E4
Hisense
Defrost Heater or Defrost Circuit Fault
Display shows E4 and the refrigerator may not defrost, or may over-defrost causing temperature swings.
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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 thermal fuse or bimetal thermostat, Burnt connector at heater, Defective main PCB defrost relay
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety: Unplug the refrigerator. The defrost heater operates at mains voltage; do not test it live.
- 1. Access the evaporator area: Remove freezer drawers and the rear interior panel to expose the evaporator and defrost heater assembly.
- 2. Visual inspection: Look for burnt spots on the heater, melted connectors, or a tripped/bulged thermal fuse or bimetal thermostat attached to the evaporator tubing.
- 3. Test the heater: Disconnect the heater leads and measure resistance with a multimeter. A typical heater will show low resistance (e.g., 20–150 Ω). If it reads open (OL), replace the heater.
- 4. Test the defrost thermostat/fuse: At freezer temperature, the defrost thermostat should be closed (low resistance). If it is open at freezing temperatures, it is likely faulty. Thermal fuses should always show continuity; if open, replace.
- 5. Inspect wiring and connectors: Repair any burnt or loose connectors. Ensure good contact at the main harness.
- 6. If components test good: The main PCB defrost relay or control logic may be defective. Board replacement is typically required and is best done by a professional.
Note: After repair, fully defrost the evaporator before restarting to avoid immediate re-icing.
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Repair Difficulty
Hard
4/5
Required Part
Defrost Heater Assembly
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