Grundig E02 fridge freezer: what it means & what to check

What E02 actually means

The fridge section's evaporator temperature sensor is giving a reading the control board won't accept, so the appliance has flagged a sensor fault rather than a cooling fault.

Grundig fridge freezers monitor the cooling coil (evaporator) behind the fridge compartment with its own temperature probe, separate from the air sensor that reads the cabinet. That probe is what tells the board when to run a defrost and when the coil is clear again. If the signal goes out of range \u2014 open circuit, short, or a loose plug \u2014 the board can no longer time defrosts properly, shows the fault and falls back on a fixed run pattern, which usually shows up as the fridge either icing up at the back or drifting warmer than the setting.

What E02 looks like on a Grundig fridge freezer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Grundig fridge freezer, E02 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Not heating the water
Washing coming out cold
Cycle takes far longer than it should
Not cooling
Freezer not freezing
Ice building up at the back
Food going off in the fridge
Running constantly and never getting cold

Recognise any of those? That is this fault, and the rest of this page explains what causes it and what you can check yourself.

What usually causes it

A loose or corroded plug on the fridge evaporator sensor
The sensor itself has failed open or short circuit
Damaged or chafed wiring in the loom to the sensor
Moisture tracking into the sensor connection after heavy icing
A fault on the main control board misreading the sensor

What you can safely check yourself

Work through these in order. Anything beyond this — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the machine plugged in.

Turn the appliance off at the socket for a minute, then back on \u2014 an intermittent reading sometimes clears and won't return
Check both doors are closing fully and the seals aren't holding them ajar, as constant warm air makes icing worse while the fault is present
Move food away from the rear wall of the fridge so the vents aren't blocked
Have a look at the back wall inside the fridge for a solid sheet of ice, and note whether the compartment is running warm \u2014 useful information for the engineer

Which Grundig models show E02

E02 means the same thing on all 6 of these models. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

7278346313 · 7278649518 · 7280046313 · 7280046383 · 7287546382 · 7288946318

Common questions about Grundig E02

What does E02 mean on a Grundig fridge freezer?

The fridge section's evaporator temperature sensor is giving a reading the control board won't accept, so the appliance has flagged a sensor fault rather than a cooling fault. Grundig fridge freezers monitor the cooling coil (evaporator) behind the fridge compartment with its own temperature probe, separate from the air sensor that reads the cabinet. That probe is what tells the board when to run a defrost and when the coil is clear again. If the signal goes out of range \u2014 open circuit, short, or a loose plug \u2014 the board can no longer time defrosts properly, shows the fault and falls back on a fixed run pattern, which usually shows up as the fridge either icing up at the back or drifting warmer than the setting.

Can I fix Grundig E02 myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the appliance off at the socket for a minute, then back on \u2014 an intermittent reading sometimes clears and won't return.
Check both doors are closing fully and the seals aren't holding them ajar, as constant warm air makes icing worse while the fault is present.
Move food away from the rear wall of the fridge so the vents aren't blocked.
Have a look at the back wall inside the fridge for a solid sheet of ice, and note whether the compartment is running warm \u2014 useful information for the engineer.

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried them.

How much does it cost to repair Grundig E02?

£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Tried the checks and it's still showing E02?

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. Then it wants someone who can open it up.

What it costs, before you call: the price is the same whatever the fault turns out to be — £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Our own engineers, not a call centre. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire — most fridge freezer faults are seen same day or next day.

Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need

Outside our area? The explanation above still stands — take it to a local engineer and tell them the code. Knowing it saves them time and you money.

Other Grundig fridge freezer codes

All Grundig fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

Repairs we cover near you

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Grundig E02 error — fridge freezer