ElectriQ 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 can't get rid of the water — it has either failed to drain or drained far too slowly, so it has stopped and put E03 on the display.

On these ElectriQ washer-dryers E03 is the drainage fault: the control board expects the water level to drop within a set time once the pump runs, and when it doesn't it halts the cycle. Typically you'll find the drum still holding water and the door locked, and the cycle either stalls part way or refuses to go into the spin. It's the same behaviour across all three model variants, as they share the manual and the drainage arrangement.

What E03 looks like on a ElectriQ tumble dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a ElectriQ 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

Blocked pump filter at the bottom front — coins, buttons, hair grips, wads of fluff
Drain hose kinked, squashed behind the machine or pushed too far down the standpipe
Blockage in the sink trap or waste pipe the machine drains into
Drain hose end sitting submerged in water, so it siphons instead of draining
Worn or jammed drain pump, or a blocked pressure sensor hose so the machine can't see the level fall

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 socket for a minute, then power it back on and try a spin/drain programme.
Open the small flap at the bottom front, drain the water off into a shallow tray, then take out the filter and clear any debris and fluff before refitting it firmly. Let the machine cool first if it has been on a hot wash.
Pull the machine forward gently and check the drain hose isn't kinked, trapped or crushed against the wall.
Check where the hose enters the standpipe or sink spigot — it shouldn't be pushed so far in that the end sits in standing water.
If it drains into a sink waste, run the tap and see whether the sink itself is slow; a blocked trap will stop the machine draining.

Which ElectriQ models show E03

E03 means the same thing on all 3 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.

EQMWM8KGFLAV2 · EQMWM8KGFLBLK · EQMWM8KGFLGAV2

Common questions about ElectriQ E03

What does E03 mean on a ElectriQ tumble dryer?

The machine can't get rid of the water — it has either failed to drain or drained far too slowly, so it has stopped and put E03 on the display. On these ElectriQ washer-dryers E03 is the drainage fault: the control board expects the water level to drop within a set time once the pump runs, and when it doesn't it halts the cycle. Typically you'll find the drum still holding water and the door locked, and the cycle either stalls part way or refuses to go into the spin. It's the same behaviour across all three model variants, as they share the manual and the drainage arrangement.

Can I fix ElectriQ E03 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the socket for a minute, then power it back on and try a spin/drain programme.
Open the small flap at the bottom front, drain the water off into a shallow tray, then take out the filter and clear any debris and fluff before refitting it firmly. Let the machine cool first if it has been on a hot wash.
Pull the machine forward gently and check the drain hose isn't kinked, trapped or crushed against the wall.
Check where the hose enters the standpipe or sink spigot — it shouldn't be pushed so far in that the end sits in standing water.
If it drains into a sink waste, run the tap and see whether the sink itself is slow; a blocked trap will stop the machine draining.

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

How much does it cost to repair ElectriQ 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 ElectriQ tumble dryer codes

All ElectriQ 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.

ElectriQ E03 error — tumble dryer