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Frequently Asked Questions About Domestic Refrigerator Repair:

Testing a solenoid

I have a GE fridge TBX21JASNAD and the icemaker quit working. The solenoid valve on the back... is there anyway on testing it with a OHM meter is it 120ac volt. Is it possible to test it by carefully hooking it up to 110 outlet. I would have already tried it but I don't want to burn it up if it is rated for a lower voltage. I must add that we have well water but it is pretty good. The ice cubes have been getting smaller and smaller as time has gone by. I have disconnected the water inlet on the back and put it in a bucket and there is plenty of supply water. Thanks,

Yes you can hook the solenoid to 120v, this is the best way of testing it. Make yourself a cord end with two female slide terminals on it. If the water runs through with no restrictions the solenoid is not at fault.

Actually when dealing with ice makers there are only two main things that go wrong, the solenoid and the head. The solenoid is about 1/4 the price of the head. If it ends up being the head, having a new solenoid is not such a bad thing.