Code: E1 / E2 / tE1 / tE2🌀 Kenmore Dryer

Kenmore Dryer E1 Error Code (also E2, tE1, tE2): Thermistor Failure (Meaning, Causes, Fixes)

Reviewed 2026-10-25 · Based on 4 manufacturer & service sources

What the code means

Sears PartsDirect lists E1 and E2 on Kenmore dryers with electronic controls and a model number beginning with 110 (built by Whirlpool) as a thermistor failure. Whirlpool's tech sheets for the same platform are more specific: E1 flashes when the thermistor circuit is open, and E2 flashes when it's shorted. The thermistor sits on the blower housing and reads the exhaust air temperature, and the control cycles the heater relay on and off based on that reading, so without it the dryer can't regulate heat and shuts off. On Kenmore dryers with a model number beginning with 796 (built by LG), the same fault shows as tE1 or tE2, and Sears PartsDirect gives the same test and fix. Codes like F4 E1 on newer Kenmore 110 VMAX dryers mean something different (a heater relay problem), so check the exact code and the first three digits of your model number. On the 110 dryers, E3 means the user interface and main control board don't match, which usually only happens after a replacement part was installed. Kenmore 796 dryers are covered in more detail on our LG dryer tE1 page.

Likely causes

Safe DIY checks

⚠ Before you start

Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before opening panels.

  1. Unplug the dryer or turn off its breaker(s) before opening any panels. On a gas dryer, don't disturb the gas line or burner.
  2. Remove the lint screen and the lower front service panel (or the access panel your model uses) to reach the blower housing. Sears PartsDirect's thermistor guide shows the thermistor mounted on top of the blower housing.
  3. Check that both wires are firmly pushed onto the thermistor terminals, and look along the harness for damage. Reconnect anything loose.
  4. Pull the two wires off the thermistor and measure across its terminals with a multimeter set to ohms. Sears PartsDirect says it should read about 10,000 ohms at room temperature. Whirlpool's tech sheet table gives about 11.9k ohms at 70°F and 9.2k ohms at 80°F.
  5. If the reading is open (no continuity), near zero, or far outside that range, replace the thermistor. It mounts with two screws, and the wires can go on either terminal.
  6. Reassemble, restore power, and run a heated cycle. Whirlpool's test says that if E1 or E2 is going to come back, it flashes within about 60 seconds of starting.
  7. If the thermistor measures correctly and the wiring is good but the code keeps coming back, Whirlpool's tech sheet says to replace the electronic control.

🛠 When to call a pro

  • You aren't comfortable opening a 240-volt electric dryer or working around a gas dryer's burner.
  • The thermistor and wiring test good and the code still returns, pointing to the control board.
  • You find scorched wires or melted connectors near the blower or heater.
  • The dryer overheats or the drum gets unusually hot after a repair.
  • The dryer is under warranty.

Parts that commonly fix it

Always match the part number to your exact model.

⚙

Dryer thermistor

Order by your full model number: Kenmore 110 and 796 dryers use different thermistors.

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⚙

Digital multimeter

Needed to measure the thermistor's resistance with the dryer unplugged.

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Dryer electronic control board

Only if the thermistor and harness test good. Boards are model-specific.

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Sources

  1. Sears PartsDirect: Kenmore 110 series electronic control dryer error codes (E1/E2 thermistor failure, about 10,000 ohms; E3 control mismatch)
  2. Sears PartsDirect: Kenmore 796 dryer error codes (tE1/tE2 thermistor failure)
  3. Whirlpool dryer tech sheet 8541836 (E1 thermistor open, E2 thermistor shorted; Test #3a and resistance table)
  4. Sears PartsDirect: How to replace a dryer thermistor (location on the blower housing)

Last reviewed 2026-10-25. Always confirm against the manual for your exact model number.