tE1 Moderate Moderate DIY

LG Washer tE1 — Wash thermistor / temperature sensor fault

LG Washer · Error code tE1

What tE1 Means

tE1 is a variant of the tE temperature-sensor family — the control board is getting an out-of-range reading from the wash thermistor (open, shorted, or wildly off).

Symptoms

  • tE1 on the display
  • Cycle aborts early — often as soon as fill starts
  • Heated cycles never reach temp
  • Code returns after every reset

Common Causes

1
Failed thermistor

Should read ~39.5 kΩ at 77°F; out of range = bad.

2
Disconnected thermistor wire

Harness backed off the thermistor or chafed open.

3
Shorted harness

Pinched harness against frame shorts the signal to ground.

4
Main control board input failure

Less common; board cannot read a valid signal even from a good sensor.

How to Fix It

  1. Unplug the washer for 60 seconds and try a cold-water cycle.
  2. If tE1 returns, unplug and trip the breaker before opening anything.
  3. Remove the lower front panel and locate the thermistor on the heater housing (front bottom of tub).
  4. Unplug the thermistor and measure its resistance at room temperature — ~39.5 kΩ at 25°C; if open, shorted, or way off, replace it.
  5. Inspect the harness from thermistor to control board for chafing or pinch points.
  6. Reseat the connector firmly; reassemble.
  7. If a known-good thermistor still throws tE1, the main control board is suspect.

Parts You May Need

If diagnosis points to a failed part, these are the common replacements. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Common replacement Water temperature thermistor View on Amazon→

More LG Washer Codes

AE AE — Leak / auto shut-off (base pan water detected) CE CE — Overcurrent Error CL CL — Child Lock Is On dE dE / dE1 / dE2 Error — Door Will Not Lock dE1 dE1 — Door not fully closed dE2 dE2 — Door closed but won't lock

All LG codes → All washer codes →

Verified against manufacturer documentation: soloappliancerepair.com

Always unplug an appliance before servicing it. This guide is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for a qualified technician.