On the covered KitchenAid over-the-range microwave, F8 E5 means the control has reported a fault in a sensing circuit First, unplug the microwave for a minute and wipe the interior. Then: cook by time while the sensor is faulty, and book service if F8 E5 returns.
Differential
Likely causes of “KitchenAid over-the-range microwave code F8 E5”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The control has reported a fault in a sensing circuit
What separates it The display shows F8 E5 and the sensor-cook feature fails
How to confirm Unplug for a minute and try again
- 2
A sensor that is dirty or blocked
What separates it A splash covers the sensor opening
How to confirm Wipe the interior and the vent
- 3
A loose sensor connector
What separates it The code came after the microwave was moved
How to confirm A technician reseats it
- 4
A failed sensor
What separates it The code returns each time
How to confirm The sensor is replaced
- 5
A control board fault
What separates it Sensor and wiring are good
How to confirm The board is replaced last
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether F8 E5 appeared during sensor cooking or in a manual cycle
- Whether the interior and the sensor opening are clean and dry
- Whether the microwave heats a cup of water when run by time
- The model number from the label inside the door frame
Try in this order
0 of 9 completedWhat to do first
Reversibleunplug the microwave for a minute and wipe the interior.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleCook by time while the sensor is faulty, and book service if F8 E5 returns. A power reset is the whole of what KitchenAid publishes for this code: remove power for 1 minute, restore it, and watch whether the code returns.
Unplug the microwave for a minute
ReversiblePull the plug, wait a full minute and plug it in again, so that the control restarts and re-reads its sensors.
Wipe the interior and the vent
ReversibleRemove any splash near the sensor opening and the vent, since a blocked sensor can give a faulty reading.
Plug it in and check the display
ReversibleSee whether F8 E5 has cleared. A clean display means the fault was a one-off.
Cook by time instead of by sensor
ReversibleRun a cup of water for a minute by time to see whether the microwave heats, which shows the heating side is working.
Note when the code appears
ReversibleRecord whether it appears during sensor cooking or in a manual cycle, because that tells a technician which circuit to test.
Book service if F8 E5 returns
ReversibleA technician tests the sensor and its wiring and replaces the sensor or the control board as needed.
Wipe the vent and the roof of the cavity
ReversibleUse a barely damp cloth around the vent and the roof, where steam condenses. Let the microwave dry with the door open for twenty minutes before you test it.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The code on this page
- F8 E5, a sensing circuit fault.
- Parts involved
- The sensor, its wiring and the control.
- Safety
- Never open a microwave case.
- Sensor cooking, explained
- Sensor cooking measures the humidity or the steam that food gives off, and the microwave uses it to decide when to stop. The sensing circuit has a small opening that must be clean and dry. When the control cannot read it, it reports a sensing circuit fault and refuses to use the sensor modes, though the manual modes may still work.
- Splashes are the commonest cause
- A splash of soup, or steam that condenses over the sensor opening, leaves a film that blinds the sensor. Wiping the interior, and the area around the vent at the top, with a damp cloth costs nothing and sometimes clears the fault entirely.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If F8 E5 returns after a reset and a wipe-down, book KitchenAid service with the model number
- !Cook by time while the sensor is faulty, and do not open the case
- !Mention whether the fault appears only in sensor modes, since that points at the sensor circuit
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What does F8 E5 mean on a KitchenAid over-the-range microwave?+
the control has reported a fault in a sensing circuit
Can I still cook while it shows?+
By time, yes, if the microwave heats, though sensor features may not work.
Is it a safety fault?+
It is not a danger in itself, but do not open the case, because of the stored charge.
What fixes it?+
A new sensor or a new control board, depending on the test.
Is it a common code?+
It is less common than the door and keypad codes.
Can I still cook with F8 E5?+
Yes, by time, though the sensor features will not work.
How do I know whether the sensor is the only fault?+
Run a cup of water for a minute by time. If it heats normally, the heating side is fine.