Maytag Dryer Error Code F3E1

The F3E1 error code indicates the control board has detected an open circuit in the exhaust thermistor. Specifically, the thermistor's resistance has exceeded 50,000 ohms, which corresponds to a sensed temperature below 18°F. This tells the board the thermistor circuit is broken rather than reading a legitimate temperature, since that resistance value falls outside any normal operating range. Maytag's diagnostic procedure points to TEST #4a: Thermistors on page 16 as the starting point.

The exhaust thermistor is a small temperature sensor mounted in the exhaust duct of your dryer. It sends continuous resistance readings to the control board so the dryer can regulate heat and protect against overheating. When the control board reads a resistance value above 50k ohms, it interprets this as a broken or disconnected sensor rather than a real temperature reading, because no real exhaust temperature would produce that value during normal operation.

The most common reasons this happens are a failed thermistor, a broken wire or connector in the harness leading to the thermistor, or a loose plug at the control board or sensor. A cold ambient environment alone will not cause this code, since 18°F is far below typical laundry room conditions and the 50k ohm threshold represents an open circuit, not a cold reading.