Grundig E04 washing machine: 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 E04 actually means

The machine has spotted that the part of the control board which switches the water inlet valves on and off has failed shut, so water can keep pouring in whether the machine wants it or not.

Grundig calls E04 a valve triac short circuit. The triac is the electronic switch on the main control board that feeds power to the water inlet valves; when it fails short it stays permanently on, so the valve is held open and the drum keeps filling. The machine halts the programme and often runs the pump to get rid of the excess, so the usual complaints are continuous filling, water draining away as fast as it comes in, no drum movement and a door that stays locked with the cycle never finishing.

What E04 looks like on a Grundig washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Grundig washing machine, E04 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
Machine not draining
Water left in the drum at the end of the cycle
Stops mid-cycle full of water

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 failed triac on the main control board — much the most common finding
Water damage or a leak dripping onto the board from above
An inlet valve coil that has shorted and taken the board switch with it
Damaged or damp wiring between the board and the inlet valves

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 socket and turn off the water tap at the back before anything else — this stops any further filling
Leave it switched off for a minute, then power up and see whether the code returns straight away without the machine filling
If water is standing in the drum, do not start another cycle to clear it — wait for an engineer

Which Grundig models show E04

E04 means the same thing on all 4 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.

7129141100 · 7129141400 · 7134541300 · 7142641100

Common questions about Grundig E04

What does E04 mean on a Grundig washing machine?

The machine has spotted that the part of the control board which switches the water inlet valves on and off has failed shut, so water can keep pouring in whether the machine wants it or not. Grundig calls E04 a valve triac short circuit. The triac is the electronic switch on the main control board that feeds power to the water inlet valves; when it fails short it stays permanently on, so the valve is held open and the drum keeps filling. The machine halts the programme and often runs the pump to get rid of the excess, so the usual complaints are continuous filling, water draining away as fast as it comes in, no drum movement and a door that stays locked with the cycle never finishing.

Can I fix Grundig E04 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall socket and turn off the water tap at the back before anything else — this stops any further filling.
Leave it switched off for a minute, then power up and see whether the code returns straight away without the machine filling.
If water is standing in the drum, do not start another cycle to clear it — wait for an engineer.

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

How much does it cost to repair Grundig E04?

£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 E04?

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 washing machine 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 Grundig washing machine codes

All Grundig fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

Repairs we cover near you

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

Grundig E04 error — washing machine