Lg Refrigerator: ice tray misalignment

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

Experiencing ice tray misalignment in your LG refrigerator? This common issue can be caused by ice jams, faulty gears, or even assembly failure. Misalignment may prevent the ice maker from functioning properly, leading to jams or incomplete ice production. Discover how to troubleshoot and resolve this issue effectively.

Urgency: Medium

Important Tips for Lg Models

LG official guidance indicates models without conventional trays may require specific test mode procedures and ice maker troubleshooting steps unique to LG designs.

Possible Causes

Ice jam or frost buildup around ice maker tray

How to Identify: Tray stops midâ€‘cycle, frozen ice chunks around housing, visible frost buildup

Part: Ice maker tray and surrounding area

Faulty ice maker gears or drive mechanism

How to Identify: Tray misalignment persists after clearing ice, gear teeth appear worn or broken, tray does not complete rotation

Part: Ice maker internal gears/drive pins

Ice maker assembly failure

How to Identify: Persistent misalignment despite clearing jams and resetting power, tray stops in incorrect position

Part: Ice maker assembly unit

DIY Solutions

Melt Ice and Clear Ice Jam

Moderate 15-30 minutes

Tools Needed: warm water, small container

Remove ice bin and expose ice maker tray
Pour a small amount of warm (not hot) water on tray to melt frost/ice buildup
Use cloth to absorb melted water and clear debris
Restore ice bin and allow normal cycle to resume

⚠️ Safety First: Do not use boiling water to avoid cracking components

Inspect and Reset Ice Maker Mechanism

Moderate 10-20 minutes

Tools Needed: flashlight

Unplug or power off refrigerator
Open freezer and inspect ice maker gears and tray alignment
Check for debris or broken teeth on gears/drive pins
Gently realign tray if accessible and free of damage
Power refrigerator back on and test ice maker

⚠️ Safety First: Ensure power off before inspecting internal components

Professional Repairs

Replace Ice Maker Assembly

Estimated Cost: $100 - $250

When to Call a Professional

Tray remains misaligned after clearing ice and resetting power

Visible broken or worn gears inside the ice maker

Repeated misalignment every cycle despite DIY attempts

Preventive Maintenance

Regularly clear frost and ice buildup: Tray misalignment due to ice jam
Frequency: Monthly
Ensure freezer temperature is appropriately set: Excess ice accumulation
Frequency: Monthly
Level refrigerator during installation: Mechanical stress and misalignment issues
Frequency: Once

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my LG Refrigerator ice tray misalignment?

Common causes include ice jams, frost buildup, faulty ice maker gears, or assembly failure.

How do I fix LG Refrigerator ice tray misalignment myself?

You can melt ice and clear jams or inspect and reset the ice maker mechanism.

How much does it cost to fix ice tray misalignment?

Professional repair costs typically range from $100 to $250 for ice maker assembly replacement.

When should I call a technician for ice tray misalignment?

If DIY solutions fail or if you suspect a serious assembly failure, it's time to call a technician.

References & Sources

LG Support: Tray Will Not Turn Upright Official

Community Analytical Insights

Analysis based on real user discussions from appliance repair communities

Can I Fix This Myself?

100%

DIY Success Rate Difficulty: DIY

Common Issues Reported by Users

Ice tray misalignment (2 mentions)

User Suggested Solutions

Replace the ice tray unit

Success rate: 50.0%
Replace the ice maker

Success rate: 50.0%

Analysis based on 2 community discussions
View Sources

Data compiled from real discussions on r/appliancerepair and r/Appliances:

Community Discussions

ice tray fell down into ice bucket

Replaced the ice tray unit and restored functionality.

DIY View on Reddit →

Ice tray fell down into ice bucket, squeaking noise when ice tray turns

Replace the ice maker