Kenmore · Refrigerator
Kenmore Refrigerator Error Code 26
Ice maker motor timed out
What this error means
Code 26 means the ice maker drive motor ran longer than allowed without completing its rotation. The gearbox did not return to the start position within the module timeout window.
How 26 is detected
When 26 appears on a Kenmore refrigerator, the control board has confirmed that water did not leave the machine within the programmed drain window. On Kenmore 106.51133210, Kenmore 106.62562101, and similar variants, the drain pump runs for a fixed interval—often three to seven minutes on washers and dishwashers—while a pressure switch or turbidity sensor verifies the tub or sump is empty. If water remains, the cycle stops to prevent spin with a full tub or overflow on the next fill.
Most 26 calls are resolved without parts: remove the ice bin and melt any ice bridging the ejector with a hair dryer on low. Restricted drain paths mimic pump failure because the impeller spins against a blocked hose or filter. Document whether the pump hums audibly during the drain step; a humming pump with no water movement points to a clogged filter or kinked hose, while silence may indicate a failed pump motor or loose wiring at the harness.
After clearing blockages, run a short cycle and listen at the drain hose for steady water flow. If 26 returns on the next load with a clean filter and straight hose, measure resistance at the pump motor connector per the service manual for your model before ordering a replacement pump assembly.
Common causes
- Frozen ice binding the ejector rake
- Stripped plastic gears inside the ice maker gearbox
- Failed motor winding drawing low torque
- Bent ejector arm hitting the bin auger housing
Step-by-step fixes
- 1Remove the ice bin and melt any ice bridging the ejector with a hair dryer on low
- 2Rotate the ice maker cam by hand—it should move smoothly through 360 degrees
- 3Run a manual harvest from service diagnostics and watch for full rotation
- 4Replace the ice maker head if the motor hums but the cam does not advance
When to call a technician
Gearbox replacement is bundled with the ice maker module—service is the fastest path if manual rotation is stiff.
Affected models
- Kenmore 106.51133210
- Kenmore 106.62562101
- Kenmore 106.74202410
Prevention & maintenance
- Clean drain filters and hose terminations monthly on high-use refrigerators to prevent 26 from lint and food debris buildup.
- Record when 26 appears in the cycle and whether it clears after a 60-second power reset on your Kenmore refrigerator—that detail speeds diagnosis if you call service.
- Keep the model and serial number from the rating plate when ordering parts for 26; Kenmore uses multiple revisions with different harness lengths and board firmware.
- Photograph wiring connector orientation before disconnecting any component while troubleshooting 26; reversed plugs on pumps and valves cause immediate repeat faults.