Refrigerator Ice Maker Question

[roblaura]

We have a residential Maytag refrigerator (M# MF12067AES). The ice maker cover is very difficult to remove and even harder to re-attach - to the point that we risk breaking the plastic each time. The gasket appears to be too thick, and a new cover I ordered was no better. Also, the on/off switch under the cover (go figure). We have been told that the ice maker must be turned off whenever the refrigerator is on, and the coach is disconnected from shore water (coach travel) because the unit is designed to only be on when there is a water source.
Question 1 - is this accurate?
Question 2 - if yes, would turning on the water pump to supply water from the on-board fresh water tank be a sufficient to leave the ice maker turned on?

Rob More
2102 Itasca Meridian 40U

[wschaub]

I would imagine if #1 is correct then turning on the pump would be all you need assuming you have fresh water in the tank. The only problem with that (and just simply turning off the ice maker when not on shore power/city water) is remembering to do it every time. Murphy's law being what it is If you can break it by forgetting one simple little step before driving off You will likely do just exactly that.

I like the idea of an ice maker but I've heard so many horror stories on here about them that even if I could afford a new top of the line coach I would probably make sure that that ice maker was removed entirely. (but that has nothing to do with the original question.)

[D Lindy]

We have the same fridge and have run the ice maker while boondocking several times. In fact when we travel the ice maker is not turned off because there's always water in the tank and the pump switch is left on. The fridge doesn't care where the water comes from just so long as there's water there for it. FWIW if the ice tray is full, the ice maker will not be calling for water to make ice anyway.