Kenmore 70343 (French Door) – Control board failure Repair Guide

🔧 Step 1: Reset refrigerator (unplug 30 seconds)

1. Locate the power cord at the back of the refrigerator, approximately 4-6 inches above the floor on the left side when facing the rear.
2. Pull the refrigerator away from the wall by gripping both sides of the unit and sliding it forward 12-18 inches to access the power cord.
3. Trace the power cord from the refrigerator to the wall outlet.
4. Grip the plug (not the cord) firmly with your dominant hand where the cord connects to the three-prong plug.
5. Pull straight out from the wall outlet with steady pressure until the plug fully separates from the outlet.
6. Verify the refrigerator is completely unpowered by checking that the interior lights are off and the display panel on the front door is blank.
7. Set a timer on your phone or watch for exactly 30 seconds.
8. Place the plug on a clean, dry surface away from water or debris while waiting.
9. After the full 30 seconds have elapsed, pick up the plug and inspect the three metal prongs for any debris, corrosion, or damage.
10. Align the three prongs with the corresponding slots in the wall outlet – the round ground prong goes into the bottom (or left) hole, and the two flat prongs go into the top (or right) holes.
11. Push the plug firmly into the outlet until it’s fully seated and flush against the wall plate.
12. Listen for the refrigerator to power on – you should hear a brief beep from the control panel and the compressor may start humming within 1-2 minutes.
13. Check the front display panel to confirm it illuminates and shows the temperature settings.
14. Push the refrigerator back into position against the wall, leaving 1-2 inches of clearance for air circulation.

🛠️ Step 2: Check for error codes

1. Locate the control panel at the top front of the washer, centered on the lid area.
2. Look for the digital display screen, positioned in the middle of the control panel between the cycle selector knob on the left and the start button on the right.
3. Press and hold both the “Drain/Spin” button (third button from the left) and the “Extra Rinse” button (second button from the right) simultaneously for 3 seconds until the display changes.
4. Release both buttons when you see the display enter diagnostic mode—the screen will show “Cd” (meaning Code Display) followed by a two-digit code, or it will display “- -” if no errors are stored.
5. Watch the display for 5 seconds as it cycles through any stored error codes. Each code will appear for 2 seconds before advancing to the next.
6. Write down each error code as it appears. Common codes include: dL (door lock failure), UE (unbalanced load), OE (drain obstruction), LE (motor locked), IE (water inlet problem), or tE (temperature sensor issue).
7. Count how many times the code sequence repeats to determine if you have single or multiple errors stored.
8. Press the “Start/Pause” button once to exit diagnostic mode. The display will return to showing the normal time countdown or cycle status.
9. If the display showed “- -” with no error codes, the control board has not detected any faults, and your issue likely involves a component that hasn’t triggered an error yet.
10. Match your recorded error code(s) to the specific repair procedures in the following steps. Each error code points to a particular system failure that requires targeted troubleshooting.

⚙️ Step 3: Test control board operation

1. Locate the main control board mounted inside the control panel housing at the top rear of the washer, centered horizontally and positioned approximately 2 inches below the top panel surface.
2. Set your digital multimeter to VDC (volts DC) mode with a range of 0-200 volts.
3. Identify the white 6-pin connector on the left side of the control board—this is the power supply connector with wires colored black, white, red, blue, orange, and green.
4. Plug the washer power cord into the wall outlet but do NOT press any buttons yet.
5. Touch the black multimeter probe to the black wire terminal in the 6-pin connector and the red probe to the red wire terminal.
6. Read the display—you should see 120 volts (+/- 5 volts). If voltage reads zero, the power supply module has failed.
7. Press the POWER button on the control panel.
8. Observe the LED display panel—all segment lights should illuminate briefly for 2 seconds, then display “- – -” or “0:00”.
9. Locate the small green LED indicator light on the control board itself, positioned at the upper right corner of the board measuring 2mm diameter.
10. Verify this green LED is illuminated steadily—a flashing LED indicates a board fault code.
11. Press the START button three times within 5 seconds to enter diagnostic mode.
12. Watch the display cycle through error codes if any are stored—codes will show as “F##” followed by “E##” (example: “F01” then “E02”).
13. Touch the multimeter black probe to any metal ground point on the washer frame and the red probe to the blue wire terminal in the 6-pin connector.
14. Read the display—you should see 5 volts (+/- 0.2 volts), which confirms the board’s logic circuit power supply functions correctly.
15. Unplug the washer from the wall outlet.

🔩 Step 4: Replace main control board if needed

1. Locate the main control board housing at the top rear of the washer, directly behind the control panel, measuring approximately 8 inches wide by 4 inches tall.
2. Remove the 4 Phillips-head screws (#2 screwdriver) securing the control board housing cover—2 screws along the top edge and 2 along the bottom edge.
3. Lift the housing cover straight up and set it aside to expose the green rectangular circuit board (part number W10296024 or W10480186).
4. Identify 5 wire harness connectors attached to the control board: one large 20-pin white connector on the left side, two 6-pin black connectors in the center, one 4-pin gray connector on the right, and one 2-pin red connector at the bottom.
5. Press the locking tab on the 20-pin white connector while pulling it straight away from the board socket—apply 5-10 pounds of force until it releases with a click.
6. Disconnect the remaining 4 connectors using the same tab-and-pull method, working from largest to smallest.
7. Remove the 3 mounting screws (Phillips-head #2) securing the control board to the housing—one at top-left, one at top-right, and one at bottom-center.
8. Slide the old control board upward 1 inch to disengage the bottom mounting tabs, then pull it forward and out of the housing.
9. Position the new control board by inserting the bottom tabs into the housing slots first, then pressing the board flat against the mounting surface.
10. Install the 3 mounting screws and tighten until snug (approximately 8-10 inch-pounds)—the board should not flex when pressed.
11. Reconnect all 5 wire harnesses to their corresponding sockets, starting with the 20-pin white connector—each connector will click audibly when fully seated and cannot be inserted backward due to keyed designs.
12. Replace the housing cover and secure with the 4 Phillips-head screws.

📋 Step 5: Verify operation

1. Restore power to the dryer by flipping the 30-amp double-pole circuit breaker in your electrical panel to the ON position, or reconnecting both legs of the 240V power cord if you unplugged the unit.
2. Open the dryer door and place 3-4 dry towels inside the drum to create a test load weighing approximately 5-8 pounds.
3. Close the dryer door firmly until you hear it latch with an audible click.
4. Turn the cycle selector dial clockwise to the “Normal Dry” or “Auto Dry” setting, located at the top center of the control panel.
5. Press the START button once, located on the right side of the control panel approximately 2 inches from the cycle selector dial.
6. Listen for the motor to begin running within 2-3 seconds – you should hear a low humming sound at 60 Hz frequency.
7. Verify the drum begins rotating clockwise when viewed from the front, completing one full rotation every 1-2 seconds.
8. Place your hand near the lint screen opening at the top front of the dryer after 60 seconds of operation – you should feel warm air blowing out at approximately 120-140°F.
9. Open the dryer door after 2-3 minutes of operation – the drum should stop rotating immediately when the door latch disengages.
10. Look inside the drum while the door is open and confirm the drum light illuminates, located at the upper rear of the drum opening at 12 o’clock position.
11. Close the door and press START again to resume the cycle.
12. Allow the dryer to run for 10 minutes total, then open the door and touch the towels – they should feel noticeably warm to the touch at 100-110°F.
13. Turn the cycle selector dial counterclockwise to the OFF position to stop the cycle completely.

⚠️ Safety Reminders

• Always unplug the refrigerator before beginning any repair work
• Allow the unit to warm up if working with frozen components
• Use proper tools and safety equipment
• If you’re unsure about any step, consult a professional

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🛒 Recommended Products

Here are the recommended products for this repair:

• WR55X10942C WR55X10942 Replacement Control Board for GE Refrigerator Replace WR55X10942P WR55X11130 WR55X10552 WR55X10656 WR55X10996 WR55X11072 WR55X10775

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