tE on an LG washer means the thermistor — the water temperature sensor — has malfunctioned. On cold-water-only or quick wash cycles this might not matter much, but on warm or hot wash settings, or steam cycles, the machine needs accurate temperature feedback to run correctly.
What This Error Means
The thermistor is a small sensor mounted in the wash tub that monitors water temperature. Its resistance changes as temperature changes — the control board reads that resistance and knows the water temperature. When the sensor’s reading is outside the normal range, tE appears.
Common Causes
- Failed thermistor — The sensor has failed open (infinite resistance) or shorted. Most common cause.
- Loose wire connector — The connector between the thermistor wire and the main harness has come loose.
- Water leaking into the connector — Moisture in the connector causes erratic readings.
Step-by-Step Fix
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Locate the thermistor. On most LG front-loaders, the thermistor is mounted on the outer drum or on the heater housing near the bottom of the drum. Access by removing the front panel lower section or back panel depending on model.
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Check the connector. Before testing the part itself, unplug the thermistor wire connector and reconnect it firmly. Spray connector cleaner into the connector if there’s any corrosion.
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Test the thermistor with a multimeter. Set your multimeter to resistance (ohms). At room temperature (68°F / 20°C), most LG washer thermistors read approximately 10,000–50,000 ohms. The specific value matters less than whether the reading changes — put your finger on the thermistor body. If resistance doesn’t change at all as you warm it with your finger, it has failed. An open circuit (OL or infinite) also indicates failure.
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Replace the thermistor. It’s a small sensor held by a clip or a single screw. Disconnect the wire, pull the old one out, press the new one in.
Parts You May Need
When to Call a Technician
Thermistor replacement is one of the simpler appliance repairs — once you’ve accessed the component, it’s a one-connector swap. The main challenge is accessing it on some models. If you’re not sure where it’s located on your specific LG model, a quick search of your model number plus “thermistor location” usually surfaces a diagram or video.