F3
Whynter
Defrost Heater or Defrost Circuit Failure
F3 error on display, ice maker may not defrost or may over-ice
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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.
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Possible Causes
Open defrost heater element, Failed defrost thermostat, Burned defrost relay on control board, Wiring harness issue in defrost circuit
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety: Unplug the unit before testing any heater or thermostat. Use caution around sharp evaporator fins.
Steps to troubleshoot F3:
- Access defrost components: Remove the interior rear panel to expose the evaporator, defrost heater, and defrost thermostat.
- Inspect visually: Look for broken heater elements, burnt spots, or disconnected wires.
- Test heater: Disconnect the heater leads and measure resistance with a multimeter. A typical heater will show low resistance (tens of ohms). OL indicates an open heater that must be replaced.
- Test defrost thermostat: At freezing temperature, the thermostat should show continuity. If it is open when cold, replace it.
- Check wiring and connectors: Ensure all connectors are tight and wires are not corroded or broken.
- Control board relay: If heater and thermostat test good, the defrost relay on the control board may be faulty. Replace the main control PCB.
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Repair Difficulty
Hard
4/5
Required Part
Defrost Heater Assembly
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