What E31 actually means
The machine can no longer trust the sensor that tells it how much water is in the drum, so it has stopped the cycle with the door locked.
Electrolux washers use an electronic pressure sensor that reports the water level as a frequency signal to the main board. If that signal sits outside the accepted range for around five seconds — and again after a short retry — the control gives up and shows E31. Because the machine no longer knows whether the drum is full or empty, it will not carry on filling or spinning, and the door stays locked.
What usually causes it
- A failed electronic pressure sensor (by far the most common finding)
- A damaged or loose wiring connection between the sensor and the main board
- A fault on the main control board
- Moisture or corrosion affecting the sensor connection
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 switch back on and start a fresh cycle — a one-off signal glitch can clear
- If the code returns straight away and the door is locked, leave it powered off and stop using it until it has been looked at
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.
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