Hoover E17 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 E17 actually means

The machine can't get a reliable speed reading from the motor, so it stops rather than risk spinning out of control.

Hoover machines use a small sensor on the motor, the tachometric dynamo (tacho), to tell the control board how fast the drum is turning. When the board receives a signal it doesn't trust \u2014 or none at all \u2014 it flags E17 and halts, usually as the drum tries to pick up speed or go into spin. You'll often see the wash fill and then sit there, or a cycle that refuses to spin and leaves the load soaking.

What E17 looks like on a Hoover washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Hoover washing machine, E17 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
Not filling with water
No water going in
Takes for ever to fill

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

Faulty tacho coil on the back of the motor
Damaged or loose wiring between motor and control board
Worn motor brushes on brush-type motors, giving an erratic speed signal
Control board misreading the speed signal
A drum jammed or heavily obstructed so the speed never matches what the board expects

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 back on and restart a short cycle \u2014 an occasional one-off glitch will clear.
Open the door and check nothing solid (coin, underwire, stray sock wedged at the drum edge) is stopping the drum turning freely by hand.
Make sure the load isn't a single heavy item bunched on one side, and try again with it redistributed.

Common questions about Hoover E17

What does E17 mean on a Hoover washing machine?

The machine can't get a reliable speed reading from the motor, so it stops rather than risk spinning out of control. Hoover machines use a small sensor on the motor, the tachometric dynamo (tacho), to tell the control board how fast the drum is turning. When the board receives a signal it doesn't trust \u2014 or none at all \u2014 it flags E17 and halts, usually as the drum tries to pick up speed or go into spin. You'll often see the wash fill and then sit there, or a cycle that refuses to spin and leaves the load soaking.

Can I fix Hoover E17 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then back on and restart a short cycle \u2014 an occasional one-off glitch will clear.
Open the door and check nothing solid (coin, underwire, stray sock wedged at the drum edge) is stopping the drum turning freely by hand.
Make sure the load isn't a single heavy item bunched on one side, and try again with it redistributed.

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

How much does it cost to repair Hoover E17?

£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 E17?

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 Hoover washing machine codes

All Hoover 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.

Hoover E17 error — washing machine