Newco Coffee Brewer Error Code LWR/UPR THERM: Thermistor Alert
LWR/UPR THERM, shown as CONTACT/SERVICE LWR/UPR THERM on a Newco Fresh Cup 4, means a thermistor is open or shorted. The manual says to make sure the thermistor is connected properly, replace it if it is connected, and suspect the circuit board if the error comes back. This needs a technician.
High: the control cannot read water temperature, so heating is not under proper control.
- Code
- LWR/UPR THERM
- Maker
- Newco
- Equipment
- Coffee brewers
- Applies to
- Newco Fresh Cup 4 (FKP-4); Fresh Cup Touch / FKP-4T manual PN 782164 Rev 20260730 has a similar list
What does Newco LWR/UPR THERM mean?
A thermistor is a small temperature sensor whose electrical resistance changes with heat. The Fresh Cup 4 control reads that resistance to know how hot the water is. If the reading is out of range because the sensor circuit is open, like a broken wire, or shorted, like two conductors touching, the control cannot trust it and displays CONTACT/SERVICE LWR/UPR THERM. The name points to the lower or upper thermistor, so the alert identifies which sensor circuit the control is complaining about. The manual gives a short action list. First, make sure the thermistor is connected properly. If it is connected, replace it, and the manual names part number 151677 for that. If the error returns after that, the manual says a circuit board failure is likely. An open or shorted sensor is a different condition from a brewer that is simply too hot or too cold; here the control is not getting a usable temperature reading at all, so heating decisions cannot be made safely.
Affected models and control systems
This applies to the Newco Fresh Cup 4 (FKP-4) pod machine, per manual PN 782163 Rev 20250319. The Fresh Cup Touch / FKP-4T manual, PN 782164 Rev 20260730, has a similar list, so the page may help there, but check your own manual.
Code numbers and their meaning can change between control generations. We match the full model and control before acting on a code.
What you may notice
- CONTACT/SERVICE LWR/UPR THERM appears on the display
- Water may not heat or may heat unevenly
- The brewer stops accepting a brew
Possible causes
Listed in Newco's documentation
- Thermistor open or shorted
Other likely causes — what usually sits behind LWR/UPR THERM on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- Thermistor connector pulled loose at the sensor or at the board
- Wiring to one thermistor chafed or pinched against a metal edge
- Thermistor body damaged by heat cycling or moisture
- Circuit board input for that sensor no longer reading correctly
Safe checks before calling for service
- Switch the brewer off, wait a minute, and turn it back on to see whether the message returns. This is our suggestion, not a manual step.
- Note whether the message names the lower or upper thermistor, whether it appears at start-up or after brewing, and whether the outlet water is cold, warm or hot.
How a technician diagnoses LWR/UPR THERM
- Read the display and note whether lower or upper thermistor is indicated.
- Disconnect power and check the thermistor connections at the sensor and at the board.
- Measure the thermistor resistance with a meter and compare it with the expected curve to confirm open or shorted.
- Inspect the wiring for damage along its route.
- Replace the thermistor, PN 151677, if the connection is sound and the reading is out of range.
- If the error returns with a new thermistor, test the board input and replace the circuit board as the manual indicates.
- The thermistor sits in the heating area, so the work involves live wiring and hot surfaces.
- Judging a resistance reading needs a meter and the sensor's resistance chart.
- Deciding between a bad sensor and a bad circuit board is a diagnosis that wastes money if guessed.
How LWR/UPR THERM differs from similar codes
The Touch / FKP-4T manual has a similar error list, but the part numbers and wording may differ, so we read the manual for the exact model first.
Technical reference
- Document
- Fresh Cup 4 (FKP-4) single serving automatic pod machine manual
- Edition
- PN 782163 REV 20250319
- Models / control
- Newco Fresh Cup 4 (FKP-4); Fresh Cup Touch / FKP-4T manual PN 782164 Rev 20260730 has a similar list
- Section
- Error Messages, p. 19
- Checked
- October 2026
We use the maker's document to read the code and do not reproduce it. Always confirm the complete model and control before applying these steps.
Related Newco coffee brewer error codes
Can I keep making coffee with this alert?
We would not rely on it. Without a usable temperature reading the control cannot manage heating properly, so the brewer should be tested.
Is it the same as OVERHEAT?
No. OVERHEAT is a temperature above 210F. This alert is about a sensor circuit that is open or shorted.
What if a new thermistor does not fix it?
The manual says a circuit board failure is then likely, so the board input should be tested next.
Need help with Newco LWR/UPR THERM?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.