Kenmore Side by Side Refrigerator Parts Diagram

Quick Answer

To find your parts diagram, look for the model number sticker inside the refrigerator section, usually on the upper right side wall or behind the crisper drawer. The first three digits followed by a period (like 106. or 253.) are the most important because they tell you which company actually built your Kenmore.

Kenmore doesn't actually build their own refrigerators, so getting the model number prefix right is the only way to figure out who actually did. Get it wrong and you'll order parts that look identical but won't physically fit. I've watched people go three weeks without a working fridge because they kept ordering the wrong water valve. The prefix tells you whether you've got Whirlpool guts, Frigidaire guts, or LG guts inside, and that changes everything about which parts diagram you need.

KenmoreRefrigeratorSeverity: low

Time to Fix

5–10 min

Difficulty

beginner

Parts Cost

$0 (no parts needed)

Tools Needed

Flashlight, Smartphone with camera

Kenmore Side by Side Refrigerator Parts Diagram

So here's the deal with Kenmore side-by-sides. Most were built by Whirlpool (prefix 106), Frigidaire (prefix 253), or LG (prefix 795). They all say Kenmore on the door but the internal guts are completely different brands. The water filter for a 106 will not physically fit into a 795. I've seen this mistake cost people $40 and a week of waiting on a return shipment. Once you know your prefix, finding the right parts diagram takes about two minutes.

Tools Required for Diagnosis

FlashlightSmartphone with cameraPen and paper (backup for model number)Phillips #2 screwdriver (only if removing the bottom kick plate to find the sticker)

Diagnostic Checklist

Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the model number on a Kenmore side by side?

Most of the time you'll find it on a sticker on the inner right side wall of the fridge section, up near the top. Open that right door and look up and to the right. Not there? Check the ceiling of the fridge compartment. Still nothing? Try looking behind the bottom kick plate, that plastic grille running across the very bottom front of the unit. Pull your flashlight out because some of these stickers are in spots the interior light doesn't reach. On older units I've also found them stamped directly into the metal of the door frame if the sticker fell off years ago.

What do the first three digits of a Kenmore model mean?

Those digits are everything. They tell you who actually built the fridge. 106 is Whirlpool, 253 is Frigidaire, 795 is LG, 596 is Amana or Maytag (they're basically the same family), and 363 is GE. You need these to get the right diagram, period. I've seen people spend an hour searching Kenmore parts and getting nowhere because they didn't know to use the manufacturer prefix. Once you know yours, you can sometimes even use the underlying brand's part numbers directly, which opens up more suppliers and can save you real money compared to buying Kenmore-labeled parts.

Can I find parts using just the name like Kenmore Elite?

No, and honestly don't even try. The Elite label got slapped on dozens of different fridges from multiple manufacturers over like 20-plus years. I've worked on Kenmore Elite units that were LG inside and others that were pure Whirlpool. They look completely different internally. The model number sticker is the only way to know what you actually have. Without it you're basically guessing, and guessing on a $40 water inlet valve or a $65 ice maker module means you're probably waiting another week on a return shipment and still don't have ice.

Why does the parts diagram show different versions for one model?

Manufacturers change stuff mid-production run all the time. Maybe a supplier changed, maybe they tweaked a bracket slightly. These revisions show up as extra digits at the tail end of your model number. If your unit ends in 00 and the diagram only shows a 01 revision, most parts will cross over just fine. But always check the serial number range listed on the parts site if there is one. For shelves and bins it usually doesn't matter much. For things like compressor start relays or defrost timers though, pay attention to those serial range callouts because they do occasionally change the actual part.

What if my Kenmore model number starts with something other than 106, 253, or 795?

There are a handful of less common prefixes out there and they're totally valid. 596 is Amana, 363 is GE, and 110 is another Whirlpool-based series you'll mostly see on washers but sometimes on older fridge models too. If your prefix isn't on the common list, just type the full model number into PartSelect or RepairClinic anyway because they usually still have the diagram. You can also call a parts counter directly, give them the full model number, and they can typically tell you the manufacturer in about 30 seconds. Don't assume it's a dead end just because your prefix looks unfamiliar.

Models Known to Experience MODEL-KEN-SBS-DIAGRAM Errors

This repair applies to most Kenmore refrigerators with this error code. Common model numbers include:

106.51133210, 253.54333301, 795.72053110, 596.76523500, 106.58902801, 253.44333602, 795.71303012, 106.41153210

Written by

Mike Sullivan

Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 20 years experience

Last verified for technical accuracy on January 25, 2025