Medium - Inspection Needed

Fisher & Paykel Refrigerator Fault 8 (ActiveSmart)

Fault 8 is Fault 7's mirror image — the defrost sensor is reading below 660 ohms, a short-circuit condition rather than an open one, again pointing to a failed sensor or damaged wiring near the evaporator.

What Fault 8 Means

Fault 8 is Fault 7's mirror image — the defrost sensor is reading below 660 ohms, a short-circuit condition rather than an open one, again pointing to a failed sensor or damaged wiring near the evaporator.

Common Causes of Fault 8

  • The defrost sensor has shorted
  • Damage to the defrost sensor wiring
  • Moisture getting into the sensor connector near the evaporator

🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try

There's no do-it-yourself check for this — resistance testing needs a multimeter and a fully de-energized unit, which is a technician's job.

⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That

  • Because it sits right at the evaporator, this sensor is tangled up with refrigerant lines that a homeowner has no business touching.
  • A sensor replaced on the wrong assumption leaves the actual defrost-timing fault unresolved, and the part gets wasted while ice keeps accumulating.
  • Evaporator access usually means removing interior freezer panels first, one of the more common ways this warranty gets voided.
  • Even a good replacement sensor will misread if it isn't seated in exactly the same spot as the original.

Other Refrigerator Error Codes

Related Guides

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FAQ

Fault 8 FAQ

Not really — it's the same sensor failing in the opposite electrical direction (short instead of open), so the part and the repair process are essentially identical.

It's not a safety emergency, but a defrost system that can't cycle properly will eventually pile up heavy ice, so it's still worth scheduling soon.

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