What rt Lo / rt Hi (111-prefix) Means
rt Lo and rt Hi on 111-prefix Kenmore bottom-freezer refrigerators report the ambient temperature sensor — the one that measures the room rather than either compartment. The control uses it to decide how hard the appliance has to work, so a failure shows up as poor efficiency rather than as warm food.
Common Causes of rt Lo / rt Hi (111-prefix)
- An ambient sensor out of its resistance range
- A broken wire in the ambient sensor circuit
- A control board misreading the sensor
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
Consider where the refrigerator stands: one squeezed beside an oven or in an unheated garage is working against genuinely extreme ambient conditions, and that context is worth mentioning.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- Unplug the appliance before the sensor location is opened, since its harness ends at a live board.
- The ambient sensor sits away from the compartments, so looking for it inside the fridge wastes an afternoon.
- Ignoring it lets the appliance run its compressor on wrong assumptions, which costs electricity every day.
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.