ElectriQ E03 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 E03 actually means

The machine hasn't managed to pump the water out in the time it expects, so it's stopped and flagged a draining problem.

E03 comes up when the drum should be empty but water is still sitting in it. On these electriQ machines the fault is grouped with "does not drain or drains slowly", so the control board is reacting to water not clearing rather than to any electrical fault. You'll usually find the cycle stalled before the spin, with water left in the drum and clothes soaking wet.

What E03 looks like on a ElectriQ washing machine

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

Machine not draining
Water left in the drum at the end of the cycle
Stops mid-cycle full of water
Standing water in the bottom
No function at all
Dead — nothing lights up
Lights flashing and nothing happening
Programme won't start

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 of the machine \u2014 coins, hair grips, lint and threads
Drain hose kinked, twisted or trapped behind the machine
Drain hose blocked, or frozen if it runs through an unheated space
Drain hose fitted at the wrong height \u2014 it needs to sit between 65 and 100cm from the floor
Hose end pushed too far down the standpipe, or sitting submerged in the waste water, so the machine siphons instead of draining
Worn or jammed drain pump

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 and clean out the pump filter behind the small flap at the bottom front \u2014 have a shallow tray and towels ready, there will be standing water. This clears the majority of E03 call-outs.
Pull the machine forward slightly and check the drain hose isn't kinked, crushed or looped tightly behind it.
Check the top of the drain hose is between 65cm and 100cm from the floor \u2014 too low and the machine keeps siphoning, too high and the pump can't lift the water.
Make sure the end of the hose isn't pushed so far into the standpipe that it sits in the waste water.
In cold weather, if the hose runs through a garage or outside wall, check it hasn't frozen.
Once you've done the above, switch off at the wall for a minute, then run a rinse and spin to see if it clears.

Which ElectriQ models show E03

E03 means the same thing on all 2 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.

EIQFD70FF · EIQWMH12KG

Common questions about ElectriQ E03

What does E03 mean on a ElectriQ washing machine?

The machine hasn't managed to pump the water out in the time it expects, so it's stopped and flagged a draining problem. E03 comes up when the drum should be empty but water is still sitting in it. On these electriQ machines the fault is grouped with "does not drain or drains slowly", so the control board is reacting to water not clearing rather than to any electrical fault. You'll usually find the cycle stalled before the spin, with water left in the drum and clothes soaking wet.

Can I fix ElectriQ E03 myself?

There are 6 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall and clean out the pump filter behind the small flap at the bottom front \u2014 have a shallow tray and towels ready, there will be standing water. This clears the majority of E03 call-outs.
Pull the machine forward slightly and check the drain hose isn't kinked, crushed or looped tightly behind it.
Check the top of the drain hose is between 65cm and 100cm from the floor \u2014 too low and the machine keeps siphoning, too high and the pump can't lift the water.
Make sure the end of the hose isn't pushed so far into the standpipe that it sits in the waste water.
In cold weather, if the hose runs through a garage or outside wall, check it hasn't frozen.
Once you've done the above, switch off at the wall for a minute, then run a rinse and spin to see if it clears.

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 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 ElectriQ washing machine codes

All ElectriQ 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.

ElectriQ E03 error — washing machine