Refrigerator display shows E1 and the fresh food section temperature is inaccurate or fluctuates.

Safety first: Disconnect power before accessing internal panels.

Locate the refrigerator sensor: In many Summit refrigerators, the fresh food thermistor is behind a small plastic cover on the rear wall or ceiling of the refrigerator compartment.

• Visual inspection: Remove the cover and inspect the sensor and wiring. Look for broken insulation, corrosion, or a loose connector.
• Check sensor placement: Ensure the sensor is not touching the evaporator plate or an interior light housing, which can cause false readings.
• Basic test: With power disconnected, unplug the sensor from its connector and check for continuity with a multimeter. A completely open circuit or a dead short indicates a bad sensor.
• Reconnect and reset: Reconnect the sensor, restore power, and see if the E1 code clears after a few minutes of operation.

Replacement: If the sensor is open/shorted or the code persists, replace the refrigerator compartment thermistor with the correct Summit part. If a new sensor does not clear the code, the main control board may also need replacement.