F23 Serious Moderate DIY

Whirlpool Dryer F23 — Exhaust Thermistor Short

Whirlpool Dryer · Error code F23

What F23 Means

The exhaust thermistor circuit reads a short (resistance too low). The control treats this as a temperature-sensing failure and halts heating to protect the dryer.

Symptoms

  • F23 on display
  • No heat
  • Cycle aborts shortly after start
  • Dryer runs but never warms up

Common Causes

1
Shorted thermistor element

Internal short in the thermistor itself.

2
Pinched or chafed harness

Two thermistor wires shorted together where the harness routes past sheet metal.

3
Failed control board input

Shorted input on the main electronic control board reading low resistance no matter what.

How to Fix It

  1. Disconnect power at the breaker.
  2. Remove the back or top panel and find the exhaust thermistor on the blower housing.
  3. Unplug the thermistor and measure resistance — should be roughly 10K ohms at room temp; a reading near 0 confirms a short.
  4. Visually trace the harness from the thermistor to the control board and look for pinch damage or burned spots.
  5. Replace the thermistor; if F23 persists with a new thermistor and verified-good wiring, replace the main control board.

Parts You May Need

If diagnosis points to a failed part, these are the common replacements. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Common replacement Exhaust thermistor View on Amazon→

More Whirlpool Dryer Codes

AF AF — Airflow Restriction E1 E1 — Inlet thermistor open circuit E2 E2 — Inlet thermistor shorted Err Err — Door Not Fully Closed F01 F01 — Main electronic control board failure F02 F02 — User Interface / Keypad Failure

All Whirlpool codes → All dryer codes →

Verified against manufacturer documentation: atoz1.com

Always unplug an appliance before servicing it. This guide is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for a qualified technician.