Electrolux F28 microwave: what it means & what to check

What F28 actually means

The control panel has stopped hearing from the Smart Board inside the appliance, so it flags a communication failure and drops out of the Smart function it was running.

The user interface expects regular messages from the Smart Board while a Smart function is in progress — the stages the documents list as checking, ambient and heat-up. If nothing arrives for around two minutes, the panel raises F28 on its own and keeps showing it until the appliance is switched off, or until the two boards start talking again. The code only appears during a Smart function, so ordinary cooking may look completely normal.

What F28 looks like on a Electrolux microwave

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Electrolux microwave, F28 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Not heating the water
Washing coming out cold
Cycle takes far longer than it should
No function at all
Dead — nothing lights up
Lights flashing and nothing happening
Programme won't start
Microwave tripping the electrics

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

Loose or corroded plug on the ribbon/harness between the control panel and the Smart Board
Failed Smart Board, so it never sends its status messages
Fault on the user interface board that is listening for those messages
Interference or damage to the wiring between the two boards

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.

Switch the appliance off at the wall for a minute, then back on and retry the Smart function — the documents say the error clears itself once communication is restored
Try a normal (non-Smart) programme to see whether the rest of the appliance behaves as usual; that tells the engineer a lot before they arrive

Which Electrolux models show F28

F28 means the same thing on this model. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

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Common questions about Electrolux F28

What does F28 mean on a Electrolux microwave?

The control panel has stopped hearing from the Smart Board inside the appliance, so it flags a communication failure and drops out of the Smart function it was running. The user interface expects regular messages from the Smart Board while a Smart function is in progress — the stages the documents list as checking, ambient and heat-up. If nothing arrives for around two minutes, the panel raises F28 on its own and keeps showing it until the appliance is switched off, or until the two boards start talking again. The code only appears during a Smart function, so ordinary cooking may look completely normal.

Can I fix Electrolux F28 myself?

There are 2 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Switch the appliance off at the wall for a minute, then back on and retry the Smart function — the documents say the error clears itself once communication is restored.
Try a normal (non-Smart) programme to see whether the rest of the appliance behaves as usual; that tells the engineer a lot before they arrive.

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

How much does it cost to repair Electrolux F28?

£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 F28?

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 microwave 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 microwave codes

All Electrolux fault codes and repairs →

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

Electrolux F28 error — microwave