U-Line Dual-Zone DWR controller LED 1 flashing: Open Sensor
On an early-generation U-Line Echelon dual-zone refrigerator, a flashing LED 1 on the DWR controller means a thermistor is open. The normal temperature readout is not shown, though the doors and drawers still work.
What does U-Line refrigerator & drawers code DWR controller LED 1 flashing mean?
Dual-zone models in the earliest Echelon generation, for instance 2075DWRR, 2075DWRWC and CO2075DWR, use LED 1 to show the compartment temperature, somewhere between 34 and 45 F, whenever it is solid. When LED 1 flashes instead, the DWR controller has found an open thermistor and drops that readout. The doors and drawers carry on as before, but the compartment temperature is no longer reported to you.
DWR controller LED 1 flashing at a glance
- Code
- DWR controller LED 1 flashing
- Appliance
- U-Line refrigerator & drawers
- Applies to
- Echelon first-generation dual-zone with a DWR controller
- Type
- Needs attention soon
- Can you clear it yourself?
- Sometimes, after the safe checks below
- Most likely cause
- A compartment thermistor with an open circuit
What you may notice with DWR controller LED 1 flashing
- LED 1 flashes where a steady temperature readout used to be
- The compartment temperature is no longer shown
- Doors and drawers open and close as they always have
How the refrigerator & drawers detects DWR controller LED 1 flashing
The DWR controller reads the compartment thermistor and turns that reading into the temperature shown by LED 1. A solid LED 1 means the controller is getting a good signal and displaying it. A flashing LED 1 means the thermistor circuit is open, so there is no signal to display. An open circuit is a break somewhere in the path, either inside the thermistor, at its plug or along the lead between them. The controller cannot invent a reading, so it flashes the light in place of the number. That is why the doors and drawers still behave normally while the information about the compartment disappears. The cabinet is still cooling, but the controller has lost sight of how well.
Likely causes of DWR controller LED 1 flashing
- A compartment thermistor with an open circuit
- A sensor plug that has worked loose
- A sensor lead that is cut or crushed
Can you keep using the refrigerator & drawers with DWR controller LED 1 flashing?
For a short time, yes, because the doors and drawers still work and the refrigerator can still cool. The difficulty is that you cannot see the compartment temperature. Put a separate thermometer inside and check it often. If it climbs above 41 F, move perishables elsewhere until the sensor is repaired. Keep the doors closed as much as you can in the meantime.
What you can safely check
- Switch the power off by unplugging the refrigerator for one minute, then restore it.
- Compare LED 1 to the solid light you normally see.
- Keep the doors and drawers closed so the cabinet holds its cold.
- Place a separate thermometer in the compartment and read it after a while.
- If LED 1 keeps flashing, phone us. Do not look for wiring inside the cabinet.
What our technician does for DWR controller LED 1 flashing
- Test the thermistor and its plug with a meter
- Replace the open part
- Confirm LED 1 goes solid and the compartment temperature shows again
How to keep DWR controller LED 1 flashing from coming back
- Load the compartment gently so bottles and shelves do not strike the sensor or pull on its lead.
- Keep drawers and doors fully closed so sensor connections are not stressed by repeated slamming.
Technical reference
- Code
- DWR controller LED 1 flashing
- Appliance
- U-Line refrigerator & drawers
- Control family
- Echelon first-generation dual-zone with a DWR controller
- Maker documentation
- U-Line owner manuals and support
- Checked
- November 2026
Code meanings come from the maker’s documentation and our own repair work; we do not reprint the maker’s document. Confirm the full model number before acting on a code. We are an independent repair company, not affiliated with U-Line Corporation.
U-Line models that can show DWR controller LED 1 flashing
Models named for this code in U-Line documentation that have a page here. Check the full model number on the rating label before you act on a code.
Related U-Line refrigerator & drawers error codes
DWR controller LED 1 flashing questions
What is LED 1 supposed to show?
When it is solid, LED 1 displays the compartment temperature, somewhere between 34 and 45 F. A flashing LED 1 takes the place of that readout and signals an open thermistor.
Can I keep using the refrigerator?
Yes for a short while, if you watch it with a separate thermometer. Move perishables once the reading climbs above 41 F, and keep door openings to a minimum until the sensor is repaired.
What does the repair involve?
The technician checks the sensor circuit with a meter, replaces whichever part is open and confirms LED 1 goes solid again. The price comes in writing before any work starts, with a 30-day warranty behind the repair.
Does a flashing LED 1 mean the compartment is warm?
Not necessarily. It means the controller cannot read the thermistor, so it cannot tell you either way. A separate thermometer inside the compartment is the only reliable way to know the temperature.
Will restarting the refrigerator clear the flashing?
A restart can clear a one-time glitch, but an open thermistor circuit stays open. If LED 1 begins flashing again after power returns, the sensor or its plug needs a proper test.
Need help with DWR controller LED 1 flashing?
A technician finds the cause at your bar or lanai and puts the price in writing before any part comes out.