If another refrigerator is not available, place dry ice in freezer section to preserve food. Warranty does not cover food loss.
Food temperature is too cold	Condenser coils are dirty. Clean according to the chart on page 26.
	Refrigerator or freezer controls are set too high. See pages 10, 11 and 12 to adjust controls.
	Food is too close to upper left air inlet. Relocate food.
Food temperature is too warm	Door is not closing properly. Refrigerator is not level. See page 9 for details on how to level your refrigerator.
	Controls need to be adjusted. See pages 10, 11 and 12 to adjust controls.
	Condenser coils are dirty. Clean according to the chart on page 26.
	Rear air grille is blocked. Check the positioning of food items in refrigerator to make sure grille is not blocked. Rear air grilles are located under crisper drawers.
	Door has been opened frequently, or has been opened for long periods of time. Reduce time door is open. Organize food items efficiently to assure door is open for as short a time as possible.
	Food has recently been added. Allow time for recently added food to reach refrigerator or freezer temperature.
Refrigerator has an odor	Odor producing foods should be covered or wrapped. Clean according to instructions on page 26.
Water droplets form on outside of refrigerator	Door gaskets are not sealing properly. Clean according to the chart on page 26.
	Humidity levels are high. Normal during times of high humidity.
	Controls require adjustment. See pages 10, 11 and 12 to adjust controls.
Water droplets form on inside of refrigerator	Humidity levels are high or door has been been opened frequently. Reduce time door is open. Organize food items efficiently to assure door is open for as short a time as possible.
	Door gaskets are not sealing properly. Clean according to the chart on page 26.
Refrigerator or ice maker makes unfamiliar sounds or seems too loud	Normal operation.
Temperature controlled drawer and/or crisper drawer do not close freely	Contents of drawer, or positioning of items in the surrounding compartment could be obstructing drawer. Reposition food items and containers to avoid interference with the drawers.
	Drawer is not in proper position. See page 14 for proper drawer placement.
	Refrigerator is not level. See page 9 for details on how to level your refrigerator.
	Drawer channels are dirty. Clean drawer channels with warm, soapy water. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
Refrigerator runs too frequently	Doors have been opened frequently or for long periods of time. Reduce time door is open. Organize food items efficiently to assure door is open for as short a time as possible.
	Humidity or temperature in surrounding area is high. Normal operation.
	Food has recently been added. Allow time for recently added food to reach refrigerator or freezer temperature.
	Refrigerator is exposed to heat by environment or by appliances nearby. Evaluate your refrigerator’s environment. Refrigerator may need to be moved to run more efficiently.
	Condenser coils are dirty. Clean according to the chart on page 26.
	Controls need to be adjusted. See pages 8 and 9 to adjust controls.
	Door is not closing properly. Refrigerator is not level.
	Door gaskets are not sealing properly. Cleaning according to the chart on page 26.
No indicator lights are lit on dispenser control	Freezer door is not closed. Verify that freezer door is closed. Power is removed from the control when freezer door is opened.
	Refrigerator is not plugged in. Plug in refrigerator.
	Fuse is blown, or circuit breaker needs to be reset. Replace any blown fuses. Check circuit breakers for any tripped circuits.
	Power outage has occurred. Call local power company listing to report outage.
	Refrigerator is in Sabbath Mode (select models). See Sabbath Mode page 19.
Ice or water are not dispensed when pads are pressed	Freezer door is not closed. Verify that freezer door is closed. Power is removed from the control when freezer door is opened.
	Controls are in lock mode (select models). See Dispenser Lock page 19.
	Water tank is filling. At initial use, there is an approximate one- to twominute delay in dispensing while the internal water tank is filling.
	Ice maker has just been installed or a large amount of ice has been used. Wait 24 hours for ice production to begin or for ice maker to restock after emptied.
	Water filter is clogged or needs to be changed. Change water filter (see page 20).
Ice maker is not producing enough ice or ice is malformed	Wait 24 hours for ice production to begin or for ice maker to restock after emptied.
	Water pressure is too low. Low water pressure can cause valve to leak. Water pressure must be between 35 to 100 pounds per square inch to function properly. A minimum pressure of 35 pounds per square inch is recommended for refrigerators with water filters
	Water filter is clogged or needs to be changed. Change water filter (see page 20).
Ice maker is not producing ice	Ice maker arm is up. Confirm ice maker arm is down.
	Household water supply is not reaching water valve. See Connecting the Water Supply pages 4 and 5.
	Copper tubing has kinks. Turn off water supply and remove kinks. If kinks cannot be removed, replace tubing.
	Water pressure is too low. Water pressure must be between 35 to 100 pounds per square inch to function properly. A minimum pressure of 35 pounds per square inch is recommended for refrigerators with water filters.
	Check freezer temperature. See Temperature Controls pages 10, 11 and 12 to adjust controls. Freezer must be between 0° to 2° F (-18° to -17° C) to produce ice.
	Ice bin is not installed properly. See Ice Storage Bin page 16.
	Improper water valve was installed. See Connecting the Water Supply pages 4 and 5. Self-piercing and 3 ⁄16" saddle valves cause low water pressure and may clog the line over time. The manufacturer is not responsible for property damage due to improper installation or water connection.
Water filter indicator light is red	Water filter needs to be replaced. If filter is not available, replace with bypass filter. See Water Filter page 20.
	Filter indicator sensor needs to be reset. See Filter Status Indicator Light page 19.
Ice forms in inlet tube to ice maker	Water pressure is low. Water pressure must be between 35 to 100 pounds per square inch to function properly. A minimum pressure of 35 pounds per square inch is recommended for refrigerators with water filters.
	Saddle valve not open completely. Open saddle valve completely.
	Freezer temperature is too high. See Temperature Controls pages 10, 11 and 12. Freezer temperature should be between 0° to 2° F (-18° to -17° C).
Refrigerator is leaking water	Plastic tubing was used to complete water connection. The manufacturer recommends using copper tubing for installation. Plastic is less durable and can cause leakage. The manufacturer is not responsible for property damage due to improper installation or water connection.
	Improper water valve was installed. See Connecting the Water Supply pages 4 and 5. Selfpiercing and 3 ⁄16" saddle valves cause low water pressure and may clog the line over time. The manufacturer is not responsible for property damage due to improper installation or water connection.
Water flow is slower than normal	Water pressure is low. Water pressure must be between 35 to 100 pounds per square inch to function properly. A minimum pressure of 35 pounds per square inch is recommended for refrigerators with water filters.
	Saddle valve not open completely. Open saddle valve completely.
	Improper water valve was installed. See Connecting the Water Supply pages 4 and 5. Selfpiercing and 3 ⁄16" saddle valves cause low water pressure and may clog the line over time. The manufacturer is not responsible for property damage due to improper installation or water connection.
	Copper tubing has kinks. Turn off water supply and remove kinks. If kinks cannot be removed, replace tubing.
	Water filter is clogged or needs to be changed. Change water filter.
	Water valve not opened completely. Open water valve completely and check for leaks. The minimum flow at dispenser is approximately 10 fluid ounces in nine seconds with a new filter in place or approximately 10 fluid ounces in five seconds without a filter.
Dispenser water is not cold	Refrigerator has been recently installed. Allow approximately 12 hours for water in holding tank to chill.
	Water supply in holding tank has been depleted. Allow approximately 12 hours for water in holding tank to chill.
	Water has settled into water lines outside holding tank and has warmed to room temperature. Discard first glass of water and refill.
Water appears cloudy	Air or air bubbles in water. This is normal when first using the dispenser and will disappear with use.
Particles in water and/or ice cubes.	Carbon dust from water filter cartridge. Initial water ejected through cartridge may contain harmless carbon dust flushed from cartridge. Particles are safe for consumption. Will disappear after the first few uses.
	Concentrations of minerals in water will form particles when water becomes frozen and melts. Particles are not harmful and naturally occur in water supplies.

Maytag Refrigerator Service Manual PDF