What rD Means
rD on a Bosch French door refrigerator is the fresh food side defrost sensor, mounted on that section's evaporator. Like its freezer counterpart it reports a disconnection or a short, and the consequence is the same: the control loses the reading it uses to decide when a defrost cycle has done its job. The manual's remedy is to replace the sensor on the evaporator.
Common Causes of rD
- Fresh food defrost sensor failed or shorted
- Connector CN15 not fully seated
- Harness damage behind the compartment liner
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
Check whether the fresh food compartment has been running warmer than set while the freezer seems normal, and whether there is any ice visible at the back wall. That pattern is worth describing when you book the visit.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- Reaching this sensor means removing an interior panel that sits against refrigerant tubing, where a slipped tool causes a leak.
- The fresh food and freezer defrost sensors look similar but are separate parts with separate codes, and fitting one in the other's place leaves both faults.
- Interior panels chill hard and crack when levered, and a cracked liner is not something that can be patched.
- Bosch's check unplugs a shared board connector, which can create new codes if it is not reseated correctly.
Opening a panel to inspect or repair something yourself doesn't automatically cancel your manufacturer's warranty — but it can risk accidental damage, and some manufacturers do have specific service conditions. Check your product's warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.