LG Refrigerator Error Code E FF – Troubleshooting Guide

Troubleshooting error codes on an LG refrigerator can sometimes be challenging. But if you’re struggling with the E FF error code, don’t worry. You’ve come to the right place.

The E FF error code on an LG refrigerator means there’s a freezer fan problem. The most likely triggers of this code are an ice buildup around the fan blades, a failed fan motor, or a faulty main control board. Until this problem is resolved, the freezer won’t distribute cold air evenly throughout the compartment.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to understand the E FF error code, its causes, and its solutions.

Understanding The E FF Error Code On Your LG Refrigerator

The E FF error code that you see on your fridge display means that there’s a problem with the freezer fan. More specifically, the problem is with the evaporator fan that’s responsible for distributing cold air throughout the freezer compartment, keeping your food items as cold as they need to be.

What Is The Purpose Of The Evaporator?

The evaporator is the part of your freezer that makes the compartment cold. It’s the part of the overall cooling system where heat is absorbed into the refrigerant. As the refrigerant flows through the system, it carries away the heat and releases it outside the appliance.

The evaporator also has a dedicated fan that turns on and off as needed. Whenever the fan turns on, it ensures that all parts of the freezer compartment are cooled evenly to reach the temperature you’ve set.

So, when the E FF error code is triggered because of a fan problem, that means the freezer can’t cool down evenly as it should. That’s why you must troubleshoot the problem and resolve it as soon as possible to protect the items you’re keeping in the freezer.

Read: LG Refrigerator Error Code 22 – Troubleshooting Guide

LG Freezer Fan Issues: Causes and Solutions

Freezer fan issues that trigger the E FF error code are caused by an ice buildup around the fan blades, a failed fan motor, or a faulty main control board.

This section will help you understand what these parts do, how they fail, and how to fix them.

Too Much Ice Around Fan Blades

What it is: As mentioned before, the evaporator has a dedicated fan that drives cold air throughout the freezer compartment. The fridge will turn this fan on and off as needed so that the freezer can reach your set temperature and keep itself cool at all times.

How it happens: When the fan blades turn, it forces air to pass through. Unfortunately, that air often contains excess moisture, resulting in frost and ice around the evaporator fan. Over an extended period, that buildup of frost and ice will become big enough to block the fan blades from turning at all.

When the fridge senses that the fan blades can’t turn, that will trigger the E FF error code that you see on display.

How to fix it: Frost and ice build-ups must be melted away naturally. The most effective way to do that is to turn the fridge off entirely while the freezer door is open. You’ll also have to remove all items in the freezer compartment so that it warms up and melt away the ice buildup.

Remember: Some guides will tell you to use a hairdryer or heat gun to speed up the process. Unfortunately, that’s a bad idea because the concentrated heat that these tools shoot can warp and melt the plastic parts in your freezer.

So, when it comes to melting away ice and frost buildups, doing it slowly and naturally is always the best approach.

Read: Why Is Fridge Making Rattling, Humming Or Buzzing Noise?

Failed Fan Motor

What it is: The fan blades described above are turned by a fan motor. That motor is connected directly to the fridge’s main control board. When the freezer compartment is too warm, the board will send power and electrical signals to the motor to turn on.

Once the appliance senses that the freezer is cold enough, it will shut off that fan until it’s needed again.

How it fails: The fan motor will fail from excess wear. For example, an ice buildup around the fan blades (mentioned earlier) will force the motor to work harder than usual to turn those blades. When this goes on for too long, it can cause the motor to overheat and burn out.

Besides that, the same can also happen if the motor has been in use for many years. Then, the motor will experience regular wear and eventually fail.

How to fix it: When the fan motor fails and triggers the E FF error code, you must replace it with a new one. The replacement is pretty straightforward to do. However, the challenge is accessing the motor, which is located behind the rear wall of the freezer compartment.

Firstly, empty the freezer to access the rear wall. Then, remove the wall by unthreading any screws holding it in place and gently pulling it off.

Once you have the wall removed, you can then locate the existing fan motor. Disconnect its wiring and remove its fan blades before taking out the motor.

Next, mount the new motor in its place and reattach the fan blades. Then, reconnect its electrical wiring.

Lastly, replace the rear wall of the freezer compartment to complete the repair.

Read: LG Refrigerator Error Code FF: Troubleshooting Guide

Faulty Main Control Board

What it is: People often refer to the main control board as the fridge’s brain. That’s accurate because it’s a printed circuit board (PCB) that controls all of your fridge’s functions, including that of the freezer fan. 

The board does that by sending electrical signals and power to other fridge components so they’ll work whenever they’re needed.

How it fails: When it comes to the E FF error code, it’s likely that the relays on the main control board for the freezer fan have failed. When that happens, the main control board can’t send or receive clear signals from the freezer fan motor, causing it to trigger the E FF error code on its display.

How to fix it: Even though only a part of the main control board might be faulty, you’ll need to replace the whole part altogether. Thankfully, that’s also a straightforward repair.

Firstly, locate the compartment that houses the main control board at the back of the fridge. Then, remove the screws holding the access panel in place.

Once you’ve accessed the main control board, take note of how the wire harnesses are connected. You’ll need to reconnect them the same way later on the new board.

Next, remove the main control board and mount the new one in the same place. Then, reconnect the wire harnesses.

Finally, secure the access panel back into place to cover the board housing.

Read: LG Refrigerator Error Code 1F Or IF – Troubleshooting Guide

How To Clear The E FF Error Code On An LG Fridge?

When clearing the E FF error code, you must fix the root cause first. That way, the error code won’t persist or return anytime soon.

Once you’ve completed the repairs, you can then clear the code by resetting your LG refrigerator in a few simple steps.

How To Reset Your LG Refrigerator?

To reset your LG refrigerator, cycle its power by following these steps:

• Firstly, shut the fridge off at its power source (e.g. wall socket or circuit breaker).
• Next, wait for at least 30 seconds.
• Then, after that time has passed, you can turn the fridge back on again.

When you leave the fridge unpowered for a short period, the fridge will dissipate any electricity left inside. As that happens, the fridge’s memory will clear itself along with the E FF error code.

Testing Your LG Refrigerator After A Repair

Whether you hired a qualified technician or repaired the fridge yourself, it’s essential to test the appliance after a repair such as the ones described above.

The most effective way is to keep an eye on the fridge for the following 24 hours. As long as the E FF error code doesn’t reappear, that means the repair was a success.

Do LG Refrigerators Have A Test Button?

Yes, it does. The test button is located directly on the main control board, accessible from behind the fridge.

The fridge will run through several automatic tests to check for errors when you press the test button. If it detects a problem, it will display the relevant error code on its display.

However, pressing a button on the main control board while the fridge is still connected can be risky. So, only perform this task if you’re confident you can do it safely.

Read: Your Fridge Is Not Cooling, Light Is ON? | How To Fix It