Error code guide
Frigidaire refrigerator SY EF error code
Freezer evaporator fan failure — the main control does not see the freezer evaporator fan turning. It applies to 2 Frigidaire control platforms.
$75 service call, applied toward the approved repair
Last reviewed
Freezer evaporator fan failure — the main control does not see the freezer evaporator fan turning. Here's what the code means on each Frigidaire control that uses it, what you can safely check, and what a technician tests.
What SY EF means
Frigidaire Gallery, Professional and Frigidaire French-door refrigerators with a dispenser control panel (about 2011–2017 families)
SY EF: Freezer evaporator fan failure — the main control does not see the freezer evaporator fan turning.
How to recognize it: French door, bottom freezer drawer, through-the-door ice and water with temperature arrows and +/- keys on the dispenser panel; fresh-food (door) ice maker; R-134a refrigerant per the tech sheet.
Frigidaire Gallery and Professional side-by-side refrigerators with an electronic dispenser control panel
SY EF: The main control does not see the evaporator fan rotating.
How to recognize it: Side-by-side; temperatures set with arrows/+ and - on a panel on the front of the freezer door or on the side of the door inside.
What you can safely check
There is no owner fix for the code itself — the part, wiring or control needs testing. These basic checks still help while you wait for service:
- Make sure the refrigerator is plugged in and the breaker is on. Check whether the interior light works.
- Check the controls: on many models cooling can be switched off from the keypad (OFF in the display).
- Make sure both doors close fully and nothing blocks them. A door slightly open lets warm air in.
- Keep food away from the air vents inside the cabinet.
Need your Frigidaire refrigerator looked at?
$75 service call, applied toward the repair. You get the price before any work starts.
What a technician tests
The control sets this code when it detects a specific fault, but the code alone doesn't say whether the part, its wiring or the control board failed. Frigidaire's service notes tell technicians to check the connectors and wiring and test the part before replacing a board. Parts involved:
- Evaporator fan — typical repair $180–$390
- Wiring and connectors
- Main control board — typical repair $250–$660
Further testing requires access to energized electrical components and should be performed by a qualified technician.
Related Frigidaire service bulletins
- RFTT2608 The current replacement freezer evaporator fan motor (3-wire) fits only side-by-side and French-door units built on or after January 1, 2015 (serial numbers beginning 4A501 or later). Earlier units cannot use it, and their original motor is no longer available — which can affect whether an older refrigerator can be repaired. (Frigidaire service bulletin RFTT2608)
Related troubleshooting
See all Frigidaire refrigerator error codes.
Online troubleshooting is intended for preliminary guidance only. Appliance symptoms and error codes can have multiple causes depending on the model. Stop troubleshooting if you encounter exposed wiring, gas, refrigerant, overheating, burning smells, or other unsafe conditions.