Candy E18 washing machine: 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 E18 actually means

The machine's main control board isn't reading the mains electricity supply properly, so it shuts the cycle down.

Candy's control board — referred to as the "Cuore" power card — checks the frequency of the incoming mains supply. If the frequency it reads is wrong, or the wiring feeding the board is faulty, it flags E18 and stops rather than running the motor and heater off a supply it can't trust. In practice the fault is either the board itself or its wiring, not the drum, pump or door.

What E18 looks like on a Candy washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Candy washing machine, E18 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
Not filling with water
No water going in
Takes for ever to fill

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

Faulty main control board (the "Cuore" power card)
Damaged or loose wiring between the mains inlet and the board
Machine running from a generator, inverter or unstable supply rather than normal household mains
Power supply disturbance or surge that has upset the board

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 socket, leave it for a minute, then switch back on and try a short cycle — a one-off supply glitch can clear this way.
If the machine is plugged into an extension lead, adaptor or a portable power supply, plug it straight into a wall socket instead.
If other appliances on the same circuit are also misbehaving, check whether the problem is the household supply rather than the washer.

Common questions about Candy E18

What does E18 mean on a Candy washing machine?

The machine's main control board isn't reading the mains electricity supply properly, so it shuts the cycle down. Candy's control board — referred to as the "Cuore" power card — checks the frequency of the incoming mains supply. If the frequency it reads is wrong, or the wiring feeding the board is faulty, it flags E18 and stops rather than running the motor and heater off a supply it can't trust. In practice the fault is either the board itself or its wiring, not the drum, pump or door.

Can I fix Candy E18 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall socket, leave it for a minute, then switch back on and try a short cycle — a one-off supply glitch can clear this way.
If the machine is plugged into an extension lead, adaptor or a portable power supply, plug it straight into a wall socket instead.
If other appliances on the same circuit are also misbehaving, check whether the problem is the household supply rather than the washer.

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

How much does it cost to repair Candy E18?

£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 E18?

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 washing machine 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 Candy washing machine codes

All Candy 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.

Candy E18 error — washing machine