Is a Faulty Thermistor Causing Your GE Refrigerator to Run Too Hot or Too Cold?

Your GE refrigerator model SSL25KFPBS is equipped with three thermistors. Two are located in the freezer compartment, while the third is found in the fresh food compartment. All three thermistors monitor the temperature inside your appliance and then send their readings to the refrigerator control board. A faulty thermistor in the fresh food compartment can lead to temperatures that are too hot or too cold or can cause your refrigerator to run for prolonged periods of time due to false temperature readings. If you believe the thermistor in your refrigerator is malfunctioning, the instructions provide below will guide you through the replacement process.

Appliance Repair Safety Protocols

• Start every refrigerator repair by unplugging your appliance and turning off its water supply valves.
• Wear work gloves and safety glasses to prevent unnecessary injuries while working on your refrigerator.
• If you’re having difficulty repairing your refrigerator, please call a professional appliance repair technician to take over the job.

How to Replace the Thermistor in Your GE Refrigerator

• Open the refrigerator door and locate the damper cover in the upper, left corner of the fresh food compartment. Then, using a Philips screwdriver unthread the two screws securing the cover to the wall and take it out of the refrigerator.
• Directly below the damper you’ll find the conduit cover. Under the cover you’ll find the thermistor, so pull the cover off the wall to reveal the malfunctioning component.
• Using a pair of wire cutters, cut the thermistor wire as close to the sensor bulb as possible.
• Next grab the new thermistor and trim the wire with your wire cutters. Once the extra wire is removed, pull apart the wires connected to the sensor bulb, and then strip a small portion of the separated wires.
• Inside the fresh food compartment, strip a half inch off the wire previously attached to the faulty sensor bulb. Then, connect the new bulb to the old wires by twisting the exposed wires together. Next, secure the connections by adding two butt connectors. Once the connectors are in place, squeeze some silicone into the butt connectors to seal them off.
• Place the new thermistor sensor bulb into the conduit cover and snap the cover back on the compartment wall. Put the damper cover back on top of the damper and replace the screws that hold the cover in place. Close the refrigerator door and plug-in your refrigerator.

If your refrigerator is running too hot or cold and the thermistor isn’t the problem, please contact us today, and we’ll be happy to help you fix the malfunction.