Electrolux E59 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 E59 actually means

The control board has told the motor to start turning but is getting no speed signal back from it, so it shuts the motor down and stops the cycle.

Electrolux washer dryers use a speed sensor (tachometer) on the motor so the motor control board knows how fast the drum is actually turning. On this fault the board asks for a speed, waits three seconds, and sees nothing at all coming back from the tacho. It retries five times with a pause between each attempt, and if the signal still doesn't appear it locks the fault in, stops in a safe state and leaves the door locked.

What E59 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, E59 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
Drum not turning
Won't spin
Hums or buzzes but nothing moves

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 broken or unplugged tachometer connection on the motor
Damaged or chafed motor wiring between the board and the motor
A failed tachometer coil on the motor itself
A fault on the motor control board (the FCV board)

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 short cycle — occasionally the fault does not return and the machine finishes normally.
If the drum is heavily packed, wait for the door to release, take some of the load out and retry; the motor struggling to start makes the fault more likely to latch.

Which Electrolux models show E59

E59 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 E59

What does E59 mean on a Electrolux washer dryer?

The control board has told the motor to start turning but is getting no speed signal back from it, so it shuts the motor down and stops the cycle. Electrolux washer dryers use a speed sensor (tachometer) on the motor so the motor control board knows how fast the drum is actually turning. On this fault the board asks for a speed, waits three seconds, and sees nothing at all coming back from the tacho. It retries five times with a pause between each attempt, and if the signal still doesn't appear it locks the fault in, stops in a safe state and leaves the door locked.

Can I fix Electrolux E59 myself?

There are 2 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and start a short cycle — occasionally the fault does not return and the machine finishes normally.
If the drum is heavily packed, wait for the door to release, take some of the load out and retry; the motor struggling to start makes the fault more likely to latch.

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

How much does it cost to repair Electrolux E59?

£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 E59?

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 E59 error — washer dryer