What E43 actually means
The machine has told the motor to turn the drum and the drum hasn't moved, so it has stopped rather than keep forcing it.
On newer Bosch control boards this appears as E60-21; on older models it's shown as E43. The control module drives the motor, gets no rotation back, and shuts the cycle down to protect the motor and board. You'll usually notice it early in the wash when the drum should start tumbling, or at the point it tries to build up to spin.
What usually causes it
- Laundry jammed between the drum and the outer tub, often a bra wire, sock or underwired item
- Something solid trapped so the drum won't turn freely by hand
- Worn drum bearings making the drum stiff or noisy
- Failed motor or worn motor carbon brushes on brush-type models
- Faulty control and power module driving the motor
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 short cycle
- Once the door releases, take all the washing out and turn the empty drum round by hand — it should spin freely and quietly, not grind or catch
- Feel round the inside of the drum lip for a trapped wire, coin or button you can lift out with your fingers
- Check you haven't overloaded it; run the same programme with a small load and see if it starts
When to call someone
This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, and it's £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it — £84 in total if it's repaired on the visit with no parts needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
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.
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