Ice-O-Matic CIM ice machine Error Codes
Applies to: CIM and Elevation cubers. Compiled and paraphrased from Ice-O-Matic's own Technical Service Manual for the Elevation Series CIM Modular Cubers, CIM0320 through CIM1136 (1/2018), which prints the LED flash legend, the three board error codes, and the cycle time limits. Rows marked as distributor numbering are kept only to flag the mismatch. Always confirm against the manual for your exact model. Table last updated Aug 13, 2026.
How to read the codes
Elevation series CIM cubers (the CIM model numbers are the Elevation series) signal faults with LED patterns on the Power and Clean lights rather than numeric displays. The board's own flash legend: solid is on constantly, slow flashes once per second, quick flashes once every half second, double slow flashes twice then pauses one second, delayed flashes once every three seconds. The service manual defines exactly three numbered errors, listed below with their patterns. Third party guides circulate other code numbers for these machines that do not match the board's own table; when a number and a pattern disagree, trust the pattern.
The codes
| Code | Meaning | Likely causes | Operator-safe steps | Technician work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power LED solid red | Cleaning required (Elevation) | The machine is due for its cleaning cycle | Run the clean cycle with nickel-safe ice machine cleaner | Not required unless the indicator returns immediately |
| Power LED flashing red | Freeze or harvest cycle overran (Elevation) | Freeze exceeded the one hour maximum or harvest exceeded roughly five and a half minutes: scale on the evaporator, dirty condenser, water supply problems, or refrigerant-side faults | Clean and descale the machine, clean the condenser, confirm water supply | Harvest and refrigerant-side diagnosis if it recurs after cleaning |
| Code 3 | Distributor guide numbering, not the board's own: usually described as a thermistor or multi fault code | This numbering comes from distributor diagnostic guides, and it does not match the control board's own table: Ice-O-Matic's Elevation CIM service manual defines exactly three errors, and on the board itself the thermistor fault is Error 2 (Power LED slow flash in the off state) while Error 3 is a maximum fill or purge. If a guide told you Code 3, identify the fault from the LED pattern rows here instead. | Read the actual LED pattern off the machine and match it against the Error 1, Error 2, and Error 3 rows. | Diagnose from the board's pattern, not a third party number: thermistor resistance for Error 2, water fill and purge path for Error 3. |
| Thermistor failure | Temperature sensor failed | Control thermistor out of range or failed | Record the pattern for the technician | Thermistor testing and replacement |
| Code 5 | Distributor guide numbering, not the board's own: usually described as a maximum length fill | Same caveat as Code 3: the board's own manual has no Error 5. A maximum fill (5 minutes) shows as Error 3, Power LED red and Clean LED yellow quick flashing together. | Check the water supply and filter, then match the actual LED pattern against the Error 3 row. | Treat as the board's Error 3: inlet valve, water filter, float switches, purge valve. |
| Maximum purge | Purge cycle overran | Purge could not complete, often seen during cleaning mode or after a shutdown; the machine purges for two minutes then rests ten | Check the drain line for kinks or blockage | Purge valve and drain system service |
| Error 1 (Elevation board) | Maximum freeze or maximum harvest exceeded: Power LED quick flashing red | The unit hit a max freeze (1 hour), a max harvest (5.5 minutes), or both. Board limits: freeze runs 5 minutes to 1 hour, standard harvest 20 seconds to 5.5 minutes. Long freezes point at low charge, dirty condenser, or hot ambient; long harvests at the harvest assist, hot gas valve, or curtain switch. | Clean the air filter and confirm the machine has breathing room and reasonable ambient; power cycle once and see if it completes a cycle. | Check refrigerant charge and condenser first for max freeze; harvest assist assembly, hot gas valve, and magnetic curtain switch for max harvest. |
| Error 2 (Elevation board) | Thermistor failure: Power LED slow flashing, shown in the off state only | The board has flagged its temperature sensor as failed. The flash legend matters: slow is once per second, and this one only displays with the unit off. | Switch the unit off to read the pattern; if the Power LED slow flashes, book service, the machine cannot run cycles on a dead sensor. | Ohm out the thermistor against spec and replace; verify harness connections at the board. |
| Error 3 (Elevation board) | Maximum fill or maximum purge exceeded: Power LED red and Clean LED yellow, both quick flashing | The unit took over 5 minutes to fill or over 2 minutes to purge. Board limits: fill has no minimum and a 5 minute maximum, purge runs 7 seconds to 2 minutes. Points at water supply off or restricted, a clogged filter, a stuck inlet or purge valve, or float switch trouble. | Confirm the water supply is on and the filter is not overdue; power cycle once. | Check inlet valve operation, purge valve, and the high and low float switches and housing. |
If this needs an ice machine technician
4 companies in this directory name Ice-O-Matic on their own site: that page shows who has been phone-confirmed, who publishes 24/7 cover, and what each puts in writing. Start there if the brand matters more than the city.
Two questions worth reading before you ring anyone: what to do first when a code appears and how to tell whether it is yours to fix.
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Related: the PM checklist that prevents the most common codes outright, and the operator guides for symptom-first diagnosis.
Not sure this is the right make? The lookup by code shows every make that uses a given code, and flags the ones that mean different things depending on the machine in front of you.