[rtc]

At 5am I heard water running in the kitchen and discovered water pouring out of the dispenser onto the floor. I selected "ice" and the water stopped. The dispenser lever was in the release position so there was no ice flow. I selected "water" and everything worked normally. If I hadn't been here, the house would have flooded!
It would appear that the water valve had received a signal to open from somewhere and when I selected "ice" that signal was removed and the water valve closed.
Question is: "What sent the valve "open" signal?"

Followup: I left the dispenser selected to "ice" and went out. When I returned at 3pm there was a pile of ice on the floor. That tells me the dispenser lever selector switch is at fault (possibly shorted). Any appliance techs have an opinion?

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Found this on another appliance repair blog:

Len September 24th, 2006, 02:04 PM
Came home after being out for about 8 hours and found water on the floor around the fridge. It appears that the water dispenser activated somehow and ran for some time. When I found it, the water was no longer running but the dispenser light was on. After turning off the water supply and checking the line I could find no evidence of any leaks. Then about two hours later the ice dispenser activated itself for a few seonds.

Would I be fairly close in guessing that the dispenser control panel may be out of whack? I took it apart and all looked fine and then re-assembled it.
At this point the ice dispenser is working but there is no water flow to the dispenser.

Thoughts ?

Len

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Jake September 25th, 2006, 10:30 AM
Hi,

Yes, Your dispenser control board is malfunctioning, it would need to be replaced.

Here is the one for your model:
Dispenser control board Part#WR55X10270


Jake

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Strangely enough my refrigerator has the exact same circuit board. Ordered a new board today!

rtc

[PS Staff - Sheila]

I don't think that the dispenser board is your problem.

There is a board in the back of the fridge that sends information to the dispenser board.

There should be a technician sheet under the fridge in an envelope that will help to test the board.

Here is a link to your fridge model GSS20IEMBCC.

[rtc]

The dispenser lever operates a switch which sends a signal to the water valve (through the dispenser board?) if the dispenser is selected to water. That same switch sends a signal to the ice flap and the auger (through the dispenser board?) if the dispenser is selected to ice. If that switch is open how does the signal get to water or ice unless through the dispenser board? I thought the switch might be shorted but that should give me water or ice as soon as I select them - it doesn't. There is a lot of condensation in the switch area. Is it possible the condensation shorts out the switch now and then? Clean condensate should not do that. I have the water turned off and the dispenser set to ice. I can operate the dispenser lever and hear either the auger and flap or the water valve operate - depending on ice or water selection on the dispenser. If I had a schematic I could figure this out - its the aircraft engineer in me!

[PS Staff - Sheila]

The only schematic that come with the fridge is the one for the entire fridge.

The manufacture does not supply the schematic for the individual boards in the fridge.

The board may have the manufactures name on it and you could try to contact them.

[rtc]

Sheila
Since I can't find out how the circuits work, it is probably easier to throw boards at it. I'm going to replace both boards (cheaper than a service call). I have the water shut off and the selector on ice (where it will stay forever) and so far it hasn't failed again. I figure I should hear the auger if it does. Thanks for the help.
rtc

[rtc]

Replaced the dispenser board and have had no further "unauthorized" dispenser problems. I still don't trust it and leave it on "ice" - much easier to clean up!