Altimo E03 tumble dryer: what it means & what to check

Stop using it for now. Carrying on with this fault risks further damage or a leak. Switch it off at the wall until it has been looked at.

What E03 actually means

The machine has tried to pump water out and the control board isn't seeing it happen, so it has stopped and put the drain pump fault up on the display.

On these Altimo machines E03 is logged as a pump failure. The board runs the pump at the point in the cycle where water should be leaving, and if it doesn't get the response it expects — either the pump isn't running or the water level isn't dropping — it halts the programme rather than carrying on. You'll usually find water still sitting in the drum and the door held shut until the level drops.

What E03 looks like on a Altimo tumble dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Altimo tumble dryer, E03 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Machine door won't open
Door won't lock or click shut
Door lock light flashing
Door stuck shut with the load inside
Won't start even with the door closed
Machine not draining
Water left in the drum at the end of the cycle
Stops mid-cycle full of water

Recognise any of those? That is this fault, and the rest of this page explains what causes it and what you can check yourself.

What usually causes it

A blocked pump filter or trapped object — coins, buttons, hair grips — stopping the impeller turning
The drain hose kinked, crushed behind the machine, or blocked further down at the trap or standpipe
A worn or seized drain pump that no longer shifts water
A loose or corroded connection at the pump, so the board never sees it working
Control board fault, which is the least common of the four but does happen

What you can safely check yourself

Work through these in order. Anything beyond this — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the machine plugged in.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and try a drain or spin programme — a one-off blockage that has cleared will sometimes let it run through.
Empty and clean the pump filter behind the flap at the bottom front, following the instructions in your handbook. Have a shallow tray and towels ready, as there will be standing water.
Check the drain hose isn't kinked or squashed where the machine sits against the wall, and that it isn't pushed too far down into the standpipe.
If the hose runs into a sink trap or waste, check that isn't blocked by anything else emptying into it.

Which Altimo models show E03

E03 means the same thing on all 4 of these models. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

AWM10142W · AWM6122W · AWM7122WG2 · AWM8142W

Common questions about Altimo E03

What does E03 mean on a Altimo tumble dryer?

The machine has tried to pump water out and the control board isn't seeing it happen, so it has stopped and put the drain pump fault up on the display. On these Altimo machines E03 is logged as a pump failure. The board runs the pump at the point in the cycle where water should be leaving, and if it doesn't get the response it expects — either the pump isn't running or the water level isn't dropping — it halts the programme rather than carrying on. You'll usually find water still sitting in the drum and the door held shut until the level drops.

Can I fix Altimo E03 myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and try a drain or spin programme — a one-off blockage that has cleared will sometimes let it run through.
Empty and clean the pump filter behind the flap at the bottom front, following the instructions in your handbook. Have a shallow tray and towels ready, as there will be standing water.
Check the drain hose isn't kinked or squashed where the machine sits against the wall, and that it isn't pushed too far down into the standpipe.
If the hose runs into a sink trap or waste, check that isn't blocked by anything else emptying into it.

This sometimes clears with those checks. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly.

How much does it cost to repair Altimo E03?

£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Tried the checks and it's still showing E03?

This sometimes clears with the checks above. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly. Then it wants someone who can open it up.

What it costs, before you call: the price is the same whatever the fault turns out to be — £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Our own engineers, not a call centre. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire — most tumble dryer faults are seen same day or next day.

Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need

Outside our area? The explanation above still stands — take it to a local engineer and tell them the code. Knowing it saves them time and you money.

Other Altimo tumble dryer codes

All Altimo fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

tumble dryer drum not turning

Repairs we cover near you

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Altimo E03 error — tumble dryer