What FE actually means
The fridge freezer has lost a reliable temperature reading from one of its internal sensors, so the control board has flagged a fault instead of running normally.
Sharp's control board constantly reads temperature sensors in the freezer, the fridge compartment, the defrost circuit and the evaporator coil. If a reading comes back impossibly high or impossibly low \u2014 outside roughly +50\u00b0C to -50\u00b0C \u2014 the board decides that sensor is short circuited or open circuited and shows FE, usually with a number after it identifying which one (01 freezer, 02 fridge, 03 defrost, 04 coil sensor). Cooling may carry on after a fashion on a fallback pattern, but temperatures are no longer being properly controlled.
What FE looks like on a Sharp fridge freezer
Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Sharp fridge freezer, FE 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 failed temperature sensor \u2014 the most common cause by a wide margin
- A damaged or corroded sensor plug or wire inside the cabinet
- Moisture or ice build-up around a sensor after a heavy frosting
- A fault on the control board itself, which is much rarer
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.
- Note the two digits shown after FE \u2014 it tells the engineer which sensor is at fault and saves diagnosis time
- Switch off at the wall for a minute and back on; a genuine sensor fault will return within a short while
- Check the doors are closing and sealing properly, as constant warm air and heavy frosting can bring on sensor problems
- Move any food packed hard against the back wall or air vents
Which Sharp models show FE
FE means the same thing on all 15 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.
SJ-BA31IEXI2-EN · SJ-BA31IEXW2-EN · SJ-BA33IEXI2-EN · SJ-BA33IEXW2-EN · SJ-FE251I · SJ-FE251W · SJ-L1350E3I-EN · SJ-L1350E3W-EN · SJ-L2350E0I-EN · SJ-L2350E0W-EN · SJ-LE350I · SJ-S1251E0I-EN · SJ-S1251E0W-EN · SJ-S2251E0I-EN · SJ-S2251E0W-EN
Common questions about Sharp FE
What does FE mean on a Sharp fridge freezer?
The fridge freezer has lost a reliable temperature reading from one of its internal sensors, so the control board has flagged a fault instead of running normally. Sharp's control board constantly reads temperature sensors in the freezer, the fridge compartment, the defrost circuit and the evaporator coil. If a reading comes back impossibly high or impossibly low \u2014 outside roughly +50\u00b0C to -50\u00b0C \u2014 the board decides that sensor is short circuited or open circuited and shows FE, usually with a number after it identifying which one (01 freezer, 02 fridge, 03 defrost, 04 coil sensor). Cooling may carry on after a fashion on a fallback pattern, but temperatures are no longer being properly controlled.
Can I fix Sharp FE myself?
There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.
- Note the two digits shown after FE \u2014 it tells the engineer which sensor is at fault and saves diagnosis time.
- Switch off at the wall for a minute and back on; a genuine sensor fault will return within a short while.
- Check the doors are closing and sealing properly, as constant warm air and heavy frosting can bring on sensor problems.
- Move any food packed hard against the back wall or air vents.
This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried them.
How much does it cost to repair Sharp FE?
£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 FE?
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.
All Sharp fault codes and repairs →