Altimo E08 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 E08 actually means

The control board's motor switching circuit has failed, so the machine can't drive the drum motor properly and shuts the cycle down.

E08 on these Altimo machines is logged as a motor triac failure. The triac is the switching device on the main control board that feeds power to the motor, and when the board detects it isn't behaving as expected — stuck on, not conducting, or short-circuited — it stops the programme rather than risk the drum running out of control. The usual symptom is a cycle that dies early with no drum rotation, or in some cases a drum that tries to turn the moment power is applied.

What E08 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, E08 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Not drying
Blowing cold air
Clothes still damp at the end
Takes hours to dry
Drum not turning
Won't spin
Hums or buzzes but nothing moves
Turns one way only

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 failed triac on the main control board — by far the most common finding
Heat damage or dry solder joints on the board around the motor drive circuit
A shorted or partly failed motor pulling excessive current and taking the triac with it
Loose or burnt motor wiring connections at the board
A power surge or unstable supply damaging the switching circuit

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 knob to the off position and leave it for a few seconds — the manual's own reset. Then switch off at the wall for a minute before trying again, in case the code was a one-off glitch
Make sure the load isn't packed tight, as a jammed drum puts extra strain on the motor circuit
If the code returns straight away or the drum makes no attempt to turn, stop and book an engineer — there is nothing further you can safely check yourself

Which Altimo models show E08

E08 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 E08

What does E08 mean on a Altimo tumble dryer?

The control board's motor switching circuit has failed, so the machine can't drive the drum motor properly and shuts the cycle down. E08 on these Altimo machines is logged as a motor triac failure. The triac is the switching device on the main control board that feeds power to the motor, and when the board detects it isn't behaving as expected — stuck on, not conducting, or short-circuited — it stops the programme rather than risk the drum running out of control. The usual symptom is a cycle that dies early with no drum rotation, or in some cases a drum that tries to turn the moment power is applied.

Can I fix Altimo E08 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the knob to the off position and leave it for a few seconds — the manual's own reset. Then switch off at the wall for a minute before trying again, in case the code was a one-off glitch.
Make sure the load isn't packed tight, as a jammed drum puts extra strain on the motor circuit.
If the code returns straight away or the drum makes no attempt to turn, stop and book an engineer — there is nothing further you can safely check yourself.

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried them.

How much does it cost to repair Altimo E08?

£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 E08?

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. 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

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 E08 error — tumble dryer