Written by
Elena Marsh Appliance Care EditorPublished October 29, 2026
VERIFIED
Error codetE
ApplianceDishwasher
Seeing tE means the dishwasher’s temperature sensor, the thermistor, is not working. It is covered for Kenmore models beginning 722.146.
Owner step
Unplug the dishwasher and stop there. The thermistor sits on the heater, and testing it needs its wires disconnected, so the rest is a technician’s job.
Measurements a technician takes
Thermistor on the heater: 11,320 ohms is expected at about 75 F room temperature.
Below 1,000 ohms or above 20,000 ohms: replace the heater assembly, thermistor included.
Thermistor fine: test the wires from it to the control board (blue and red on RD6); both should read alike.
Infinite or close to 0 ohms through those wires: a wiring failure to repair.
Everything tests good: the control board is misreading thermistor resistance and likely needs replacing.
Related codes
HE, a heating failure under the same 722.146 listing.
Resistance testing at the heater and board is handled by the Kenmore dishwasher repair team across San Francisco and the Bay Area. Phone (415) 825-6393 and quote tE plus the 722.146 model number.
Model compatibility: Kenmore reuses codes across series and model years, so tE may mean something different on another appliance or generation. Confirm this against your model’s documentation and record your full model number before acting.
Plain language
What this code means
The thermistor sensor on the heater has failed.
Important safety warning. Do not attempt repairs involving electrical components, gas, water lines, refrigerant or sealed systems. Unplug the appliance if it is safe to reach the outlet, and leave internal diagnostics to a qualified technician.
Seeing this code on your Kenmore appliance?
Book a specialist visit for a clear estimate and approval before any repair.
You submit a request with your appliance model and symptom, we confirm an appointment window, and a technician performs an on-site diagnosis. You then receive a clear estimate and decide whether to proceed before any repair begins.
Yes. We provide an upfront estimate after diagnosis. No parts are ordered or installed until you approve the work, so there are no surprise charges.
Replacement parts are selected for the exact model and confirmed with you before ordering or installation.
Service areas are listed on the Locations page. Contact us with your ZIP code to confirm current coverage for your address.
Ready to get your Kenmore appliance working again?
Book a repair online or call us — clear estimates and approval before any repair work begins.
