What E31 actually means
The machine has tried to release the door lock and failed, so it has given up and flagged the door as stuck shut.
On these ElectriQ machines the control board sends a release signal to the door interlock and waits for confirmation that it has unlatched. If it gets no confirmation after six attempts, it stops and shows E31. The drum may well have finished washing — the fault is with the lock releasing, not with the wash itself.
What usually causes it
- Door interlock (lock assembly) worn or failed and no longer releasing
- Door not fully closed or latched in the first place, so the lock never engaged properly
- Loose or damaged wire between the control board and the door lock
- Main control board fault — genuinely uncommon on this code
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 power it back on — the lock often releases on the retry
- Push the door firmly shut and reclose it, then try the release again; a door sitting slightly proud stops the latch working correctly
- If there is water in the drum, run a drain or spin cycle if the machine will accept one, as some locks will not release with water inside
- Check nothing (a towel corner, a trapped item) is stopping the door from sitting flush in the frame
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.
Other ElectriQ washing machine codes
- ElectriQ E00 — E00 isn't a fault — it's the machine telling you there are n…
- ElectriQ E02 — The machine isn't getting water in, so it has stopped and sh…
- ElectriQ E10 — The machine has opened its water valves but not enough water…
- ElectriQ E12 — The machine has decided there is too much water in the drum,…
- ElectriQ E20 — The machine has tried to drain and the water level hasn't mo…
- ElectriQ E21 — The machine has tried to empty the drum and the water level …
- ElectriQ E30 — The machine cannot lock its door, so it refuses to start fil…
- ElectriQ E33 — The machine has lost the signal from the sensor that tells i…