The short answer for this family
On the Alpha PAR RD RDTM family, an ice maker making no ice, or bad ice is usually a compartment that is not cold enough to make ice. A top-mount machine takes its air from the warmest part of the room, so ambient and clearance problems outrank dirt on this family. The brand-generic order holds at the head here; what this platform changes is the order below it. The checks at the head of the ranking cost nothing but time; the cause at its foot is not owner work at any stage.
What you observe on these models
- Which of the family's models you are standing in front of — The matrix on this page is a single model whose family key marks it as the top-mount build, and that is worth reading first, because a top-mount machine takes its air from the warmest part of the room, so ambient and clearance problems outrank dirt on this family.
- The mould is dry and nothing has filled it — Water is not arriving. That is upstream of the ice maker and usually upstream of the appliance.
- Cubes are small, hollow or misshapen — Some water is arriving but not enough, or not for long enough.
- The bin holds one fused block rather than cubes — Ice that has melted slightly and refrozen has bridged, and a bridged bin stops the ejector.
Causes, most likely first on the RDTM family
- A compartment that is not cold enough to make ice — Ranked first because a top-mount machine takes its air from the warmest part of the room, so ambient and clearance problems outrank dirt on this family.
- The shut-off arm or bin sensor left in the off position — Second. The condensing unit is overhead and needs a step to reach; the evaporator and drain are inside the cabinet, so the arm is easy to catch and easy to miss.
- The fill valve and the supply behind it — Third. Small or hollow cubes point here rather than at the ice maker itself.
- A jammed mould, arm or ejector — Fourth. Worth clearing before parts are considered.
- A sealed-system or compressor fault — Last, and that placement is the point of the ranking: it is the least common cause and the only one that is not an owner fix.
- Body: This is not the brand-generic ranking. The head of the ranking matches the brand-generic order, but below it the shut-off arm or bin sensor left in the off position moves up to second place, because the platform here is a cabinet whose condensing unit sits on top, where it draws warm air from the ceiling side of the room.
Check in this order on these models
- Measure the compartment with a thermometer — A freezer holds food safely at 0 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 18 degrees Celsius, or below.
- Look at the shut-off arm or the bin sensor first — Arm up, or a box sitting in the sensor path, and the maker is being told to stop.
- Check that water is reaching the machine at all — Follow the line back to its valve and confirm the valve is fully open.
- Empty the bin completely and look at the mould — Bridged ice locks the ejector. Clear it, and see whether the next cycle produces loose cubes.
- Body: The order follows the ranking, and the access decides the rest: on these models the condensing unit is overhead and needs a step to reach; the evaporator and drain are inside the cabinet.
Before you open anything
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel; a capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Turn the water supply off at its valve before touching a fitting. Never chip at ice in the mould with a screwdriver or a knife: the mould and the heater under it puncture easily, and a punctured mould turns an ice fault into a replacement.
Models in the RDTM family
Reference| Model number | Family key |
|---|---|
| RDTM116WE | alpha-par-rd:refrigerator:rdtm |
Where the owner limit falls on these models
Call when water reaches the machine, the compartment holds 0 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 18 degrees Celsius, the bin is clear and the mould still does not fill or eject. Call sooner if the compartment is not holding temperature at all, because then the ice maker is the messenger rather than the fault.
Other symptoms covered for this family
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
