On the covered Whirlpool range, 4D21, 4D22, 4D41, 4D42, Cooling Fan Speed, F7 E5, F7 E6, F8 E0, F8 E2 means the oven cooling fan is running too slowly or too fast, or is blocked First, listen for the fan and check the vent openings for a blockage.
Differential
Likely causes of “Whirlpool range code 4D21, 4D22, 4D41, 4D42, Cooling Fan Speed, F7 E5, F7 E6, F8 E0, F8 E2”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A cooling fan running too slowly or too fast
What separates it The range top is hot
How to confirm Listen for the fan
- 2
An airflow restriction
What separates it Vents are blocked
How to confirm Clear the vents
- 3
A failed fan motor
What separates it No sound
How to confirm Technician test
- 4
Wiring fault
What separates it Intermittent
How to confirm Technician test
- 5
Cooling Fan Speed message
What separates it Shows words
How to confirm Same causes
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Fan noise
- Heat outside
- Vent state
- Model number
Try in this order
0 of 12 completedWhat to do first
ReversibleListen for the fan and check the vent openings for a blockage.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleClear the airflow restriction, then check the fan wiring and replace the fan. A power reset is the whole of what Whirlpool publishes for this code: remove power for 1 minute, restore it, and watch whether the code returns.
Reset the power
ReversibleWhirlpool's pages say the cooling fan speed is too low or too high and that there may be a problem with an airflow restriction, the oven cooling fan or the associated wiring; they give a one-minute breaker reset.
Clear the airflow
ReversibleCheck that nothing blocks the air path and that the vents at the range are clear.
Check the fan and wiring
ReversibleWith the range unplugged, look at the oven cooling fan and its connector for damage or a loose wire; Whirlpool's F7 E5 and F8 E2 pages name the cooling fan or its wiring.
Arrange service for a failed fan
ReversibleWhirlpool publishes no repair beyond the reset and the airflow check, so a fan that does not run is for a technician.
Cool the oven
ReversibleWait.
Reset the breaker
ReversibleOne minute.
Clear vents
ReversibleCheck blockages.
Listen
ReversibleRun a bake.
Clean dust
ReversibleOven cold.
Service
ReversibleIf it returns.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Part
- Cooling fan.
- Whirlpool says
- Airflow restriction, fan or wiring.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Turn off the oven and the breaker if the range is very hot to the touch or smells of burning; the fan is what keeps the controls cool
- !Unplug the range before you reach for the fan or its wiring
- !Stop using the oven if too hot
- !Book Whirlpool service
- !Do not cover vents
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. The Sears range tables carry no cooling fan row; Whirlpool's pages are the only source.
Exact questions
Common questions
What does 4D21, 4D22, 4D41, 4D42, Cooling Fan Speed, F7 E5, F7 E6, F8 E0, F8 E2 mean on a Whirlpool range?+
the oven cooling fan is running too slowly or too fast, or is blocked
Is it safe to keep baking?+
A cooling fan protects the controls; if the fan is not running, stop using the oven until it is checked.
Does this apply to Maytag, KitchenAid, JennAir and Amana ranges?+
Yes, on the same platform.
What does the cooling fan message mean on a Whirlpool range?+
An airflow restriction, the fan or its wiring.
Does the older cooling fan code on a Whirlpool range mean the same?+
Yes.
Is it safe?+
Not if the range is very hot outside.
Does dust matter?+
Yes.
Reset?+
For a glitch.
How does the oven cooling fan work?+
The fan pulls room air through the cabinet and over the electronic controls while the oven bakes, then keeps running for a time afterwards. If it fails, heat builds up around the controls, which is why the control watches its speed and shows a code when it is wrong.
What should I notice if the fan is failing?+
A fan that is quiet during a bake, a range top or control panel that is hotter than normal, or a fan that keeps running for a very long time after the oven is off.
Can I vacuum the fan area?+
Only with the oven cold and the breaker off, and only at the vents you can reach without removing panels; a technician cleans the fan itself.
Why is a blocked vent a problem?+
Anything that blocks the vent above the door, such as foil or a towel, keeps hot air in and can make the fan work harder or the oven overheat.
What does service usually do?+
Replace the fan motor or repair the connector, after checking that the wiring and vents are clear.