U-Line Echelon 2000 Code E8: Thermistor 3 Open or Shorted
E8 on certain U-Line Echelon 2000 refrigerators points to thermistor 3, a third sensor, reading open or shorted. The control sees that circuit as broken.
What does U-Line refrigerator & drawers code E8 mean?
A third sensor exists only on some Echelon 2000 refrigerators with the 2010 control, for instance the 2175DWRR and CLRCO2175. On those models the code E8 flags thermistor 3 as open or shorted, and the control reads the circuit as broken. Refrigerators in the R and WC lines, plus the CLR2160, lack a third sensor, so none of them can display E8.
E8 at a glance
- Code
- E8
- Appliance
- U-Line refrigerator & drawers
- Applies to
- Echelon 2000 with the 2010 control, third-sensor models
- Type
- Needs attention soon
- Can you clear it yourself?
- Sometimes, after the safe checks below
- Most likely cause
- Thermistor 3 that has opened or shorted internally
What you may notice with E8
- E8 is showing on the refrigerator display
- The code comes back after restarting the power
- The refrigerator is a model that carries a third sensor
How the refrigerator & drawers detects E8
On refrigerators that include a third sensor, the 2010 control reads thermistor 3 along with the others. Each thermistor passes a signal that depends on temperature, and the control expects a value inside a believable range. An open circuit gives almost no signal. A shorted one gives a signal that is far too strong. The control treats both as a broken thermistor 3 circuit and posts E8. Since this sensor belongs to a part of the cabinet the control is watching, that area is no longer regulated from a good signal. The control cannot repair the circuit, so the code stays until a replacement sensor or repaired wiring brings the reading back into a normal range.
Likely causes of E8
- Thermistor 3 that has opened or shorted internally
- A lead or plug at that sensor that is loose or damaged
- A broken run of sensor wiring
Can you keep using the refrigerator & drawers with E8?
For a short while, yes, if you keep watch. E8 means one area of the cabinet is no longer regulated from a good sensor signal, so temperatures there can drift. Use a thermometer and check it more than once a day. If the reading rises, move perishables to another cooler. Do not open the interior parts to look for the sensor yourself, because the circuit needs a meter test.
What you can safely check
- Unplug the refrigerator for a minute, then restore power.
- Write down E8 and the model number.
- Keep the door shut and the air vents unobstructed.
- If E8 returns, tell us. The circuit needs a meter test, so leave the panels closed.
What our technician does for E8
- Measure thermistor 3 and its circuit with a meter
- Replace the sensor or the wiring that has failed
- Confirm E8 is gone after the repair
How to keep E8 from coming back
- Keep shelves loaded evenly so nothing leans against interior parts where sensors sit.
- Clean the interior with a damp cloth, not a spray that can run into connections.
Technical reference
- Code
- E8
- Appliance
- U-Line refrigerator & drawers
- Control family
- Echelon 2000 with the 2010 control, third-sensor models
- 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.
Related U-Line refrigerator & drawers error codes
E8 questions
Which models can show E8?
Only Echelon 2000 models using the 2010 control and fitted with a third sensor, such as the 2175DWRR and the CLRCO2175. The R and WC models and the CLR2160 have none.
Does E8 say whether the sensor is open or shorted?
It covers both. Open or shorted, the answer is a replacement sensor or wiring repair, and a meter reading confirms which part has failed.
Why does the model number matter when I phone?
It tells us whether your refrigerator has a third sensor at all and which replacement sensor to bring. Mention it together with the code.
Is E8 the same as the thermistor 2 code?
They are alike but not the same. The thermistor 2 code reports the second sensor and E8 reports thermistor 3. Both mean a sensor circuit is open or shorted, and both lead to a meter test and a replacement part.
Will E8 clear on its own?
Not if the sensor has failed. A restart may blank the code for a moment, but the circuit is still broken when the control checks again, so E8 returns until the part is replaced.
Need help with E8?
A technician finds the cause at your bar or lanai and puts the price in writing before any part comes out.