What F04 actually means
The washing machine's main electronic control board has reported a fault with itself and shut the cycle down.
ElectriQ group the codes from F04 up to F98 together as electronic module failures — the control board that runs the programme, the motor and the valves has detected something it can't work around. The machine will normally stop mid-cycle and refuse to carry on, sometimes with the drum still full. The manufacturer's own instruction is to switch it off, unplug it and get it looked at, which tells you this isn't a user-fixable setting.
What usually causes it
- A fault on the main control board itself
- A poor or corroded connection between the board and a component such as the motor or heater
- Water or damp reaching the control area after a leak
- A power surge or interruption during a cycle
- A failed component upstream making the board flag an internal error
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, leave it for a minute or two, then switch back on — an isolated glitch after a power cut can clear this way
- If the code returns straight away, leave it off at the wall and unplugged rather than repeatedly restarting
- If the drum still holds water, empty it via the filter drain hose at the front (bowl and towels ready) so it isn't left standing
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 E31 — The machine has tried to release the door lock and failed, s…