Indesit F03 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 F03 actually means

The machine can't get a sensible temperature reading from the wash thermostat (the NTC sensor), so it abandons the cycle rather than heat blind.

Indesit washer dryers check the water temperature constantly during the wash, and F03 means the control board is either seeing no signal at all from that sensor or a reading it knows can't be right. Because the board can't tell whether the water is cold or scalding, it stops instead of switching the heater on. In practice the owner usually sees the cycle halt part way through with cold water in the drum, or the machine wash but never actually get warm.

What F03 looks like on a Indesit washer dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Indesit washer dryer, F03 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Not drying
Blowing cold air
Clothes still damp at the end
Takes hours to dry
No function at all
Dead — nothing lights up
Lights flashing and nothing happening
Programme won't start

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 NTC temperature sensor in the wash tub
A loose or corroded connection at the sensor
A faulty relay on the main control board, so the heater never comes on
A failed heating element that leaves the water cold and the temperature reading out of step
Water damage or ageing on the main control 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 couple of minutes, then switch back on and try a short wash — that clears the odd one-off reading error
Note whether the water ever gets warm and how far into the cycle it stops; that tells the engineer a lot before they arrive

Common questions about Indesit F03

What does F03 mean on a Indesit washer dryer?

The machine can't get a sensible temperature reading from the wash thermostat (the NTC sensor), so it abandons the cycle rather than heat blind. Indesit washer dryers check the water temperature constantly during the wash, and F03 means the control board is either seeing no signal at all from that sensor or a reading it knows can't be right. Because the board can't tell whether the water is cold or scalding, it stops instead of switching the heater on. In practice the owner usually sees the cycle halt part way through with cold water in the drum, or the machine wash but never actually get warm.

Can I fix Indesit F03 myself?

There are 2 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a couple of minutes, then switch back on and try a short wash — that clears the odd one-off reading error.
Note whether the water ever gets warm and how far into the cycle it stops; 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 Indesit F03?

£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 F03?

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 Indesit washer dryer codes

All Indesit 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.

Indesit F03 error — washer dryer