Electrolux E42 washer dryer: 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 E42 actually means

The door won't unlock when the machine asks it to, so the cycle stops with the door still held shut.

At the end of a cycle — or any point where the control board calls for the door to release — the machine checks that the lock has actually opened. On the traditional style of lock fitted to these machines it waits around four and a quarter minutes before giving up and flagging E42; the faster instantaneous type is tried five times before the alarm appears. The cycle is paused rather than abandoned, and switching the machine off at the power button will not clear it — it has to be reset with Start/Pause or by resetting the cycle.

What E42 looks like on a Electrolux washer dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Electrolux washer dryer, E42 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Machine door won't open
Door won't lock or click shut
Door lock light flashing
Door stuck shut with the load inside
Won't start even with the door closed
No function at all
Dead — nothing lights up
Lights flashing and nothing happening

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

A worn or failed door lock (interlock) that no longer releases
The lock still holding because the drum is hot — the mechanism takes noticeably longer to release after a hot wash or a drying cycle
Door catch or hinge out of line, so the lock is under load and can't spring back
Wiring or connector fault between the control board and the lock
Control board fault driving the lock output

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.

Give it time. After a hot wash or a dry, the lock genuinely needs longer to release — the machine allows over four minutes before it complains, so don't assume it's broken at the 30-second mark.
Press Start/Pause, or reset the cycle, to clear the alarm and let the machine try the lock again. Turning it off at the switch won't clear this one.
Turn it off at the wall for a minute, then back on and try a rinse and spin — a full power-down sometimes lets the lock drop out.
Push the door firmly closed and release it, in case the catch is sitting under pressure from a packed load.
Never force the door open or lever at it — you'll break the catch and turn a lock replacement into a door repair.

Which Electrolux models show E42

E42 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.

AWF8024D3SC · EA2F6820CF

Common questions about Electrolux E42

What does E42 mean on a Electrolux washer dryer?

The door won't unlock when the machine asks it to, so the cycle stops with the door still held shut. At the end of a cycle — or any point where the control board calls for the door to release — the machine checks that the lock has actually opened. On the traditional style of lock fitted to these machines it waits around four and a quarter minutes before giving up and flagging E42; the faster instantaneous type is tried five times before the alarm appears. The cycle is paused rather than abandoned, and switching the machine off at the power button will not clear it — it has to be reset with Start/Pause or by resetting the cycle.

Can I fix Electrolux E42 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Give it time. After a hot wash or a dry, the lock genuinely needs longer to release — the machine allows over four minutes before it complains, so don't assume it's broken at the 30-second mark.
Press Start/Pause, or reset the cycle, to clear the alarm and let the machine try the lock again. Turning it off at the switch won't clear this one.
Turn it off at the wall for a minute, then back on and try a rinse and spin — a full power-down sometimes lets the lock drop out.
Push the door firmly closed and release it, in case the catch is sitting under pressure from a packed load.
Never force the door open or lever at it — you'll break the catch and turn a lock replacement into a door repair.

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried them.

How much does it cost to repair Electrolux E42?

£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 E42?

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. 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 washer dryer 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 Electrolux washer dryer codes

All Electrolux fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

washer dryer not drying

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Electrolux E42 error — washer dryer