Maytag Refrigerator Error Code SH

The SH error code indicates the Maytag refrigerator's control board has detected a shorted thermistor during either a service test cycle or a forced defrost mode. A thermistor is a temperature-sensing resistor that feeds real-time temperature data to the control board. When the board measures resistance values that fall outside the acceptable range on the low end, indicating a short circuit rather than a normal sensor reading, it flags SH to alert the technician that the sensor circuit has failed in this specific way. This code does not appear during normal operation; it surfaces only during diagnostic modes.

For homeowners, a thermistor acts like the refrigerator's internal thermometer. When it shorts, the control board receives incorrect or no temperature data, which can cause the refrigerator to run erratically, fail to defrost properly, or maintain inaccurate temperatures. The SH code is the system's way of flagging that one of these sensors has an electrical short, meaning current is traveling along an unintended path rather than through the sensor correctly. Identifying which thermistor is shorted, whether it is the fresh food, freezer, or defrost thermistor, is the first step toward resolving the issue. Thermistor replacement is typically a low-cost repair when the wiring harness is intact.