What E06 really means

E06 points to the evaporator temperature sensor circuit. You usually won’t see it during day-to-day use; it tends to surface when the fridge runs its self-test. In plain terms, the control board is not getting a believable temperature signal from the sensor that lives on or near the evaporator coil, so it flags E06.

Why that sensor matters

The evaporator sensor is the control board’s “thermometer” for the coldest part of the system. When it reports accurately, the board can time defrosts, control fan run time, and modulate cooling to hold steady food-safe temps without excess frost. If the signal is off, you may get odd behavior: temperatures that drift, a fan that cycles strangely, or defrosts that don’t quite finish—sometimes with no error on the display until diagnostics run.

Common triggers

Most E06 cases trace back to one of three things: ice or rime physically covering the sensor, a sensor that’s drifted out of spec or failed, or a wiring/connector issue between the sensor and the control. Less commonly, a control-board fault is involved, but it’s smart to rule out the sensor and connections first.

What you can do first (safe, at-home steps)

Start by looking for obvious frost buildup around the evaporator area. Heavy ice can insulate the probe and “lie” to the controller. Power the refrigerator OFF, move perishables to a cooler, and let the unit defrost with doors open. Bowls of hot (not boiling) water in the freezer compartment can gently speed things up; avoid hair dryers or heat guns—they warp liners and crack plastic. Once the ice is gone and everything is dry, restore power and give the fridge several hours of run time. If E06 was caused by ice, it often clears after a clean defrost cycle.

While the power is off, check the sensor lead and connector if accessible on your model: look for a loose plug, corrosion, or a pinched wire. Reseat the connector firmly. After reassembly, do a “hard reset” by leaving the unit unplugged for a few minutes before powering back up so the control starts fresh.

When parts or pro diagnostics are needed

If E06 returns after a complete defrost and restart, the sensor may be out of tolerance or open/shorted and will need replacement. On many Bosch models the sensor is inexpensive but requires careful panel removal to access correctly. A persistent E06 with a known-good sensor and clean wiring points to a control-board problem or a defrost-system issue that’s recreating the frost conditions that fooled the sensor in the first place. That’s the point to bring in a technician for targeted testing, so the right part gets replaced once, not guessed at twice.

Good signs you’ve fixed it

Post-defrost, the fridge should pull down to stable temperatures, fans should sound “normal,” and no error should reappear during or after the next automatic self-test. Give it a full day to confirm temps hold steady and ice/frost doesn’t return.

Safety notes

Always disconnect power before removing panels. Don’t chip ice with tools—coils and liners are easy to puncture and costly to repair. If you see damaged insulation, brittle connectors, or signs of arcing, stop and call a professional.

E06 is the controller telling you it can’t trust the evaporator temperature reading. Clear the ice, reseat the wiring, restart clean—if the code returns, plan on a sensor replacement or a deeper check of the defrost and control circuits by a qualified tech.