What the 1E error code means

Your Samsung refrigerator uses a thermistor inside the freezer compartment to continuously measure the temperature. The main control board reads this sensor and adjusts the compressor and fan speeds accordingly. When the sensor wire breaks (open circuit) or shorts out, the board gets an impossible reading and raises 1E.

You may notice the freezer running constantly, not cooling at all, or cycling on and off irregularly. On some models the display shows "1E" or "1C" — they mean the same thing.

Note: Samsung uses two naming conventions — "E" (error) on older models and "C" (code) on newer ones. 1E and 1C are the same fault.

Common causes

The most frequent cause is a failed thermistor — these degrade over time, especially in the freezer's extreme cold. A loose connector on the main PCB is the second most common cause and the easiest to fix.

Step-by-step fix

  1. Unplug the refrigerator from the wall outlet. Wait at least 2 minutes.
  2. Locate the freezer sensor. It is usually clipped to the evaporator cover or hanging near the top of the freezer compartment — a small capsule on a two-wire lead.
  3. Check the connector. Follow the sensor wire to the main PCB (typically behind the rear lower panel on the back of the fridge). Unplug and reseat the connector.
  4. Test with a multimeter. At room temperature (25 degrees C), a Samsung freezer thermistor reads approximately 5 kOhm. At freezer temperature (-18 degrees C), it reads about 16-18 kOhm. An open-line (OL) or near-zero reading means the sensor is dead.
  5. Replace if faulty. Samsung thermistors are inexpensive and available online or through Samsung service centres.
  6. Plug in and test. The 1E code should clear within minutes. If it persists, the main PCB sensor input may be faulty.

Quick reset: Before replacing anything, try pressing and holding the Energy Saver + Lighting buttons simultaneously for 8-10 seconds. This forces a diagnostic reset and clears false error codes.