CTX21G1XFRAA Hotpoint Refrigerator - Instructions

First I turned off the water supply. Then I removed the ice bin and the ice maker by removing 4 screws and 3 electrical connections. This allowed access to the evaporator fan which was not moving. To remove the evap fan I removed two screws that hold the fan bracket. The fan assembly now had to be pushed back and rotated to remove from hole. There are 3 electrical connections that have to be disconnected from the fan, one ground wire that also is connected to the fan bracket and 2 power connections. Installing the new fan was the reverse of the above except the power connections were in a different location and i had to use the extension wires provided with the new fan to have the length needed to make the connection.

turned off water supply, took screws out of bracket, then unhooked water lines. Installed water lines onto new valve, plugged it in then screwed bracket back onto fridge, turned on water and was back operating

I placed the new part on the end of the freezer door guard and firmly pushed it in until it 'clicked'. Easy as pie! The more difficult part was to remove the broken off part inside the opening of the freezer door hwere the new bar end was to be inserted. I finally used thin nose pliers to reach in and grab the broken off part.

I had to figure out how to remove the old gasket and install the new one on my own since there were NO INSTRUCTIONS. The old gasket had to be cut off; the new one had to be warmed in hot water to make it flexible enough to flatten out. Once that was done, I had to trim excess plastic from the inside corners before the gasket would press into place at the corners.

Repair was very simple. Removed refridgerator bottom back panel, about 6 or 7 screws. disconnected bad valve, installed new valve , connected water supply line and then reinstalled panel. Took about 15 minutes from start to finish.

I used pliers to pull lightly on the head of the switch, while I inserted a small flat head screw driver into the base of switch and gently worked around the edges to free it from the panel.

I took out the vegetable bins and slid in the part. Replaced vegetable bins. Works perfect. I was told locally that GE doesn't make the part any more and that I wouldn't be able to find one. First place I looked on the net was you and found it with no trouble at all. really thrilled to get it. Thanks

Found the part I needed in only a few minutes on the website and ordered it in less than 5 minutes. The part came within 2 days and I simply removed 2 screwes from the old part and installed the new part and replaced the 2 screws , the easiest repair job that I have ever done in my home. Thanks

This was much easier than I anticipated.
The most time doing the repair was waiting for the water to soften the new seal.
The old one pulled right out, she cleaned it off and I pushed the other into place.
Part select got it to me quicker than expected and when I phoned the order in and inquired about whether I needed the retainer behind it she asked someone and found I did not which saved me $16.
They are great and this whole transaction went too smooth...

The original piece was already removed. installation required a little custom fitting as the mounting was slightly different and the copper tubing from the water line needed to be bent to fit. The push in plastic connection (output to the icemaker itself ) was simple ( I was a little leary of it not leaking.)
I plugged in the solenoid connection first
I attached both water lines and checked for fit. Made the adjustments and then screwed the bracket back on to the refrigerator. I could only install one screw but it holds it fine. I did have to trim the hard press board(cardboard) a little to fit the new valve. I believe the board is to protect against dust build up on the mechanical equipment (motor, condenser,etc)

It could not have been easier. The new part matched the old part exactly. I turned the water off going to the refrigerator, unscrewed one screw from the old part, pulled the electric plug loose, disconnect the copper water line from old part, cut off the black plastic tube next to the water valve going to the icemaker, and the new water valve was ready to install. It's that simple. I then took the new water valve, connected the copper water line to it, pushed the black plastic water line into its hole, connected the electric plug, and screwed the new part onto the refrigerater. In a matter of minutes I had water running to my icemaker again. I can't imagine the money I saved by doing this simple project myself. This took less than 10 minutes.

After finding your web site, the description of my problem was pretty clearly referenced as to what parts where the likely problem. When I received the parts it was only a matter of unplugging the refrigerator, removing the cover in the freezer and cutting and stripping the two color coded wires for the thermostat and wire nutting the wires and putting wire tape on them. Then put the coil cover back on. Then in the refrigerator section, remove the controls cover and then take the controls compartment loose and unfasten the old defrost control, and install the new one. Then put every thing back in place. Plug the refrigerator back up and set the temperature to medium.

The replacement single outlet water valve was not an exact replacement and required a slightly different mounting position. The original plastic hose to the ice maker attached to the valve with a plastic nut. The new connection requires only pushing the hose into a hole in the valve. Easy and simple. However, the new mounting angle promptly broke the brittle old plastic hose. I was able to pick the broken pieces of hose out of the valve with a fine point pick saving the new valve. If I hadn't been able to pick the broken pieces out of the new valve I would have had to order another one. Off to the big box store to buy new 1/4 inch plastic hose and a coupler. Repair completed and no leaks. If the hose hadn't broken, the I would have been done in 15 minutes. I suggest you plan to replace the entire plastic hose when you replace the valve.

I followed the directions of Steve on the installation video. He makes it easy to do the repair with his step by step description of the installation. I have repaired three different aging appliances with help of Steve and PartSelect's very helpful Customer Service.
I wish Steve a wonderful retirement and hope PartSelect can find someone as easy to follow for future videos. The videos are priceless for the repairs.

The old switch was hard to remove. Thinking that I may have to loosen the wires I used a socket wrench to remove a clamp. This was unnecessary. In the end the switch did come out using a large size screwdriver. The problem was that the expanding plastic tongue is not visible from the ouside so you have to try to feel your way around. If i had ordered the replacement before and not afterwards I would have seen this before hand.