Wine cooler displays E1 and will not cool properly; interior temperature rises above setpoint.
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.
Possible Causes
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Unplug the wine cooler or switch off the dedicated circuit breaker before removing any panels. Use insulated tools and avoid working on live circuits.
Steps to check and address E1:
- Power reset: Disconnect power for 5–10 minutes, then restore power to see if the code clears. If E1 returns, continue.
- Locate the cabinet sensor: On most Thermador wine coolers, the cabinet/evaporator sensor is a small probe behind the rear interior liner or clipped to the evaporator coil. Remove interior shelves and trim as needed.
- Inspect wiring: Check the sensor leads for cuts, pinches, or corrosion at connectors. Reseat the connector at both the sensor and the main control board.
- Test the sensor: With power disconnected, remove the sensor connector and measure resistance with a multimeter. Compare to Thermador’s NTC chart (commonly ~5–10 kΩ at room temperature). If reading is open, shorted, or far out of spec, replace the sensor.
- Check control board input: If a known-good sensor still triggers E1, inspect the main control board for burnt components or corrosion at the thermistor input. Replacement of the board is typically required if damaged.
- Reassemble and test: Reinstall panels and shelves, restore power, and monitor temperature and display for at least 30–60 minutes.
When to call a technician: If you are not comfortable using a multimeter or accessing the control board, or if the error persists after sensor replacement, contact an authorized Thermador service technician.
Repair Difficulty
Required Part
We may earn a commission from links on this page.