Evaporator Drip Tray

The excellent video on replacement of the Evaporator Drip Tray showed plenty of "slack" on the two water lines connecting to the water filter unit so that it could be pulled out of the way from the front. However, on my refrigerator. there was almost no slack. so I ended up removing the screws that held the electric water valve on the right rear of the unit and then carefully manipulating the whole valve assembly forward into the unit so that a helper could pull some additional slack to the water filter. Then I carefully rotated the filter so that it swiveled to the right from the front. Then there was just enough room for the old evaporator tray to come out and for the new tray to be put in. (an alternate method would have been to remove the two water lines from the filter, but I didn't want to risk damaging the fittings and having a potential source of leak, so I opted to leave the lines attached.) After securing new tray with duct tape, I moved the filter holder back into position from the front. I then carefully retrieved the valve and fastened it back in place from the rear, after making sure the water lines were not pulled loose or pinched anywhere. I also noted that unlike the old tray that was very thin and brittle and had split causing my leak, the new replacement part was MUCH thicker and has some reinforcement ribs so I think it will hold up better.

Ejected the water filter. Opened the doors and pulled off the front grill under the doors by pulling hard on each end of the grill. Unscrewed two hex head screws that hold the water filter tube in place, and unscrewed one hex head on the side frame that holds a spring wire in place. Moved the water filter tube to one side. I reached in with my hand and removed the blue tape that held the original tray in place, and I bent down the metal tab that acts as a front stop for the tray. I pulled the refrigerator out from the wall and removed about 5 screws from the fiber panel on the back so I could gain access to the back of the tray, and I removed tape holding the back of the tray in place. From the front, I was able to maneuver the water filter out of the way just enough to pry the old tray out through the front. I inserted the new tray the same way. It was a very tight fit. Bent the metal tab up to hold the front of the tray in place, and reattached the tape. Reattached the two screws to hold the front of the water filter tube on place, and the one screw to hold the spring wire to the side frame. Popped the front grill back in place.