Ice maker beeps and shows E1, unit will not start ice-making cycle
Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
Possible Causes
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Unplug the Russell Hobbs ice maker from the mains before opening any panels. Do not work on the unit while it is connected to power.
Steps to check and address E1:
- Power reset: Unplug the ice maker for 10 minutes, then plug it back in and try again. Sometimes E1 is triggered by a temporary sensor reading error.
- Check installation environment: Ensure the unit is used indoors, away from direct sunlight, ovens, or radiators. Extremely high or low room temperature can cause the ambient sensor to read out of range and trigger E1.
- Inspect sensor wiring: Remove the rear or side service panel (usually held by Phillips screws). Locate the small NTC sensor harness that runs from the cabinet area to the main control PCB. Check for pinched, cut, or disconnected wires and reseat the connector firmly on the PCB.
- Clean corrosion: If you see oxidation on the sensor plug or PCB pins, gently clean with electrical contact cleaner and a soft brush, then reconnect.
- Test the sensor (advanced): With the unit unplugged, disconnect the ambient NTC sensor and measure its resistance with a multimeter. Compare to a typical 5–10 kΩ NTC at room temperature (exact value may vary by model). If it reads open circuit or 0 Ω, the sensor is defective and should be replaced.
- Replace parts if needed: If the sensor is faulty, replace the ambient NTC temperature sensor. If the sensor tests good but E1 persists, the main control PCB may be misreading the sensor and will likely need replacement.
When to call a technician: If you are not comfortable using a multimeter or accessing the control board, or if replacing the sensor does not clear E1, contact a qualified appliance technician.
Repair Difficulty
Required Part
We may earn a commission from links on this page.