PLHT217TAB0 Frigidaire Refrigerator - Instructions

After pulling the fridge away from the wall and opening the paper backing on the bottom, I could see the motor. It's affixed to 3 metal ribs by 3 small screw/nuts. There is also a 12" wiring harness that led to a simple disconnect. Removing the disconnect and the 3 nuts was easy. However, there was no room to remove the motor with the fan attached. Between frame parts, the drip pan below, the ribs, and small, delicate copper tubing that can't get bent, it wouldn't fit thru any openings. So we rotated the motor inside the framework until the blade faced out, then reached in with a pair of needle nose pliers to remove the washer. Removing the washer is easy, it's just difficult to reach. With the washer off the fan was out of the way and very carefully (it was tight) the motor came out. Reverse was the same issue. Motor tight going in, not a lot of room to maneuver fan onto motor, and needed needle nose to tighten washer again. Make sure you tighten the washer before you install the motor on the prongs. Otherwise you need to remove it from the ribs, twist it to face you, then reinstall it on the prongs. Also, I felt I was stripping the nuts into the new motor. Turns out the holes in the motor aren't tapped. i realized the nuts are self tapping once I looked at them. I'm a big time DIYer and this wasn't bad at all. If your motor/fan assembly comes out whole, it's even easier.

Ice maker is held by 2 screws just above the unit, on the wall of the refrigerator. You can't see the screws, so borrow your wife's makeup mirror. Shine a light into the refrigerator, and using the mirror, locate the two screws, holding the unit in place, on the wall of the refrigerator. Using a nut driver, or socket wrench, with a 1/4 in socket, loosen up the two screws, but don't remove them. Bump the unit upwards, and away from the screws. (BEFORE doing anything!! Shut off the water supply, unplug the refrigerator) When you get the unit freed up, just unplug the old unit, and install the new one. You don't even have to worry about the water lines, and you'll see why, when you get the old unit off. Just reverse the procedure, installing the new unit. Very Simple, 10 to 15 minutes tops.

I watched the video on how to change the defrost thermostat. I removed the back cover inside the freezer then I pulled off the old defrost thermostat and then using a pair of wire cutters I cut it off and then bared a little of both of the wires and then slid the heat sherink and wire connectors on the existing wires and then slid the other ends of the wires into the wire connectors then crimped the ends of the connectors and then tried using heat on the heat shrinks but still used rubber electric tape over it. I clipped the new thermostat were the old one was and then reattached the freezer wall cover and plugged the refrigerator back in. 24 hours later I checked the temperature in the refrigerator and freezer and both are running a lot colder.

Loosened the two mounting screws (no need to remove them), lift off the icemaker and unplug it. Reverse the order and done.

I can't believe I put if off so long... so easy to do and PartSelect was very fast, efficient, and the cheapest vendor for my part.

Had to reach right hand to top of ice maker to locate hex head screws by feel, then place nut driver onto hex head by feel and then unloosen screws with lft hand ,a couple of turns, enough to lift ice maker off screws.
Replace new icemaker onto screws and tighten screws. The only problem incountered was the location and availability of having to feel with both hands to fit nut driver onto the screws.(could not see with my eyes because front of ice maker blocked view. )

Real simple repair..just backed off the two 1/4" hex bolts holding the ice maker to the wall of the fridge,(a little tricky since you can't see them),unclipped the electrical doo hickey. I re-clipped the electrical do hickey of the new ice maker, hung the ice maker on the bolts and then re-tightened them. However,still no ice,my problem was the water valve on the back of the fridge behind the cardboard. Although it was still giving H2O thru the door it was not allowing water to flow to the ice maker. I reccommend pouring some water into the ice tray of the ice maker. If it makes ice and dumps it in to the holder, your ice maker is OK. If it turns out to be your water valve, that fix is easy as well. I HIGHLY reccommend watching the "fix it" video associated with that part. That repair also took less than 15 minutes. Good Luck! KC Bridgewater,NJ

I removed the two side mount screws with a screwdriver and disconnected the electrical plug to the ice maker to remove it. I reversed the process to install the new one.

It was the thermostat that was the problem, but I chose to replace the entire ice maker for only $25 more.

I started look inside ,disconnected power, and open all possible compartments to see any burned part. Fortunately I fined a small part look like melted and then i went online and make my research .Then i ordered that part and change it.

purchased a new freezer gasket. It is still iceing in the freezer but now all over the top part and down the back. The new gasket does not secure tight enough around the entire freezer door when it is closed. It is secured properly to the door but does not "grab" tight enough when the freezer door is closed.

Snapped it in shelf in designated slots

Thawed out freezer, I recommend laying a couple old towels in freezer to soak up melted ice. Replaced old thermostat with new part. Removed 2 screws, removed back plate, unplugged 2 connectors and cut 2 wires. Crimped in new thermostat and repositioned to original part location. Reconnected plugs as I reinstalled back plate. Installed 2 screws and connected power. Works like new! Trouble shooting and part installation video is very helpful, great site!

Turned off water to inlet valve. Unbolted valve from back of unit, disconnect water supply line from valve, disconnected water line to ice maker. Put on new compression ring around water supply line. Pressed ice maker line into new valve, installed valve back on unit, then connected main supply line to valve. Works like a charm.

Just pushed the grill on

Before buying the part, I watched your video and realized it was extremely simple to remove and replace. Item was to take 7-10 days and I received it in 4. Took longer than 15 minutes because I had to move the fridge forward, get my tools and a vacuum, get a cup of coffee and get to it. Very easy and the video was exactly step by step. It took longer to vacuum all of the dust bunnies than to replace the part.

Honestly, I was in the market to buy a new refrigerator but now I believe I'll wait several more years. Thank you for your support.