What E41 actually means
The dryer has found a fault in the part of its control board that powers the door lock, so it has stopped the cycle rather than run with a door it can't reliably lock or release.
The door on these machines is held shut by an electrically operated interlock, and the control board uses a switching device (a triac) to power the lock coil. When the board detects that switch has failed, it flags E41 and shuts the cycle down. In practice the drum stops, the programme won't restart, and the door may stay locked or refuse to lock at all.
What usually causes it
- Failed switching device on the main control board
- Damaged or loose wiring between the board and the door lock
- A faulty door interlock dragging the circuit down
- Moisture or heat damage to the board over years of use
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 dryer off at the wall for a minute, then power it back up — if the fault was a one-off glitch it may clear
- Check the door shuts cleanly and the catch isn't stiff or obstructed by lint
- Make sure nothing (a stray sock, a fold of fabric) is caught in the door seal preventing it seating fully
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 Electrolux tumble dryer codes
- Electrolux C00 — This isn't a fault at all othing is stored in the dryer's e…
- Electrolux C06 — The dryer has been running an automatic (sensor) drying prog…
- Electrolux C07 — The dryer isn't getting hot — it checked for a rise in air t…
- Electrolux C08 — The dryer has stopped because its temperature sensor is givi…
- Electrolux C10 — C10 isn't a fault at all — it's one of the service test posi…
- Electrolux E20 — The dryer has stopped mid-cycle because the fan that cools t…
- Electrolux E21 — The dryer has lost control of the pump that moves condensed …
- Electrolux E22 — The dryer's control board can no longer tell whether the wat…