What tE1 / tE2 (796 / LG-built) Means
tE1 and tE2 on LG-built Kenmore dryers — model numbers beginning 796 — report the thermistor as failed. This is a good example of the prefix mattering: the same complaint on a 110-prefix Whirlpool-built Kenmore dryer arrives as an F3 or F:22 code instead.
Common Causes of tE1 / tE2 (796 / LG-built)
- A thermistor drifted outside its specified resistance
- Damaged wiring in the thermistor circuit
- A vent restriction producing temperatures the control cannot reconcile
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
Clean the lint screen and check the vent run first; a restricted dryer runs temperatures well outside normal and that alone can prompt a sensor complaint.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- Cut power at the breaker, and on gas models shut the gas off at the appliance valve, before any panel is removed.
- The thermistor sits in the hot air path where surrounding metal holds heat long after the cycle stops.
- LG-built parts do not interchange with Whirlpool-built Kenmore dryers, so the 796 prefix goes on every order.
Opening a panel to inspect or repair something yourself doesn't automatically cancel your manufacturer's warranty — but it can risk accidental damage, and some manufacturers do have specific service conditions. Check your product's warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.