GE Refrigerator Flashing HRS: How to Fix It

Human Verdict

I only see HRS when the refrigerator thinks the CustomCool drawer is in a timed thaw cycle, but the main board refuses to run the compressor because something downstream shorted it out. In practice (and in Appliance Repair Shorts’ video below), it is almost always the evaporator fan harness shorting the 13 VDC rail, not a dead board. Unplugging that fan instantly wakes the UI back up, which is your proof before ordering parts.

What HRS Actually Means

GE’s official documentation says HRS stands for “hours” and shows up while Quick Thaw/Express Thaw is counting down in the CustomCool drawer. When it flashes constantly and the refrigerator is silent, the main board has detected a short on one of its 12–13 V loads (evaporator fan, damper, drawer fan) and shuts the compressor down for self-protection.

• GE Support: HRS Flashes in Control Panel

Symptom Checklist

• Display flashes HRS and ignores button presses.
• Lights inside the fresh food section work, but compressor and condenser fan are off.
• Freezer temperature rises quickly because the evaporator fan never spins.
• Power cycling only works for a second—or not at all—before HRS returns.

Video Walkthrough Highlights (Appliance Repair Shorts)

• 0:25 – 0:40: Shows the flashing HRS display on an Artica/Profile side-by-side that is not cooling.
• 0:46 – 1:05: Demonstrates how a shorted evaporator fan drags down the low-voltage circuit and kills the UI.
• 1:05 – 1:20: Unplugging the fan harness immediately revives the controls, proving the fan is the culprit.

Step-by-Step Fix

1. Clear Any Legitimate Quick Thaw Cycle

1. Tap Select Express Thaw ➞ Off on the CustomCool drawer if it responds.
2. If the UI is frozen, unplug the refrigerator (or flip the breaker) for 5 minutes to cancel the countdown mentioned in the GE support doc above.

2. Access the Evaporator Fan Harness

1. Remove the freezer shelves and the rear panel to expose the evaporator cover.
2. Identify the white 2-pin or 3-pin harness feeding the evaporator fan motor (time stamp 0:50 in the video).
3. Unplug the connector and power the fridge back up. If the display returns to normal and the compressor attempts to start, the fan or wiring is shorted.

3. Test the Fan Motor

1. With the fan unplugged, check resistance between the motor leads—most GE DC evaporator fans read 140–220 Ω. A reading near 0 Ω means the winding is shorted.
2. Check for continuity between each lead and the fan frame. Any continuity indicates the motor shorted to ground.
3. If resistance is good, inspect the harness for pinched wires where it exits the liner.

4. Replace the Failed Component

1. Install the correct GE DC evaporator fan (don’t substitute a lower-voltage fan; that mismatch is exactly what caused the fault in the video).
2. Re-route the harness so it cannot rub on the evaporator shroud.
3. Restore power and confirm the fan runs within 30 seconds. The HRS indicator should disappear permanently.

When to Suspect the Main Control Board

If the fan tests perfect yet HRS returns immediately, unplug each load from the board (evaporator fan at J2, damper, CustomCool drawer fan) one at a time. If none restore operation, the WR55X10942P main control board likely has a failed low-voltage regulator. At that point, board replacement plus a surge suppressor is the reliable fix.

Parts You Might Need

• GE WR60X10307/WR60X26866 Evaporator Fan Motor – Correct DC fan that prevents the short seen in the video.
• GE WR55X10942P Main Control Board – Replace only if unplugging loads never clears HRS.
• GE CustomCool Drawer Fan Assembly – Secondary low-voltage load that can also trigger HRS.
• Torx & Nut Driver Set – Needed to remove the freezer rear panel without stripping screws.