On the covered Kenmore electronic control model freezer, L means Kenmore's service table lists this code as: control lock is on. Press and hold the Alarm Reset button for three seconds. Hold Alarm Reset to clear it. Leave it on or clear it.
Differential
Likely causes of “Kenmore electronic control model freezer code L”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The control lock is on (L)
What separates it The display shows L and the keys do not respond
How to confirm Press and hold the Alarm Reset button for three seconds
- 2
The lock was set by accident
What separates it A key was held
How to confirm Hold Alarm Reset to clear it
- 3
A power cut reset the control
What separates it The lock returned
How to confirm Clear it again
- 4
A child lock was intended
What separates it Someone set it
How to confirm Leave it on or clear it
- 5
A keypad fault
What separates it L appears without anyone setting it
How to confirm Contact service
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- That the display shows L
- Whether the keys respond
- Whether anyone set the lock
- The model number
Try in this order
0 of 10 completedCorrect only the documented fault domain
ReversiblePress and hold the Alarm Reset button for 3 seconds to disable the control lock.
Press and hold the Alarm Reset button for 3 seconds
ReversibleThe chart says this disables the control lock, so hold it steadily and watch the display change from L.
Try the temperature buttons
ReversibleOnce L is gone the buttons should respond, which confirms the lock was the only issue.
Look at E7 if L returns
ReversibleThe chart names no part for L, so a lock that keeps coming back is a sign of a stuck key, which is E7.
Look at the display
ReversibleIf the display shows L, the control lock is on, and the keys are ignored until you clear it.
Press and hold Alarm Reset
ReversibleKenmore's table says to press and hold the Alarm Reset button for three seconds to disable the control lock.
Check that the L has gone
ReversibleThe display should return to normal, showing the temperature or its usual reading.
Test a key
ReversiblePress the temperature key and see whether the control responds, which confirms that the lock is off.
Check the temperature
ReversibleMake sure the freezer is at its usual temperature, since the lock does not affect cooling but a changed setting does.
Contact Kenmore if L returns by itself
ReversibleIf the lock keeps coming on without anyone setting it, the keypad may be faulty and the model number helps support.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The code on this page
- L, the control lock is on.
- Parts involved
- The control only.
- Source
- Sears PartsDirect's table for Kenmore freezers.
- Why the lock exists
- A control lock protects the temperature setting from being changed by a child or by a stray touch, which matters for a freezer holding a lot of food. Many owners switch it on deliberately and forget, so L is often a reminder, not a problem.
- If the freezer seems warm
- The lock itself does not change the temperature, so if the freezer feels warm, look at the setting, the door seal and the vents. A freezer that holds above about zero degrees Fahrenheit needs attention separately from the lock.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !L is a feature and not a fault, so do not unplug the freezer or replace the user interface control to clear it
- !If L keeps returning, look at the E7 stuck key row rather than replacing anything on a guess
- !If L returns on its own, contact Kenmore service
- !The lock does not affect cooling
- !Do not unplug the freezer to clear it
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. For L: the 3 second Alarm Reset hold is chart text; the stuck button remark is general description.
Exact questions
Common questions
What does L mean on a Kenmore electronic control model freezer?+
Kenmore's service table lists this code as: control lock is on.
Does L mean the freezer stopped cooling?+
The chart describes L only as the control lock being on and lists no cooling fault, so treat it as a lock on the keys; check the freezer temperature anyway if you are unsure.
How long do I hold the Alarm Reset button to clear L?+
3 seconds, according to the chart, and the button must stay held for the whole time.
How do I turn it off?+
Press and hold the Alarm Reset button for three seconds.
Does the lock stop the freezer cooling?+
No, the freezer keeps running normally, and only the keys are locked.
Why did it come on?+
A key was held by accident, or a power cut restarted the control in its locked state.
Is L a fault?+
No, it is a setting, though a lock that keeps returning on its own is worth a call to Kenmore.