Understand Your Whirlpool Fridge Control Panel: A Step-by-Step Guide

Have you ever struggled to understand your whirlpool fridge control panel and wondered what any of the lights above your ice & water dispenser on your side by side refrigerator meant? We are back again answering a question about our Whirlpool Side by Side Refrigerator model #WRS588FIHZ. This is OUR specific model, but yours may look similar.
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👉 Watch this next to see the video where we share a cheaper water filter and how to change your water filter in the fridge • Cheaper Filter EDR1RXD...
DISCLAIMER: This video was created for entertainment purposes only and is not intended to be used as a guide for real-life situations. Viewers should exercise caution and use their best judgment when watching the video. Check the product information on Amazon and investigate your own needs to see if the products we used in this video will work for you. All items showcased in this video were purchased by us unless stated otherwise within the video or in the description.
Thanks so much for choosing to watch with The Project Help Desk. If you ever have any questions, suggestions, or even some nicely done feedback compliments it's always appreciated. #theprojecthelpdesk
00:00 What are the lights on your whirlpool fridge and what do they mean?
00:54 The Ice & Lights Menu
03:23 The TEMP Menu for Fridge & Freezer
06:02 The Lock Menu
06:51 The Viewer Question About Door Light on Panel (and Potential ISSUE if your light is on all the time)
08:40 Order Filter Light
09:51 The Options Menu (Fast ice, Sound & Filter Reset)
12:05 The Measured Fill and the Problem You Might Have with It (plus how to calibrate)
14:57 Cooling Off Light
16:00 More Questions & Recommendation for Maintenance

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

👉 Watch this next to see the video where we share a cheaper water filter and how to change your water filter in the fridge kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4KWl6Jsqbuhh8U

[@user-qt5eh9wb7g]

How about telling me about the clock on this model? Zero about the clock in the manual that I can find....

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

@@user-qt5eh9wb7g To my knowledge, there is no clock on this. At least not on ours.

[@patfowlkes9105]

This video was so helpful. I was driving myself crazy. Your video was invaluable. Also, you guys are funny. Thanks so much!

[@1lovablety8]

OMG! Thank you so much for this video. My husband must’ve incidentally locked it and there was no ice or water being dispensed🙏🏼♥️🙏🏼

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

Glad it helped!

[@cinlou7]

Thank you very much for creating this video to elaborate on using the Whirlpool Refrigerator Control Panel. It was extremely helpful. My fridge was delivered yesterday and the manual just doesn't explain much about using the panel. Will definitely save this video for future reference if needed. Again, thank you! 🙂

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

Glad it was helpful!

[@reginawoods9820]

THANK YOU!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!! Great video!!!

[@sherry995]

Your last comment regarding the cooling off was really important to me. I needed to know how to shut my refrigerator off so that I could clean the shelves without leaving the doors open and having the refrigerator run. Because it took me a while to clean my fridge my icemaker clogged with ice and is no longer dispensing. So I am trying the cooling off for a period of time and then turning it back on to see if the ice in the ice water dispenser will defrost. If that works that will save me a service call to get my icemaker working again. It was working fine before I decided to clean my fridge after I cleaned it it stopped making ice. So thank you for that cooling off information it was helpful

[@LeslieAcevedo-zs4hk]

Very good video, the gentleman is very clear and concise : ) Thank you

[@kagma01]

This was a fantastic video of explaining. I appreciated this so much!!!

[@SheriCordell8914]

This was very helpful since I actually for the first time have the same panel in a tutorial video. My mom lost the manual and I had to get one online but I like to see what I’m doing first. You are a Godsend… Thank you so much!!!

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

We are so glad this was helpful to you.

[@larryprice2694]

Good video, helped me understand my fridge! Additionally on the measured fill, as the filter ages less water comes out of the measured fill. So it definitely as you said is a timed sequence.

[@DavidWilson-vx9ux]

Thank you for a great video. All questions covered and answered. Good job!

[@DeeDane]

Thank you!!🎉 i didn't feel like reading the manual 😊

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

Glad it helped

[@angiewilson9534]

Thank you so much for making this video!

[@user-ge8pf5od5w]

Thank you so much! Couldn't figure out what a code meant. You saved me!

[@franklinbrown6776]

Great help thank you!

[@JeanPorter-cj8rt]

Thank you so much the information was very helpful

[@estelaontiveros9749]

Thank you help on my lights for my door! But now my ice maker isn’t producing ice inside door

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

It takes a few days after powerup before ice starts. Also check the power switch behind the ice bin just in case it is turned off.

[@rampee1000]

I have the same problem. After 2 years ice is not being made. I am not seeing the reset button so I turned the icemsker off and waiting for 24 hours to pass. Keep in touch and I would tell you what's went on. For a fairly expensive refrigerator I have found this to be a great disappointment.

[@hopeseckinger8216]

Thank you for this video!

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

You're welcome.

[@SusanGeorge77]

Thanks for the info!

[@cliffordnealon]

Thanks this helped me out.

[@TaraKhanna-iy7cs]

Visio is very good thank you

[@kratunkov]

Thank you for the great video! Do you know how to adjust ice maker fill time? Mine is making about 1/8-1/4" thick bridge between cubes. Thank you in advance!

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

Let me start by saying that I am not an expert on everythging. And this model has like 5 different ice maker options. So yours may not be like mine. But from what I have read in my manual, I did not see anything specific that would allow the adjustment of the amount of water that goes in during a cycle. Now in theory, slowly closing off the water valve on the back to reduce the water that can flow in. I 'THINK' it is timer based so less ability to push water in might lower the total amount of water in the tray during the cycle. This would however also lower the amount of water pressure on the water dispenser though.

[@belkysosorio7985]

Great video, i need to go a while from my home if i use the last step with refrigerator empty, what will happen?

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

If you are talking about the step related to disabling cooling, then imagine the ones you see in the stores. It basically turns off the 'cooling mechanism' but allows the interior lights to still function. Most displays you see in the retailers are set this way. That way you can see the inside when you open the door, but it isn't using electricity to run the compressor and keep things cold. So, as you mentioned, this is only intended if your fridge is empty. You can also build up a musty smell doing this but it usually goes away after it is plugged back in. Personally, I would simply unplug the unit and leave the doors open instead. As long as I didn't need to worry about children, pets, wild animals, or debris.

[@JillPearson1]

@TheProjectHelpDesk Helpful! Do you have a video or tip on what to do if those display indicators are not working? It’s intermittent. Every now and then, they all light up again and display all the words and icons. Then sometimes about half are dark (on the right half of the display). Then a few weeks later they will all randomly work again. Can’t find info anywhere. I have the 4-drawer Whirlpool. Is it an LED bulb(s) or a control board at fault? Thanks!

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

It is very difficult to remotely diagnose something like that unfortunately. If you look at the parts diagrams from the different internet sites that sells part though, you can get an idea of how many parts connect together. From memory, I think that board assembly is an all in one assembly that basically houses the control board and the indicators. So this is a good place to suspect. But beware, a lot of people complain about broken wires in the harness. Where the wires leave the freezer door. If you wiggle that harness and get the intermittent issue, you might need to suspect that cable.

[@Coaching_Foresight]

our water dispenser would run while the button is pushed. now it is calibrated to 1 cup. how do I get it to run for as long as the button is pushed and shut down when the button is released?

[@duanemorton1083]

How can you tell what the temperature is inside the freezer and fridge without putting a thermometer inside? You could have it set for 37 and it could 45 inside.

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

To my knowledge there is no way. We actually have a cheap thermometer on the outside door that has a sensor in each compartment. That way we can see the temp at a glance, even when the power is out, without opening the doors. I highly recommend one of these.

[@moneybags1025]

What is the rectangle icon with the check mark in the middle used for or what meaning does it have. Thank you.

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

It basically stands for the Options Menu. When you press the Options button that turns on. The check mark basically indicates that you have selected an option.

[@melissabittker2201]

How do I see current temperature not recommended

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

If you mean the temp inside the fridge and freezer themselves, then from all my research, you can't actually display those. You can only display what your set temps are. Not what they actual temp is. That is why we bought a remote, battery operated temp display to monitor our temps, even when the power is out, without opening the doors.

[@DanielNeal-hb3qw]

What is Fast Cooling on my pad when I hit options?

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

As I understand it, Fast Cooling basically works the same as Fast Ice, but on the fridge side instead of the freezer side. So it lowers your fridge temp temporarily. An example of why you would use this would be right before loading up groceries. When a lot of warm items would be getting placed in at one time. This gives it more cold air to speed up the cool down time.

[@Mansa_Musa.]

Just got this fridge used from NFM. Installed today. It didnt include the filter and silver water tray is messing so all you see is the screws, smh. Guess I will need to buy this somewhere. Also, on the fridge side towards the bottom shelf(inside) in the back, you can easily see the refrigerator line. Its like 3ft of cord all bundled up in the back. Does yours look like that? I swear my last fridge didnt have any visible refrigeration lines. Something seems off

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

Ours uses a water reservoir instead of the coiled up line. Our old one did, however, use the coiled up line. To be honest I think the coiled line cools better. It looks worse, but works better.

[@ilsonveiga8855]

My Ice Maker is not working, I changed the valve, but the tray looks like is already been changed, the switch is on and still not making Ice, and the arm on the tray doesn't come down either. any suggestion?

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

So there are really only three components to the ice system. The icemaker itself, the control board, and the wiring. There is a known issue with wires breaking at the bottom of the freezer door. Sometimes internally so you can't really see it broken. There has been enough of these failures that is spawned a lawsuit in fact. I would start by inspecting the wiring under the freezer door. My gut tells me, someone replaced the icemaker first and that the wiring might be actual root cause.

[@Millerman78]

When you press and hold the ice type and the light button a menu comes up with a selection from 1 to 48, any idea what this is?

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

Sounds like Diag mode. There is a technicial mode that allows them to force certain things on and off for troubleshooting. As a general rule, i would stay away from it. It will allow you to put the system into a configuration that can cause damage.

[@user-de9fv4hk5j]

I recently replaced my water filter, and now icemaker is not working. Water is being dispensed , so water line must be ok. How do I restart ice we maker? Thank you

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

I may not have an answer on this one. Replacing the water filter shouldn't cause the ice maker to just stop working that I am aware of. The one thing I can think of is a general power cycle of the whole fridge. IE unplug it for about 5 mins and plug it back in. Ours has a switch behind the ice bin, but different models have different mechanisms. So hard to say.

[@aracelivalladares2461]

Buenos días Mi refrigerador Whirlpool WRF736SDAM marca E1, el compresor no entra, no enfría lo suficiente arriba y abajo tampoco, le movieron a las funciones, antes de eso si funcionaba. Agradezco mucho su apoyo

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

Hola. Lamentablemente no tengo una respuesta fácil a esa pregunta. Parece que en realidad podría tratarse de un fallo de hardware. Es posible que necesite que una persona de servicio revise eso.

[@scottyplug]

Is the icon between the Temperature and the Lock just indicating the Options button? Like a clipboard with a list?

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

Basically yes. Clicking that allows you to set fast ice, sound on and off, and filter reset. So the icon is basically a checklist I think.

[@scottyplug]

@@TheProjectHelpDesk Thank you! Was driving me crazy and I could find nothing online or in the manual actually indicating what it was.

[@richardcardel8315]

how to level the doors, so handles are even?

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

The short answer is that only the freezer door adjusts. On the bottom of the freezer door is an adjustment bolt that you tighten or loosen to raise or lower the freezer. See page 27 here: www.whirlpool.com/content/dam/global/documents/202302/owners-manual-w11650257-revA.pdf If you mean the gap between the two doors then check out page 23.

[@lovelybarnes4841]

Hi I had a power outage and now my fridge is back on and working just fine, however, The letters “PO”is highlighted in blue with a plug symbol 🔌 highlighted in red. Do u have any idea as to what this means?

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

If memory serves, I think this is just a power outage alert so you know to check your stuff to ensure it didn't spoil. I think po stands for power outage.

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

"Power Outage: The Power Outage indicator lets you know if the power supply to the refrigerator has been off and the freezer temperature has risen to 18°F (-8°C) or higher. The control panel temperature display will read “PO,” and an alert tone will sound three times."

[@tonyafrazier5307]

Does your control panel lights stay on all the time? When my refrigerator was delivered they stayed on now they cut off and I want them to stay on all the time

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

If you are talking about the icons and such, I have never seen a way to make those stay on. The only thing that I am aware of that you can make stay on, are the lights around the paddles.

[@kimrnbsn8540]

My refrigerator is doing the exact same thing as the previous commenter. My refrigerator was saying “Cooling Off “. I troubleshot it and it’s up , running, cooling, and freezing ice and food again. HOWEVER… The displayed icons on the dispenser are (no longer lit!) It’s totally blacked- out like it had no lighting mechanism working. BUT… They (DO WORK)! They work if I touch the display. My touch triggers the display lights to come back on and stay lighted for approximately a couple of minutes and then it goes dark again. •Have you received any information regarding how to “fix” the lighted display to stay lit and not turn off after a short period of time? BTW- everything else is working. 😊 Thank you for what you do! You saved me from buying a new frige in the past! Thanks! Kim Birmingham, Alabama 😊 ☀️

[@beaumiller6132]

What are the recommended refrig and freezer temperatures ?

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

Fridge = 37F Freezer = 0F

[@beaumiller6132]

Got it, thanks. My BIG issue is my ice maker stopped making ice. Suggestion/s?

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

@@beaumiller6132 couple things I have heard about. If the red door indicator us on it affects the ice maker. Check to see if the door indicator comes on and then goes off. If so then good. Check the wiring harness for a broken wire at the bottom of the freezer door. Sounds like a lot of complaints around that. I saw a video where someone soldered a broken wire back together. Those seem to he the two most common things anecdotally. Next thing is the icemaker itself.

[@CarolMoore-qz9ui]

Our Whirlpool started chiming 6 times, with the door shut, randomly. Later it chimed two times, sometimes in the middle of the night! All cooling is normal, should this be a cause of concern? I have scheduled a local appliance repair tech, but now for three days it has been silent!!! I can find nothing online to assist.

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

There is a known TSB for issues with the fridge door switch. It sounds like the door open switch is starting to fail or not fully closing.

[@kappa1737]

it also sounds like a filter problem

[@ilsonveiga8855]

Why on Frezer temp you have 0. F???

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

That happens to actually be the default setting. We keep it there because we lose power often out where we are. In fact , in situations like a hurricane, I will drop it down even colder in case we lose power for an extended time.

[@cecejames1541]

My sound on off setting does not work loke yours. How do i modify this...maybe model # ?

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

If it is a different model then it likely works different. You can find the manual to most fridges on their website. Just use the model number from the sticker that most of them have inside the fridge area.

[@Moondoggy1941]

5:21 Like arguing with your wife, she can be wrong but the argument is not over until YOU apologize. Confirm

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

You can be right, or you can be happy. Pick one. :)

[@TaraKhanna-iy7cs]

How do I access your other videos?

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

Fridge Help Desk: kzbin.info/aero/PL6Yw70J2MK6s0FKUQj-CymT6IyRPQoj6B here is a playlist to the other videos in this series

[@nateswhore]

Your shirt is amazing. Reminds me of a license plate I saw on a white car that was "FFF".

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

Inside jokes are the best. Kind of like all the 'Kids Movies' that I watch as an adult and find all the things I missed back then because I didn't understand them. Thanks for responding.

[@jessicacarver6022]

My freezer keeps freezing over and it’s making a loud sound in the fan

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

That sounds like something is going bad and needs repairing.

[@dAaronL5]

Anyone know how to turn the ice maker on? We just got this fridge and it is off. Looked at videos and said there was supposed to be a button, we don’t see one!

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

How long has it been powered up? It can take up to 72 hours for Temps to stabilize and ice making to start.

[@michaelfred8848]

If your ice maker is in the door, you have to remove the part that catches the ice and then look for an on off switch on the left side that was covered up by the part you removed.

[@hybridalpha1585]

how do i make my ice maker work faster

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

Different models have a few different features. And I am not familiar with them all. The quick ice function on ours only lasts for 24 hours. It both lowers the temp in the freezer and shortens the time on the cycle.

[@Moondoggy1941]

One of the two main things I wanted in a fridge, it was a deal breaker, I wanted temp, I wanted to be able to walk up and see exactly what the temp is on my fridge and freezer, since the fridge was not plugged in at the store, I saw the button that stated TEMP, What a rip off these Whirlpools are. Mine is two years old and it is not working temp is way up, it is late so I have no recourse. Typical Blank made you know what.

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

So far we haven't had any issues out of ours. We actually prefer not having our displays lit. We turn off as many displays as we can. You likely already thought about it, but they do sell magnetic thermometers that have sensors you can place in the fridge and freezer. Not an ideal fix but it is an option and they are pretty cheap. In fact, we just purchased one ourselves so we can monitor temps in case of a power failure. Something that the built in powered thermometers usually can't do on. We will do doing a video on this later once we find out if it is a good one or not. Here is an affiliate link in case you want to check out the one we ordered. amzn.to/3sBvOT5

[@user-lx4tk9wi2k]

@@TheProjectHelpDesk Thank you for your video. My new fridge came this morning...I wanted the temp to actually tell me what the temp is in my fridge as well as the recommended 37 but I guess it doesn't ...is that right? Also mine is much louder running than any fridge I have had in the past. We have the same model. Is yours loud?

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

@@user-lx4tk9wi2k to my knowledge it does not dhow current temp. We actually use a cheap magnetic one that has sensors in each side. Ours doesn't seem loud to except for the water related activities. The door icemaker relays a lot of sound. It it kind of noisy the first 48 to 72 hours because the compressor runs non stop to cool it down.