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LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to test and replace the freezer thermistor in your LG refrigerator.

This guide will work for most LG refrigerators. This guide is written with an LG model LFX25973 refrigerator. If you have a different model, you may encounter some minor disassembly differences, but the overall repair process will be the same.

The freezer thermistor monitors the temperature inside the freezer compartment. It has a resistance that varies according to temperature, and the main control board monitors this value.

If the thermistor fails, the freezer temperatures will not be correct, and an Er FS error code may show on the display.

What you need

  1. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Unplug your refrigerator: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • Unplug your refrigerator before you begin your repair.

    • If you are testing or repairing the following items, you may also need to shut off and disconnect the water supply:

    • Condenser fan motor

    • Compressor motor and thermal overload device

    • Water supply valve assembly

    Edit

  2. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Open the freezer door: step 2, image 1 of 2 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Open the freezer door: step 2, image 2 of 2

    • Pull open the freezer door fully.

    Edit

  3. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Remove the drawer and bin: step 3, image 1 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Remove the drawer and bin: step 3, image 2 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Remove the drawer and bin: step 3, image 3 of 3

    • Lift and remove the upper pull-out drawer.

    • Lift and remove the main drawer bin.

    Edit

  4. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Remove the drawer rail covers: step 4, image 1 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Remove the drawer rail covers: step 4, image 2 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Remove the drawer rail covers: step 4, image 3 of 3

    • Use your finger or a flat-blade screwdriver to depress the two locking tabs on the right drawer rail cover.

    • Lift the cover off of the rail and remove it.

    • Repeat this procedure for the left drawer rail cover.

    Edit

  5. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Reassembly notes: step 5, image 1 of 2 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Reassembly notes: step 5, image 2 of 2

    • The drawer rail covers can be tricky to reinstall. Follow these steps to reinstall them:

    • Hold the drawer rail cover flush against the side of the drawer rail.

    • You should feel the locking tabs protruding.

    • Push the rail cover straight downward to install. It should click into place.

    Edit

  6. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Remove the drawer: step 6, image 1 of 2 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Remove the drawer: step 6, image 2 of 2

    • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screw securing the drawer to each of the drawer slides.

    Edit

  7. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement: step 7, image 2 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement: step 7, image 3 of 3

    • Lift the front of the drawer up.

    • Pull the drawer toward you to release the drawer from the drawer slides.

    • Remove the freezer drawer.

    Edit

  8. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Release the drawer slides: step 8, image 1 of 1

    • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screws securing both left drawer slides.

    Edit

  9. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Remove the upper left drawer slide: step 9, image 1 of 2 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Remove the upper left drawer slide: step 9, image 2 of 2

    • Pull the upper left drawer slide slightly towards you to release the locking tab at the rear.

    • Remove the upper left drawer slide.

    Edit

  11. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Release lower left drawer slide and reposition it: step 10, image 1 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Release lower left drawer slide and reposition it: step 10, image 2 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Release lower left drawer slide and reposition it: step 10, image 3 of 3

    • Pull the lower left drawer slide slightly toward you to release the locking tab at the rear.

    • Reposition the lower left drawer slide to gain access to the door switch connector.

    Edit

  12. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Disconnect the drawer switch and remove the lower slide: step 11, image 1 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Disconnect the drawer switch and remove the lower slide: step 11, image 2 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Disconnect the drawer switch and remove the lower slide: step 11, image 3 of 3

    • Squeeze the door switch connector to release it.

    • Pull the door switch connector down to disconnect it.

    • Remove the lower left drawer slide.

    • If you are removing the freezer evaporator cover, likely only the left-hand slides may need to be removed. In some cases you will need to repeat the previous three steps to remove the right slides as well.

    Edit

  13. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Release the ice maker: step 12, image 1 of 1

    • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screws securing the ice maker to the top of the freezer compartment.

    Edit

  14. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement: step 13, image 2 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement: step 13, image 3 of 3

    • Insert a flat-blade screwdriver into the slot located on the right edge of the ice maker.

    • Pry outward with the screwdriver to release the locking tab securing the ice maker to the fridge.

    • When the tab releases, pull the right front corner of the ice maker down.

    Edit

  15. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 1

    • Repeat the previous operation on the left side of the ice maker to release it.

    Edit

  16. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement: step 15, image 3 of 3

    • Grasp the front edge of the ice maker and pull it towards you.

    • Lower the ice maker.

    Edit

  17. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Disconnect and remove the ice maker: step 16, image 1 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Disconnect and remove the ice maker: step 16, image 2 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Disconnect and remove the ice maker: step 16, image 3 of 3

    • Squeeze the ice maker connector to release it and pull it straight out to disconnect it.

    • Remove the ice maker.

    Edit

  18. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Remove air return cover: step 17, image 1 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Remove air return cover: step 17, image 2 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Remove air return cover: step 17, image 3 of 3

    • Pinch the rear portion of the air return cover to release it from the freezer wall.

    • Pull the air return cover outward and remove it.

    Edit

  19. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Unfasten the evaporator cover: step 18, image 1 of 1

    • Use a Philips screwdriver to remove the screw (or screws) securing the evaporator cover.

    Edit

  20. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Reposition the evaporator cover: step 19, image 1 of 2 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Reposition the evaporator cover: step 19, image 2 of 2

    • Don't try to remove the evaporator cover fully, as It is still connected to the fridge with a number of wires.

    • Grasp the evaporator cover by the air vent openings and pull the top edge toward you.

    Edit

  21. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement: step 20, image 2 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement: step 20, image 3 of 3

    • Lift the evaporator cover slightly to release the tabs at the lower edge.

    • Swing the left edge of the evaporator cover toward you and lower it.

    Edit

  22. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Disconnect the evaporator cover: step 21, image 1 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Disconnect the evaporator cover: step 21, image 2 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Disconnect the evaporator cover: step 21, image 3 of 3

    • Disconnect the electrical connections in the upper left corner of the freezer.

    • Make a note of the locations of the connections for re-installation.

    Edit

  23. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement: step 22, image 1 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement: step 22, image 2 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement: step 22, image 3 of 3

    • Swing the left edge of the evaporator cover further toward you to access the connections in the upper right corner.

    • Squeeze and pull the connector to disconnect the thermistor mounted in the evaporator cover.

    Edit

  24. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Remove the evaporator cover: step 23, image 1 of 2 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Remove the evaporator cover: step 23, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the evaporator cover.

    Edit

  25. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Peel up the insulation: step 24, image 1 of 2 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Peel up the insulation: step 24, image 2 of 2

    • On the rear of the evaporator cover, peel up the insulation pad covering the thermistor.

    Edit

  26. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Remove the thermistor: step 25, image 1 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Remove the thermistor: step 25, image 2 of 3 LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Remove the thermistor: step 25, image 3 of 3

    • Use a spudger to pry the thermistor out of its mounting clips.

    • Thread the thermistor through the slot in the insulation pad and remove it.

    Edit

  27. LG Refrigerator Freezer Thermistor Test and Replacement, Test the thermistor: step 26, image 1 of 1
    Edit
Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our  Answers community for help.

Author

Bill Gilbert

Member since: 06/30/22

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