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Appliance Repair Blog

Samung DA97-15217D Ice Maker Removal Instructions

Posted on May 13, 2015

Listed below are the step by step instructions for removing Samsung ice maker assembly part number DA97-15217A.

1. When pressing the Energy-Saver and the Fridge buttons on the Display together for 8 seconds at the same time, it will convert to the Test Mode and the entire Display function will be off.
DA97-12317A_1

2. When pressing any button within 15 seconds after it is shifted to the Test Mode, its function will change in the following order.  Manual operation1(FF) Manual operation2(0F-r) –> manual defrost of fresh food compartments(rd) –> manual defrost of fresh and freezer compartments(fd) –> cancel(Display all off).  Set unit to Fd for 5 minutes.  This will allow for easy removal of the ice maker.
DA97-12317A_2

3. While pressing the tab on the top right side, lift up the Ice Bucket and pull it out.
DA97-12317A_3

4. Remove the screw from the Wire Housing Cover.
DA97-12317A_4

5. Remove the Wire Housing Cover.
DA97-12317A_5

6. Disconnect the Ice Maker Housing Connector.
DA97-12317A_6

7. Remove the screw from the Duct Tray-ice.
DA97-12317A_7

8. With a flat blade screwdriver, push the duct to the right and remove it from the locking tab.
DA97-12317A_8

9. With a flat blade screwdriver, pry down on the refrigerant tube to separate it from the bottom of the ice maker.
DA97-12317A_9

10.  Push down the refrigerant pipe slightly and separate the refrigerant pipe and the Ice Maker Assembly completely.
DA97-12317A_10

11. While pressing the Hook, pull out the Ice Maker.
DA97-12317A_11

12.  While pushing down the Duct-Tray-Ice, pull out the Ice Maker carefully and remove it.  *When removing the Ice Maker, be careful not to damage the grommets on the tray or the refrigerant tube (refer to the dotted circles in the picture below).
DA97-12317A_12

If you find that you have a bad ice maker, you can purchase one from our online store by clicking the link below.

Ice Maker – Part Number DA97-15217D (PD00037355)

This is maker is found on these model refrigerators:

RF25HMEDBBC, RF25HMEDBSR, RF25HMEDBWW, RF263BEAEBC, RF263BEAESP, RF263BEAESR, RF263BEAEWW, RF263TEAEBC, RF263TEAESP, RF263TEAESR, RF263TEAEWW, RF28HDEDBSR, RF28HDEDTSR, RF28HFEDBBC, RF28HFEDBSR, RF28HFEDBWW, RF28HFEDTBC, RF28HFEDTSR, RF28HFEDTWW, RF28HMEDBBC, RF28HMEDBSR, RF28HMEDBWW, RF28HMELBSR, RF30HBEDBSR, RF30HDEDTSR, RF31FMEDBBC, RF31FMEDBSR, RF31FMEDBWW, RF31FMESBSR, RF323TEDBBC, RF323TEDBSR, RF323TEDBWW, RF32FMQDBSR, RF32FMQDBXW, RF34H9950S4, RF34H9960S4

If you have any questions, comments, or tips that will help others please post them in the comments section below.

39 Thoughts on "Samung DA97-15217D Ice Maker Removal Instructions"

  1. Dick Woolley Posted on May 26, 2015

    While removing the Samung DA97-12317A icemaker to determine why it was not making ice cubes, I discovered a large deposit of ice near (but not obstructing) the water inlet & drain ports at the rear of the assembly. There is also a 1/2″ deposit of ice under the Duct Tray – Ice. Seems like this relates in some way to a defrost / melt function that is not occurring.

    Do I need to replace the ice maker, or does this indicate another part that controls the defrost?

    Thanks,
    Dick

    • Ryan Posted on May 28, 2015

      What is the model number of your refrigerator?

    • Vicw Posted on July 20, 2015

      I’ve been fighting this same problem for quite a while on my Samsung Model RF263BEABC/AA. Ice accumulates in the rear area of the ice maker, which fills the rectangular orifice that funnels air coming from the fan in the Fan/Auger assembly. When it builds up enough to block the orifice completely, I start to see excessive water at the ice dispensing outlet, and the ice temperature rises to about 32 degrees, until I remove the ice maker and clear out the ice.

      I temporarily ran wires from the ice maker to monitor the fan externally, and I was satisfied that the fan is working properly, and being driven by the control assembly. It is a very anemic little muffin fan, so there is little air movement.

      I’ve replaced the ice maker and the fan/auger assembly, but neither of them made a bit of difference. I’ve tried a number of experiments to try to prevent the ice buildup, to no avail so far. I’m very reluctant to call in Samsung maintenance, mainly because I have very little confidence in them.

      We visited our son recently in California, and discovered that they replaced their LG fridge last fall with a Samsung identical to ours, and they have the same problem as we do – after 3 attempts to repair it on warranty service.

      My latest theory is that ice that builds up on the freezer coil that goes through that area, melts off with the defrost cycle, runs down the vertical surface, then refreezes around the orifice. I am just about convinced that it’s a basic Samsung design problem. I’ve searched high and low to see if Samsung ever release a field fix for the problem, but have yet to find one. I have been using an endoscope to try to analyze the problem, and have some pictures that illustrate the ice formation over time.

      • Ryan Posted on July 21, 2015

        The water would either have to come from the defrost cycle or from the ice maker. My guess is that the ice is probably from the defrost cycle but I am not sure what would be causing it.

        • Vicw Posted on July 21, 2015

          Thanks for the feedback, Ryan. I agree that’s it’s most likely from the defrost cycle. It seems to start at the two points where the freezer line comes perpendicularly out of the rear assembly, but I don’t know why. The freezer line goes slightly downhill toward the front of the unit, so any meltoff during defrost should go away from the wall and orifice.

          I’m wondering if there is supposed to be a defrost element around and below the orifice that would allow any ice to melt and flow down and away to the drain, but I don’t know if such a thing exists. I suspect that it starts with ice that collects on the freezer line, which then melts off during the defrost cycle, and flows down the wall and over the orifice and refreezes.

          I know there is a defrost wire that starts at the side of the unit and disappears into the bowels of the ice maker. I have no idea how that is routed, or even relevant, as there doesn’t seem to be any documentation on it. It’s not even listed on the parts illustrations, perhaps because it’s not user replaceable.

          I wish I could post a picture to illustrate the ice buildup – it’s hard to describe.

          I get the same results with either of two different ice makers and two different fan/auger assembles, so I don’t think they are defective. I’ve joked about buying another one, just so I could compare their behavior, and solve the problem, but that would be quite an extravagance.

          It’s a shame that while the Samsung French Door refrigerators are extremely sophisticated design, they seem to be apparently prone to ice maker problems.

          • Mike E Posted on January 25, 2016

            Did you ever figure out a fix? I have the same problem

            Thanks

      • RobertJ Posted on July 22, 2015

        I have the same problem with a RF28HFEDBWW – but do you have pictures you could email me as I am not sure where this rectangular orifice is. I am still fighting to get my ice maker out. Any one find a solution as yet????

        • Vicw Posted on August 10, 2015

          Hi RobertJ, Sorry for the delay in my response, but I just today got an email from the blog. Not sure why the delay.

          I will be happy to share any pictures or comments with you, but I’m not sure how you can share your email address with me, without making it publicly available. I wish I could just post a picture or two here that would illustrate what the area looks like.

          I’m concerned that you are apparently having difficulty getting the ice maker out. If you follow the instructions in the blog, it should not be really difficult. All of the steps are important, and you just be sure to run the defrost cycle for 5 minutes, which should help to release the ice maker from the accumulated ice, and also be very careful handling the refrigerant tube that loops through the ice maker. It does have to be pulled down far enough to release it from the ice maker.

          After all the things I’ve done so far, I no longer think that the problem may be due to the defrost cycle, I now believe that the water that results in the icing up in the rear of the unit has probably escaped from the area where it is discharged from the tube at the top to the inlet of the ice maker, perhaps spilling over from the inlet of the ice maker, or diverted into the insulation area above the ceiling of the chamber.

          Yesterday, I was able to use an endoscope and a mirror to observe and photograph the hidden area where the ice maker water supply line intersects with the bell-shaped plastic device that is molded into the insulation at the top of the refrigerator, which distributes water downward to the ice maker. I am experimenting with how far the tubing projects inside that fixture to see if it may reduce or eliminate the ice accumulation. I should know if it has made any difference in a couple of days, and I’ll update the results in this thread.

        • Art Bergman Posted on September 27, 2018

          There is no way one can remove the icemaker as one can not get the screw out that is on the right hand side up high behind a plastic clip,,, How does one get that screw out?

          • Aaron Posted on October 5, 2018

            Don’t take that out. The clip will slid the whole upper assembly out. See picture 11 on this page.

      • Phil Gillespie Posted on October 29, 2019

        I spoke with a company rep, he informed me that the ref. must be setting on the front legs instead of the front rollers, it must have a min. of 2 degree slope to the rear, I had to manually adjust the front legs dgood luckown,

  2. Mary Posted on June 11, 2015

    We have model
    RF263TEAEWW
    Our upper ice-maker is totally frozen over. How do I set it to defrost after converting to test mode?
    The upper unit is freezing over even though I have that icemaker turned off.
    I do not want to replace it. I just want to defrost it and disconnect so it does not freeze over.
    Also yesterday it started making a loud vibrating noise from the upper left corner behind the upper icemaker.

    Thank you for your help.

    • Ryan Posted on June 12, 2015

      Step 2 in the instructions shows how to put the refrigerator into forced defrost mode.

  3. Rj Posted on June 30, 2015

    I have a model rf28hmedbsraa, and my ice maker isnt producing ice either. I cant get the ice maker out. Instructions above are close but not exactly the same for my fridge. How can i defrost and pull out the ice maker?

    • Ryan Posted on July 16, 2015

      We do not have any instructions specific to your model refrigerator at this time. You could manually defrost it by unplugging the refrigerator and letting the ice maker warm up to room temperature if you are having trouble putting it into forced defrost mode.

  4. RobertJ Posted on August 10, 2015

    Thanks Vicw. I have removed the ice maker and found the square hole in the back and your analysis to be correct. After thawing the ice blockage with a heat gun, it all has worked flawlessly since. Thank you for posting your findings – great help to those who are looking to help themselves!!

  5. Vicw Posted on August 10, 2015

    I’m glad to know that you were able to get the ice maker working properly again. I think you may have to periodically clear out the accumulated ice, as the source of the ice accumulation is most likely still there.

    One point that I neglected to mention in my comments, is to avoid blowing very high heat into the assembly, There are some tender plastic parts that will distort under high heat. I’ve learned my lesson, and have been using the low heat setting on my hair dryer, or just allowing the ice to melt naturally since then.

    I also now monitor the temperature of my distributed ice with a hand-held laser infrared thermometer. They are incredibly cheap on Amazon., and fun to use. The dispensed ice temps may vary between about 15 degrees and 32 degrees, but I have found that once the accumulated ice blocks the orifice the ice will come out quite wet and stay around 32 degrees. At this point, there is more and more water discharge along with ice, and leakage of water inside the refrigerator, but of course you have already seen all of that yourself. Good luck with yours.

  6. Vicw Posted on February 23, 2016

    Sadly, no. I spent a huge amount of time and effort over almost 3 years, trying to isolate and resolve the problem, and I replaced the Ice maker, the Fan/Auger Assembly and Main Control Board, with no resolution to the problem. Along the way, I discovered that my son in California has the same model, with exactly the same problem. He has had several attempts at warranty repair that have not resolved the problem for him, either. I finally concluded that it is just a terrible design.

    A few months ago, I threw in the towel on my attempts to repair it. I found that the large ice tray that Samsung uses for their freezer ice makers is exactly the same for each model. They are available as a Samsung part, and the new one that I purchased on eBay fits beautifully and securely into the top drawer of my freezer. The recesses in the drawer keep the tray from moving around on the shelf.

    I have turned off the ice maker, and have been purchasing 10 LB bags of ice to keep a supply of fresh ice in the freezer tray available. It’s not a perfect solution, but it gets the job done, and has really lowered my stress level.

    • Vicw Posted on February 23, 2016

      @mike E Sorry, I expected my Reply, above, to be directed to your query from Jan 25, but it got placed out here by itself. I obviously don’t quite understand the structure of this forum, and I wonder why I just not got the email from your entry.

      • David Kitchel Posted on March 16, 2021

        I use a wooden spoon to chunk off big ice after 5 min df mode. Then used a heat gun for a few minutes on low and from a good distance. For the last bit, all frozen around the tube, I heated up a bean bag thing for using on your neck. Sat that on top of an orange juice plastic bottle (or anything similar sized) and waited a another few minutes. Be very careful when pulling down on the tray/ice maker tube and also using anything very sharp or pointy in there.

  7. DKIRKEY28 Posted on September 9, 2016

    I JUST USED YOUE SYSTEM TO REPLACE MY ICE MAKER- MADE SOME SUGGESTIONShttp://partsdr.com/blog/samung-da97-12317a-ice-maker-removal-instructions/

    ABOVE IS A LINK ON HOW TO REMOVE THE ICE MAKER

    NOTE
    1- REMOVE ANY ICE BEFORE YOU START- PUT SOME IN THE
    FREEZER FOR BACKUP
    2-REMEMBER TO PUT YOUR ICE MAKER IN FD (DEFROST)
    FOR 5 MIN-THE ICE MAKER IS FROZE IN PLACE
    3-THE REPLACEMENT UNIT IS SHIPPED WITH NO SCREWS
    (DON’T LOSE THE TWO SCREWS YOU REMOVE AS YOU TAKE THE UNIT
    4-THE UNIT IS SHIPPED WITH THE BOTTOM COVER THAT IS ON
    HINGES-THERE IS A CLIP ON THE OTHRE SIDE OF THE SCREW
    THAT WILL ALLOW THE THE HINGE BOTTOM TO DROP DOWN
    THIS MAKES IT EASIER TO FISH IN THE COOLER TUBE
    5-REMEMBER TO PUSH THE RESET BUTTON FOR 3 SECONDS
    6-THE NEW ICE MAKER NEEDTO HAVE THE BOTTOM CLIP RELEASED AND THE BOTTOM OPEN SLIGHTLY.
    7- TROW THE FIRST BATCH OF ICE AWAY- CALL IT CLEANING-

  8. April Carr Posted on December 29, 2018

    I cannot get the ice maker to stay up in place after replacing it. Any suggestions. My model number is RFG298HDWP

  9. Mark Kronemer Posted on March 31, 2019

    I pulled out the ice pucket with a Long silver rod. At the end of the rod was a fun spring. I don’t know where it goes The motor now sounds very loud. Can you please help.

    • Ryan Posted on April 1, 2019

      The metal rod and spring on the ice bucket are used to switch between crushed and cubed modes.

  10. Bridget Posted on April 5, 2019

    We are having the same issues as many here with our older Samsung Fridge Model RF323TEDBSR/AA
    I have defrosted the icemaker, defrosted the entire fridge, cleaned and dried 2 months ago, after water was leaking from back of fridge into bottom of the meat crisper and inside. After reading everyone’s similiar issue, would it make sense for us to replace the icemaker? Or is there away to disconnect and see if we just don’t use the icemaker anymore to stop the water leaks inside?
    Thank you

    • Ryan Posted on April 5, 2019

      It doesn’t sound to us like the ice maker would resolve your problem with the water issues. We don’t know of any way to bypass and remove the icemaker on this refrigerator. Maybe using the ice off feature on the refrigerator might do something like this? Also, your water issue could be cause by an automatic defrost problem.

      • Bridget Posted on May 9, 2019

        The ice off does not stop the water. I noticed the back of the inside of the fridge has frozen ice showing through the small holes in very back of fridge. Is this related to the automatic defrost? Do you know how to turn this off. Do you think a service tech is the best approach?

        • Ryan Posted on May 9, 2019

          It sounds like the water valve on the refrigerator may be bad and leaking. If water continues to leak into the ice maker compartment even when the refrigerator is unplugged then that is usually a good indication that the water valve is bad and leaking. On most newer Samsung refrigerators the water valve is located inside the filter case assembly. See the link below for a video on how to access this part.

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUblOnomHHY

  11. Bridget Posted on May 10, 2019

    Okay, great video. My only question now is, seeing you stand in front of the fridge, I can see the two holes in the back of the fridge, that I am trying to explain are frozen ice. Just about your head height, behind you in the video. These holes on our fridge have frozen water bulging from the holes. Water pooling (small amounts over days) is not in the icemaker, but in the big bottom meat trays and condensation is running down the back of the fridge below the frozen holes. Your video is awesome and shows how to replace the water valve and filter.

    Do you think this is our first step in fixing what is happening on the back inside of the fridge? Not the icemaker.
    Thank you

    • Ryan Posted on May 10, 2019

      It is really hard to diagnose your issue over the internet. You may need to have a technician look at it to diagnose your problem.

  12. JT Posted on July 13, 2019

    so… if I replace icemaker model DA97-15217A with the newer DA97-15217D… does that fix the issue of the ice accumulation in the rear of the icemaker? Or does the same design flaw still exist in the D model?

  13. Howard Kanitz Posted on November 26, 2019

    I have a Mod# RF25HMEDBSR. will not go into TEST MODE?

  14. Lou Posted on January 2, 2020

    Is that true what that guy said about the front end not being on the rollers and actually has to stand on legs ???

  15. David Smith Posted on January 5, 2020

    Rather than replace the ice maker, can I just disconnect it so it does not ice up any longer?

  16. Rhonda Nibert Posted on April 30, 2020

    We can’t get the ice maker to release when we get to steps 11 and 12. We had the refrigerator off for several hours to defrost it, but had no luck pulling it out. Any suggestions?

  17. Cynthia Posted on June 20, 2020

    We have had our Samsung French Door Refrigerator or almost a year and we are just now having our first problem with the ice maker. I noticed two days ago a loud grinding noise when I got ice…it does produce ice but very very loud and we cannot get the ice maker to come out…any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

  18. Robin Smith Posted on November 16, 2020

    Thank you for your video, wish I had found it 2 – 3 years back when we first started having problems with our model RF28HMEDBSR. I’ve replaced the icemaker, auger assembly, and ice bucket & also sealed the compartment with sealant which has helped.
    We are now having problems with the icemaker not shutting off when the bucket is full so the ice cubes backup over the top and freeze in a mass. We have resorted to turning the icemaker off at night to prevent. Inquiring if anyone else is having the same problem.
    Also thank you for the link to the Samsung Service Bulletin, I see some other things such as the clips I’m going to try. Would have been nice if Samsung or Lowes would have provided a link to the service bulletin
    Will be the last Samsung we purchase.

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