---
title: "Kenmore refrigerator showing SY EF"
description: "What SY EF means on Kenmore refrigerators, what to check before booking, and when it is not a failure at all."
url: "https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-sy-ef/"
---

# Kenmore refrigerator showing SY EF

SY EF on a 253.7031 French door is an evaporator fan circuit failure.

## What SY EF actually means.

SY EF on a 253.7031 French door is an evaporator fan circuit failure. Sears has the fan's harness plug in the freezer checked first, then its wires at the electronic control board, before the fan and finally the board are replaced.

Kenmore refrigerator display

What to do when SY EF shows on the refrigerator

### Kind of code Fan circuit

A fan the control board expected to be turning is not — a motor that has failed, or ice holding the blade still.

### Usually leads to Fan and airflow repair

Two fans, two completely different failures — one stops the cold arriving, the other stops the heat leaving.

### Shows up as Fresh Food Section Warm, Freezer Cold

The single most diagnostic pattern on a refrigerator, and almost never the compressor.

### Make Kenmore

A retail badge on appliances built by several different manufacturers.

### Source Sears PartsDirect: Kenmore 253.7031 French door error codes (Wayback copy, Nov 2019)

Kenmore French door models whose number starts 253.7031 (built by Frigidaire); SY EF is on the Sears chart for that series.

## Before you book, in this order.

Each step comes from Kenmore's own guidance for SY EF on its refrigerators. Follow it to the end: the last card says whether this is a visit.

01

Read the model label and confirm it starts 253.

02

Check whether the fresh food side is warming while the freezer stays colder, a pattern that fits a fan that is not moving air.

03

Book a visit and quote SY EF.

### Still there?

It usually turns into [fan and airflow repair](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/services/fan-and-airflow-repair/). Book with the code and the model number.

### What not to do

SY EF is not a door or setting problem. It points to the fan that moves air over the coil, its wiring or the board that runs it.

## What you may notice with it.

The refrigerator problems SY EF tends to arrive with. Answer these at the refrigerator before anyone is booked.

[All problems](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/problems/)

Before you call

### [Fresh Food Section Warm, Freezer Cold](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/problems/fresh-food-warm-freezer-cold/)

[All 5 causes, cheapest first](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/problems/fresh-food-warm-freezer-cold/)

It also comes with

- [**Freezer Not Freezing**](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/problems/freezer-not-freezing/)

Food safety applies

### Fresh Food Section Warm, Freezer Cold

5 causes, cheapest first

Where SY EF usually leads

## Fan and airflow repair.

**Evaporator or condenser fan · low.**

Book a visit [What the job involves](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/services/fan-and-airflow-repair/)

## Read these before the visit.

Short guides that make the call quicker and the diagnosis cheaper.

[All guides](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/guides/)

Why it is doing that

### Fridge warm, freezer cold — the most diagnostic pattern there is

Why it is doing that

### Why refrigerators stop cooling, in order of likelihood

Error codes

### All 247 codes, by make

## Kenmore refrigerators.

A retail badge on appliances built by several different manufacturers.

[Kenmore refrigerator repair](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/brands/kenmore/)

More Kenmore codes

[COOLING OFF](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-cooling-off/) [Er FF](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-er-ff/) [F dH](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-dh/) [Door Ajar](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-frigidaire-door-ajar/) [Sb](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-frigidaire-sb-sb/) [Er FS](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-er-fs/) [Er rS](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-er-rs/) [F dS](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-f-ds/) [r dS](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-r-ds/) [Er HS](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-er-hs/) [Er IS](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-er-is/) [Er SS](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-er-ss/)

[All 51 Kenmore codes](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/#codes-kenmore)

Fan circuit on other makes

[Samsung 21E](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/samsung-21e/) [LG ER IF](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/lg-er-if/) [Frigidaire SY EF](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/frigidaire-sy-ef/) [Sub-Zero 35 R 33](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/sub-zero-35-r-33/) [Viking E2](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/viking-e2/) [Fisher & Paykel F15](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/fisher-and-paykel-f15/) [ASKO F1](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/asko-f1/)

[All 21 codes of this kind](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/#family-fan-circuit)

Kenmore builds this

### French door refrigerator

Two fresh-food doors over a freezer drawer — the most common premium layout, and the one with the most to go wrong at the door line.

Kenmore builds this

### Side-by-side refrigerator

Full-height freezer beside full-height fresh food, with the ice maker and dispenser built into the freezer door.

## In Kenmore's own words

> SY EF Evaporator fan circuit failure

[Sears PartsDirect: Kenmore 253.7031 French door error codes (Wayback copy, Nov 2019)](https://web.archive.org/web/20191114211449/https://www.searspartsdirect.com/diy/error-codes/refrigerator-repair/1234589/kenmore-253-series-french-door-refrigerator/0582) [Kenmore 253.7034 / 7044 French door use & care guide (archive.org copy)](https://archive.org/details/manualzilla-id-7020886)

Every code on this site is taken from the manufacturer's documentation, never from a forum or a parts listing. Kenmore French door models whose number starts 253.7031 (built by Frigidaire); SY EF is on the Sears chart for that series.

## Kenmore SY EF refrigerator repair, where we come out.

The same visit in every metro below: the code, the model number, and a diagnosis before any part is ordered.

[All service areas](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/)

[Tampa Bay](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/) FL · 31 areas

- [Hyde Park](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/hyde-park/)
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- [Westchase](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/westchase/)
- [Carrollwood](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/carrollwood/)
- [Belleair](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/belleair/)
- [St. Pete Beach](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/st-pete-beach/)
- [Palm Harbor](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/palm-harbor/)

[Orlando](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/) FL · 30 areas

- [Winter Park](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/winter-park/)
- [Windermere](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/windermere/)
- [Dr. Phillips](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/dr-phillips/)
- [Bay Hill](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/bay-hill/)
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- [Celebration](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/celebration/)

[Miami / South Florida](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/) FL · 47 areas

- [Brickell](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/brickell/)
- [Coconut Grove](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/coconut-grove/)
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- [Palm Beach](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/palm-beach/)

[New York Metro](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/) NY · 75 areas

- [Upper East Side](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/upper-east-side/)
- [Upper West Side](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/upper-west-side/)
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- [Scarsdale](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/scarsdale/)

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- [River Oaks](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/river-oaks/)
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- [The Woodlands](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/the-woodlands/)
- [West University](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/west-university/)

[Chicago](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/) IL · 50 areas

- [Lincoln Park](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/lincoln-park/)
- [Near North Side](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/near-north-side/)
- [West Loop / Near West Side](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/west-loop-near-west-side/)
- [Wilmette](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/wilmette/)
- [Winnetka](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/winnetka/)
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[Los Angeles](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/) CA · 95 areas

- [Beverly Hills](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/beverly-hills/)
- [Bel Air](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/bel-air/)
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- [Pasadena](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/pasadena/)
- [San Marino](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/san-marino/)
- [Malibu](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/malibu/)

[San Diego](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/) CA · 31 areas

- [La Jolla](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/la-jolla/)
- [Carmel Valley](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/carmel-valley/)
- [Point Loma](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/point-loma/)
- [Del Mar](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/del-mar/)
- [Rancho Santa Fe](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/rancho-santa-fe/)
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- [Encinitas](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/encinitas/)
- [Solana Beach](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/solana-beach/)

[San Francisco Bay Area](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/) CA · 74 areas

- [Pacific Heights](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/pacific-heights/)
- [Presidio Heights](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/presidio-heights/)
- [Russian Hill](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/russian-hill/)
- [Noe Valley](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/noe-valley/)
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- [Woodside](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/woodside/)
- [Palo Alto](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/palo-alto/)
- [Los Altos Hills](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/los-altos-hills/)
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- [Piedmont](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/piedmont/)
- [Marina](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/marina/)

For the heart of your home.

## Questions about SY EF.

### Can I clear SY EF myself?

Read the model label and confirm it starts 253. If it comes back, it needs a visit.

### What might I notice with SY EF on my Kenmore 253?

The fresh food side may warm while the freezer stays colder, which fits a fan that is not moving air over the coil. Quote SY EF when you book.

### Which part usually turns out to be behind SY EF on a Kenmore?

Sears checks the fan's harness plug in the freezer and its wires at the control board first. The fan is replaced after that, and the board last.

---

**[Read on the site: Kenmore refrigerator showing SY EF](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/error-codes/kenmore-sy-ef/)**

**[Book a visit with RefrigeratorRepair.center](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/schedule/)**
