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Find repair and more information for the GE Café Refrigerator CFE28UEL****, a bottom-mounted freezer refrigerator that features a standard door, automatic ice maker, and 'Thru the Door Service'. This page covers information for model numbers matching the pattern CFE28UEL****.

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water, ice dispenser stopped working - bad intake valve?

GE cafe fridge, the control panel works. The water, ice, and crushed ice stopped working. I replaced the paddle assembly. That wasn't it. When I push the paddle, the light will come on, but not even the ice door won't open. That is what I think is odd. Even if the water was stopped, wouldn't the ice door open to release ice? I planned to replace the water intake valve. Any other suggestions?

Update (11/21/23)

Had GE tech come out. He said he has only seen my issue with 2 other GE cafe fridges. Not the water valve - its either the control board on the top of left door, or the board behind the touch display. The top control board was only 55 - so I ordered and yet to arrive. The board behind the touch panel is like 250+. If the top board doesn't work we may decide to put this fridge in the garage and get a new one. Everything works except the water and of course, ice, but all other components are fine. Very strange. Will post an update once I get the top board delivered and installed.

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Hi @rdp26997

Check if the door switches are electrically OK i.e. access the connections on the switches and then either use a voltmeter or disconnect the power and use an Ohmmeter to make sure that they're working OK. Not sure which one but it isn't the light switch, freezer door switch perhaps.

The water/ice dispenser function is designed not to operate if a door is open

Be safety aware as 120V AC is on the switches

Update (11/11/23)

@rdp26997

One of the door switches is a change over type switch not a simple make switch, so even though the lights go on and off, this doesn't mean that there's a circuit for the ice maker/water dispenser, when the door is closed i.e. two different circuits controlled by the switch i.e lights and dispenser function when it is either in the on or off position. See image below

Block Image

(click on image)

You need to check it electrically with a meter as I suggested.

The one with the changeover contacts will have 3 wiring terminals on it and the straight door light switch will only have two. Check the door switch at the bottom of the cabinet first

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I believe the door switches are fine, as at the very top left, and top right, I can open the doors (french style side by side), and when I open the door the lights come on, but I can press down on the door switches and the lights go off on each side, so I assume its not a error in the door signal.

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I just wonder if its one of two things - either a bad water intake valve, or a bad control board. But if the control board was bad why would the panel still light up and the electronic display panel still work? Does anyone know if the water intake valve specifically would not allow the ice maker function to even try and even shoot out ice? Not necessarily make the ice, but assume water was off to the house, wouldnt the insulated door flap open regardless if the water intake valve was bad? And the door paddle is functional and was replaced.

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Is there any ice being made? The door might not open if there is no ice in the tray. If no ice is being made because there is no water getting to the ice tray to freeze, then it is a good bet it is the water valve.

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@ruggb NO ice is being made, that is why I suspected water valve first, regardless of door switches. Its a 25 part - and it was easy to locate at bottom right of the back of fridge. I may try that first, however wife prefers to have tech out (sched for upcoming Friday) so it working for guests for Thxgiving. Will post an update once they tell me the issue.

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Yeah, wives are like that. They haven't figured out how little most technicians actually know. Most are part jockeys. Water valves are easy to replace - usually. Been there, done that.

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