Our fridge has started making a knocking sound in the last week or so. It is periodic and I think that it coincides with the Ice Maker dumping but I'm not completely sure.

Anyone have any advice on what this tends to mean? What I can do to pinpoint and fix? Does this mean the ice maker is dying and I need to get it replaced?

Is the arm being impinged by ice?

I don't think so. We've tried dumping the bucket and starting empty and it happened throughout the next couple days.

I can't figure out how to trick it into thinking the door is closed so I can get eyes on while the clicking is happening. It's a door mounted ice maker. It does keep making ice seemingly without issue. It's just that periodic knocking which I think coincides with the tray dumping.

Our Samsung started doing that and it was basically the plastic gears wearing out and eventually couldn't apply enough force to knock the ice out of the tray before the gear would give. It did popped for like 2 years before we had to replace it, though.

What brand fridge

It's a Kenmore. Model is 106.51135610

Kind of like this one except I think the last few numbers of the model number are different. Looks pretty close though:

https://www.searsoutlet.com/br/pdp/kenmore-51133-26-cu-ft-side-by-side-refrigerator-stainless-steel/111333?uid=43359513&storeZip=15017&sid=IDx20110411x000008&scid=scplp43359513&sc_intid=43359513&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0pfzBRCOARIsANi0g0vpEqYc-0hTuau_EWItaZgm6vIhd0MVNdu1EBwVOkImAnC0gvqeO1AaArmBEALw_wcB

I can't recall but I believe that sometimes manufacturers place electric diagrams with diagnostics mode information. I did the same with my whirlpool and I was able to test all the functions of my ice maker

Awesome tip. I'll take a look. Thank you!

Forgot to mention potential location, usually top right door hinge cover