dS
GE Café
Defrost Sensor (Thermistor) Error
Display shows dS and defrost performance is abnormal (either too much frost or excessive defrosting).
Advertisements
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.
Advertisements
Possible Causes
Open or shorted evaporator thermistor, Damaged thermistor wiring harness, Poor thermistor connection at main control board, Failed main control board input circuit
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Unplug the refrigerator before removing interior panels or handling wiring.
dS points to a problem with the defrost temperature sensor (thermistor).
- Locate thermistor: Remove the freezer rear panel to access the evaporator. The thermistor is usually clipped to the evaporator tubing in a small plastic housing.
- Inspect physically: Check for broken wires, corrosion at the connector, or a thermistor that has fallen out of its clip.
- Test resistance: With the thermistor at a known temperature (e.g., in ice water at 32°F/0°C), measure resistance and compare to GE specifications. Replace if readings are far off.
- Check harness to board: Trace the thermistor wires to the main control board and ensure the connector is fully seated and not damaged.
- Board diagnosis: If a new thermistor does not clear the dS error, the main control board may not be reading the sensor correctly and should be evaluated by a technician.
Advertisements
Repair Difficulty
Medium
3/5
Required Part
Evaporator Thermistor
Check Price on Amazon
We may earn a commission from links on this page.
Advertisements