What this usually means
The complaint: Both sections are warm, or the whole refrigerator is warmer than set.
The same complaint can come from more than one system, so the useful question is which system — not which part — before anything is replaced. The causes below are ordered by how often they explain this symptom on the Electrolux families listed, and each one is tied to a check you or a technician can make.
Normal behavior to rule out first
- After installation or a long power outage, an Electrolux refrigerator can take up to 24 hours to reach its set temperatures.
- In demo or showroom mode the display and lights work but the unit does not cool (E5 on EI32 columns; a demo setting on newer models).
Electrolux models this applies to
This guide draws on manufacturer service documentation for these Electrolux families. Other models follow similar logic, but the exact diagnostic path depends on the model and control platform.
- Electrolux French-door refrigerators ERFC2393 (counter-depth) / ERFG2393 (standard depth)
- Electrolux 4-door counter-depth refrigerator (ERMC2295)
- Electrolux French-door refrigerators EI23BC / EI28BS / EW23BC / EW28BS
- Electrolux single-door refrigerator and freezer columns (EI32AR / EI32AF)
Possible causes
Listed roughly from most to least common for this symptom. Several can produce the same result, which is why a technician tests before replacing parts.
Evaporator fan not moving cold air
Without this fan, cold stays on the freezer coil. Electrolux's 2025 tech tip RFTT2528 also lists intermittent cooling and even a dead unit from a failed or grounded fan motor. Typical repair: $180–$420.
Defrost system not clearing the coil
A failed defrost heater, defrost sensor or cutout lets the evaporator ice over until air cannot pass. Typical repair: $180–$460.
Condenser fan or dirty condenser
Heat cannot leave the system; very common after hot Las Vegas summers and in garages. Typical repair: $180–$400.
Temperature sensor fault
The control cannot read the compartment temperature and runs a fallback cycle. Typical repair: $180–$350.
Demo or showroom mode is on
Lights and display work, but the compressor and fans are held off.
Control or communication fault
The display and main board have lost communication or the main board is not driving the loads; harness faults are checked before boards. Typical repair: $280–$770.
Compressor not starting or inverter fault
The compressor tries and fails, or a variable-capacity drive is not running it. Typical repair: $280–$680.
Sealed-system problem (leak, restriction or weak compressor)
Compressor runs but the coil does not get cold, or frosts only partly — a sealed-system diagnosis by an EPA 608-certified technician. Typical repair: $450–$1,430.
Fresh-food damper
Mostly affects the fresh-food side; see the freezer-cold / fridge-warm guide. Typical repair: $180–$460.
No power to the refrigerator
Outlet, breaker or a GFCI upstream has tripped.
Stop and call a professional if you notice
Smoke, sparking, a burning smell, melted wiring, any electrical shock, a gas odor, severe overheating, damaged refrigerant lines, or water reaching electrical parts. Turn the appliance off or disconnect power only if you can do it safely — for a gas odor, leave the home and call the gas utility from outside.
What you can safely check
- Confirm the display shows the set temperatures you expect and that the refrigerator is not in demo/showroom mode (see your owner's guide).
- Make sure nothing blocks the air vents inside the freezer and fresh-food sections, and that doors close fully against the gaskets.
- Clear clutter from the front grille and give the refrigerator the side and top clearance its installation guide calls for, especially in a garage.
- If the outlet is on a GFCI or a garage circuit, confirm it has not tripped. Use caution
- If the freezer back wall is a solid sheet of ice, you can unplug the unit, keep food cold elsewhere and let it thaw fully with the doors open, using towels for the water. If cooling returns for a few days and then fails again, the defrost system needs service. Use caution
What a technician checks
- Reads stored and displayed codes and runs the refrigerator's own system diagnostic mode (fans, damper, defrost heater, valves).
- Measures evaporator, freezer and fresh-food temperatures and compares the run pattern with the model's service data sheet.
- Tests fans and the defrost circuit, and checks harness connectors before any board is replaced.
- On variable-capacity models, runs the inverter diagnostics instead of treating the compressor as a simple on/off motor.
- Only if airflow and controls check out: sealed-system diagnosis (frost pattern, wattage, temperatures) by an EPA 608-certified technician.
Electrolux service bulletins we check for this symptom
- RFTT2528 — Evaporator Fan Issue
- RFTT2611 — No Display or Communication Error
- TKCTT2319 — Refrigerant Amount
Bulletins apply to specific models and serial ranges; we match them to your rating tag.
Related error codes
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| E5 | Showroom mode activated |
| E8 | Shorted thermistor; the unit runs in thermistor-error mode |
| E9 | Open thermistor; the unit runs in thermistor-error mode |
| Er CE | Communication error between the user interface and the main board |
| Er t1 | Freezer temperature sensor open or shorted |
| Er t2 | Freezer defrost sensor open or shorted |
| OP | Open thermistor (fresh-food or freezer side of the display shows which) |
| SH | Shorted thermistor (fresh-food or freezer side) |
| SY CF | User interface to main board communication failure on start-up |
| SY CE | User interface to main board communication error after a period of operation |
| SY EF | Evaporator fan circuit failure |
Meanings are documented for the model families listed above; on other Electrolux models the same code may differ.
All Electrolux refrigerator codes
Typical repair cost
| Repair | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Compartment or defrost thermistor | $180–$350 |
| Compressor inverter (VCC) board | $280–$680 |
| Condenser fan motor | $180–$400 |
| Defrost heater, sensor or thermal cutout | $180–$460 |
| Evaporator fan motor | $180–$420 |
| Fresh-food air damper | $180–$460 |
| Main power board or user interface | $280–$770 |
| Refrigerant leak repair and recharge | $450–$1,430 |
Estimated repair ranges represent typical repairs under normal service conditions. Your final cost depends on the exact model, the parts required, supplier pricing and availability, what diagnosis finds, and the labor involved. Additional labor may be needed when the appliance has to be pulled out, uninstalled and reinstalled, or when cabinetry, trim, panels or other components must be removed to reach the failed part. Parts prices change with supplier availability, market conditions, shipping and import costs. You receive the final repair price for approval after diagnosis and before any repair work begins. The $75 service call is applied toward an approved repair. Labor is covered by our 90-day labor warranty, and qualifying parts carry the applicable 1-year manufacturer warranty.
When to schedule service
If the safe checks above don't solve it, or a code returns after a reset, schedule a diagnosis. Online troubleshooting is preliminary guidance, not a diagnosis. Electrolux appliances use different control platforms, sensors and diagnostic logic depending on the model, and several failures can produce the same symptom — internal testing is often needed to identify the actual failed component. A $75 service call covers the diagnosis and is applied toward the approved repair.
Related information
- Electrolux refrigerator repair in Las Vegas
- Repair pricing
- How to find your model number
- Electrolux freezer cold but refrigerator warm
- Electrolux ice maker not making ice
Sources and method
Built from 9 Electrolux manufacturer service documents (tech sheets, service manuals and tech tips), interpreted for homeowners. We do not republish manufacturer documents; technician-only values and procedures are intentionally left out.