Wine cooler shows E3 and temperature setpoint cannot be maintained; unit may run continuously.

Safety: Unplug the wine cooler before accessing the control panel or rear compartment.

• 1. Locate ambient sensor: On many Maytag wine coolers, the ambient thermistor is located near the front grille or behind the control panel, sensing room temperature.
• 2. Visual inspection: Remove the toe-kick grille or control panel trim to access the sensor. Check that it is not touching warm components (like the compressor discharge line) and that it is not covered with dust or insulation.
• 3. Check wiring and connector: Follow the sensor leads to the main control board. Ensure the connector is fully seated and wires are not pinched or cut.
• 4. Test resistance: With power disconnected, unplug the sensor and measure resistance with a multimeter. Compare to the expected NTC curve. Replace the ambient thermistor if readings are open, shorted, or far off spec.
• 5. Control board check: If the sensor tests good, the control board may be misreading ambient temperature. Inspect the board for burnt spots or corrosion. Replace the main control board if necessary.
• 6. Reassemble and test: Reinstall any removed panels, restore power, clear the error (if applicable), and verify that the E3 code does not reappear and that the unit cycles normally.