I have a similar problem with my water dispenser. I don’t ever use the ice maker so I don’t know if the problem extends to it too. The water filter is brand new. The problem has been going on for about 2 months. Here is my problem, the water dispenser works sporadically. One thing that is constant is when it won’t dispense water the light, the small green light of the water dispenser and the illumination light, flicker or simply do not come on. I press and hold for a few seconds, nothing. Then try it a few times and it will work. Though it’s taking longer to come on over the last few weeks. Do I need to buy a control board? I have power 99.9% of the time. Only when I actually want to get water from it is when it appears to lose power. What should I do?
It is very hard to diagnose any intermittent problem. I would recommend to keep use it until it will die completely.
Gene.
Hi Gene. Same issue as original post. Model # PSS26SGRD SS. This unit doesn’t have an LCD, only a selector style interface display (as shown on one of your pictures). Would the interface board still apply? I can select each option and the green lights changes appropriately. We’ve have a filter bypass due to an RO unit that feeds it, and we’ve checked lines internally. Icemaker works fine, though it doesn’t dispense ice or anything selected for that matter. One thing we notice when pushing on the arm, the light dims a bit, and then brightens back up after a few seconds. Lock doesn’t work, though it does flashes when "enabled". Home warranty says icemaker covered, but not dispensing 
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Have not been impressed with GE at all. For the money that we have spent on all of our nice high end GE appliances, they have not held up at all. We should not need to replace them every 5 years. They don’t make them like they used to.
Warmest regards,
Ana Weaver
Hi Ana,
Based on this symptom:
[QUOTE]
… One thing we notice when pushing on the arm, the light dims a bit, and then brightens back up after a few seconds…[/QUOTE]
very likely the problem is a bad main control board (on the back of the refrigerator).
- The main control board AP4436216
Here are the breakdown diagrams and http://www.appliancepartspros.com/partsearch/model.aspx?model_id=5208943
Gene.
Gene,
I have a similar problem as the others in this thread:
I have a GE GSS25KGSACC side by side fridge. The water and ice dispenser of course is bad. Still makes ice, dispenses ice and water intermittently.
When it does work the green lights on the dispenser work normally. When it decides it doesn’t want to work the lights all go out.
I did some research, and everyone said replace the main circuit board. I did that (with a new GE part) and the problem was fixed for a day. Then it started again.
I didn’t think the lines were frozen since it works one second normally, and then not at all.
I then replaced the interface display / circuit board / touch pad that controls the water / ice dispenser.
Problem is still the same. So, two parts replaced, dispenser still broken.
PLEASE HELP!
Thanks
Very likely the problem is a bad communications between the main control board and the dispenser board. You may want to run the self diagnostics test as described in the attached file. Do it twice - when everything is fine and when it’s malfunctioning.
Gene.
Gene,
I’m having trouble with the instructions.
I have the "single digit" display, like the picture in the instructions you provided. I have been able to hold all 4 buttons down and get to the point where both the fridge and freezer displays are flashing zero.
I then try to press the colder / warmer buttons to enter a code. The digits do change.
The next step listed is to "Press the HOLD button for 3 seconds to begin the test." Where is the "HOLD" button?
Since I have not located the "HOLD" button, after several seconds the displays both go blank, with no test apparently being performed.
Thanks again.
Gene said:
Very likely the problem is a bad communications between the main control board and the dispenser board. You may want to run the self diagnostics test as described in the attached file. Do it twice - when everything is fine and when it’s malfunctioning.Gene.
It’s very good question. Look inside the fresh food compartment for any "hold" button.
Gene.
I looked high and low inside the fridge. The only controls I see is the panel that is shown in your document. No hold button anywhere?!?
I’m stumped because this is the test described in the service manual for this model. Looks like you have to call a GE authorized service. Appreciate any feedback.
Gene.
In checking various sources on how to do the diagnostic I kept coming up with the same instructions. Other people were in the same situation, no hold button. It seems like GE has a problem with the manual or something…
Thanks for trying.
Gene said:
I’m stumped because this is the test described in the service manual for this model. Looks like you have to call a GE authorized service. Appreciate any feedback.Gene.
I am having the same problem with my refrigerator. When I push the paddle to dispense ice or water the green light will stay on for a second then go out, then come back on. There is some clicking on the mother board but only for a second. Still no water or ice.(the ice maker is making ice) I replaced the door flapper solenoid as instructed by a GE tech and that was not the problem. I also noticed when I depressed the dispenser lever a fan stops running. The filter was changed before i started to troubleshoot the water/ice dispenser. Ayn ideas?
— Begin quote from jeffropcola;667158
I am having the same problem with my refrigerator. When I push the paddle to dispense ice or water the green light will stay on for a second then go out, then come back on. There is some clicking on the mother board but only for a second. Still no water or ice.(the ice maker is making ice) I replaced the door flapper solenoid as instructed by a GE tech and that was not the problem. I also noticed when I depressed the dispenser lever a fan stops running. The filter was changed before i started to troubleshoot the water/ice dispenser. Ayn ideas?
— End quote
Sounds like the problem is a bad main control board.
Gene.
There have been a few people, like me, who have had similar problems. I have tried replacing the main control board, and then the dispenser display / control board. Neither one has fixed the problem, and I’m still without a water dispenser / ice dispenser. It still makes ice though.
I guess I’ll have to call a tech in to fix it.
jeffropcola said:
I am having the same problem with my refrigerator. When I push the paddle to dispense ice or water the green light will stay on for a second then go out, then come back on. There is some clicking on the mother board but only for a second. Still no water or ice.(the ice maker is making ice) I replaced the door flapper solenoid as instructed by a GE tech and that was not the problem. I also noticed when I depressed the dispenser lever a fan stops running. The filter was changed before i started to troubleshoot the water/ice dispenser. Ayn ideas?
— Begin quote from 9x94;667441
There have been a few people, like me, who have had similar problems. I have tried replacing the main control board, and then the dispenser display / control board. Neither one has fixed the problem, and I’m still without a water dispenser / ice dispenser. It still makes ice though.
I guess I’ll have to call a tech in to fix it.
— End quote
Sounds like this is the best solution in such situation. Keep us posted please.
Gene.
The problem with mine turned out to be a bad connection in the wiring harness which is located just below the freezer door. I guess this wire runs up to the dispenser control board. The small black connector in the harness was all corroded and it looked like it shorted.
After that was repaired it was back to normal. So I had no bad motherboard, valves, frozen lines, or any of that common stuff.
I did end up calling in a pro to fix it.
Just wanted to say thank you for the feedback. It is not often we see a failed wire harness connector under the freezer door, so your post was very illuminating and instructive. It will help many other people with the similar problem.
Thanks again, and good luck with your refrigerator.
Gene.
P.S. If you kept old parts and they are still in working condition, then you probably can return unneeded parts, purchased from APP.
Also when I started to describe the problem the first thing the tech said was "bad motherboard." Luckily I had already done a lot of the troubleshooting for him.
I was able to return the parts I didn’t need. So all I ended up paying for was the labor today, which was less than the cost of the motherboard anyways.
Thanks for your help on here Gene.
Hello Gene…
My problem is very similar to Ana. I just want to run it past you before I order a board.
Water works, all lights work. When you switch to either ice mode and hit the dispenser the lights go out, night light goes dim, control panel in the fridge goes blank…if the compressor is running it will even kick that off. It also will not dispense water for about 5 mins.
About 30 sec later the display will come back on.
I saw the diagnostic instructions for the LCD display; I have the other non LCD display you posted. Is there a test that can be run from that one?
— Begin quote from bonnessei;676618
Hello Gene…
My problem is very similar to Ana. I just want to run it past you before I order a board.
Water works, all lights work. When you switch to either ice mode and hit the dispenser the lights go out, night light goes dim, control panel in the fridge goes blank…if the compressor is running it will even kick that off. It also will not dispense water for about 5 mins.
About 30 sec later the display will come back on.
I saw the diagnostic instructions for the LCD display; I have the other non LCD display you posted. Is there a test that can be run from that one?
— End quote
Your problem sounds very different and I don’t think you have to run any tests. The new main control board should fix it. If you need to confirm the part number, post the complete model number of the refrigerator.
Gene.