Safety Boundary
Stop before sealed-system work, refrigerant handling, live electrical testing, or panel removal you are not trained to do.
Start Here
- Confirm the unit has power and the outlet is not tripped.
- Check door seal gaps, blocked vents, and overloaded shelves.
- Listen for compressor, condenser fan, and evaporator fan changes.
- Record the exact error code before unplugging the unit.
Decision Path
- Warm fresh-food section only: Check vents, evaporator fan behavior, and frost buildup before assuming the control board failed.
Next: Compare defrost and fan-related codes. - Both sections warm: Treat power, compressor start behavior, and condenser airflow as the first branch.
Next: Check refrigerator power and cooling codes. - Frost or ice buildup: A defrost path is more likely than a random sensor swap.
Next: Review defrost, heater, and thermistor codes.
Stop and Call for Service
- Burning smell or sparking
- Compressor repeatedly clicks and overheats
- Water near electrical components
- Any sealed-system diagnosis
Next Code Guides
Once the symptom branch is clear, compare the matching brand-specific pages in the Refrigerator error-code library.