Kenmore Refrigerator Thermistor Replacement - Signs & How-To

Kenmore Refrigerator Thermistor Replacement — What This Part Does

The thermistor is a temperature-sensing resistor that sends a signal to the control board so it knows how cold the compartment or evaporator is running. The control board reads the thermistor’s resistance and translates it into a temperature, then decides when to start or stop the compressor and when to trigger defrost. If the sensor fails or the wiring corrodes, the board gets a bad signal and can’t manage cooling properly.

Thermistors fail from normal wear and material fatigue over years of temperature cycling. Connectors can corrode or come loose, especially in humid cabinets. Sometimes the sensor gets bumped out of position during service work and reads the wrong air temperature even though it’s electrically fine. Kenmore refrigerators use different thermistor part numbers depending on the platform (LG-based, Whirlpool-based, etc.), so verifying your exact model is critical before ordering.

Jump to Replacement Steps

Signs It Needs Replacing

• Refrigerator or freezer compartment running too warm or too cold The control board misreads cabinet temperature when the thermistor signal is out of range, so cooling cycles are wrong and food spoils or freezes.
• Error code or blinking LED on the control panel Many Kenmore models display a fault code when the thermistor resistance is shorted, open, or inconsistent with expected values.
• Frost or ice buildup on the evaporator or back wall If the evaporator thermistor fails, defrost cycles may not terminate correctly and ice accumulates on the coils and in the cabinet.
• Compressor runs constantly or cycles off too soon The control board uses the thermistor to decide when to stop or start the compressor, so a bad sensor causes erratic run times.
• Multimeter shows resistance outside the rated chart or no continuity Testing the thermistor at room temperature (about 2.6 kΩ is typical for some models) and at ice-water temperature reveals an out-of-spec or open sensor.
• Resistance reading differs by more than 10% from the tech sheet value Even if the thermistor isn’t completely open or shorted, resistance drift beyond the tolerance range means the sensor is no longer accurate.

How to Replace It

1. Unplug the refrigerator from the wall outlet or switch off the circuit breaker to kill all power before touching any wiring or components.
2. Locate your model and serial number on the label inside the fresh-food compartment or on the side wall, then use that number to verify the correct thermistor part number from Kenmore parts lookup or your service manual.
3. Remove drawers, shelf rails, or the interior access cover as needed to reach the thermistor (French-door/LG-style units often have the sensor clipped behind a rail or cover; upright freezers may require removing the evaporator cover).
4. Inspect the thermistor connector and wiring harness for broken insulation, pinched wires, corrosion, or loose plugs before assuming the sensor itself is bad.
5. Test the old thermistor with a multimeter set to ohms by measuring across the two leads at room temperature, then compare the reading to the resistance chart in the tech sheet (one common refrigerator thermistor reads about 2600 ohms at room temp; yours may differ).
6. If the resistance is out of range by more than 10%, open (infinite resistance), or shorted (near zero), unplug the thermistor connector or cut and strip the wires if your model uses a splice joint.
7. Install the new thermistor into the same mounting clip, bracket, or holder so it senses the correct air or coil temperature, then reconnect the plug or splice the wires with wire nuts as the original design requires.
8. Reassemble all covers, rails, and drawers in reverse order, making sure nothing pinches or pulls the thermistor wiring.
9. Restore power to the refrigerator and monitor temperatures and error codes for several hours to confirm the fault does not return and compartments stabilize at the correct set points.

The Part You Need

Related Error Codes

If this part is failing you may also see one of these codes:

• Kenmore Refrigerator Er 1F error code
• Kenmore Refrigerator Er Dh error code
• Kenmore Refrigerator Er Ff error code

When to Call a Pro

If you’re uncomfortable working with electrical connectors or can’t safely access the evaporator compartment, call a tech. If resistance testing shows the thermistor is in spec but the fridge still won’t cool properly, the control board or sealed-system component may be at fault and diagnostic tools are needed. Some Kenmore French-door models require removing heavy drawers and multiple clips to reach the sensor, so if you don’t have the service sheet or the right tools, professional diagnosis saves time and avoids breaking plastic mounts.