Home › Refrigerators › Parts › Ice bin, auger and chute

Refrigerator Ice bin, auger and chute: What It Does and Signs It's Failing

The bucket that holds the ice and the corkscrew auger inside it that pushes cubes to the chute when you press the dispenser. A motor behind the bin drives the auger, and a flap at the chute keeps warm air out.

How it works

Pressing the paddle runs the auger motor and opens the chute door. Cubes move forward and drop through the chute, getting crushed on the way if you've chosen crushed ice.

Signs it is failing

• Ice clumped into one block in the bin
• Motor hums but no ice comes out
• Ice stuck in the chute
• An 'ice off' indicator because the bin isn't seated
• Water drips from a chute flap that doesn't close

Ice jam and bucket-not-seated codes mostly come from melted and refrozen ice in the bin. Frigidaire ties this to light use, temperature swings or power cuts.

Can you replace it yourself?

Take the bin out, let the ice thaw, clean and dry it, and slide it back until it locks. If the auger motor itself has failed, it usually sits behind the bin at the back of the freezer or ice compartment, and you'll need the fridge unplugged to get at it.

Buying the right part

Bins and motors are specific to model families. Buy the OEM part; a bin that doesn't engage the auger won't dispense.

Error codes linked to the ice bin, auger and chute

• DI SP / DISPIce jammed in the dispenserFrigidaire
• 39EIce maker function errorSamsung
• Ice OffIce Off light blinkingSamsung

Last reviewed 2026-10-19.