Montpellier E03 washing machine: what it means & what to try

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 E03 actually means

The machine has spotted that the water heater is staying switched on when it shouldn't be, so it has stopped the wash to be safe.

The control board switches the heating element on and off during a wash. With E03 it has detected the heater receiving power when the programme hasn't asked for it — usually a fault in the switching circuit on the board or the heater's wiring. It halts the cycle because uncontrolled heating can overheat the water and damage the drum, seals and clothes. On some Montpellier models this code can also appear during an engineer's test routine if the drain pump has failed.

What E03 looks like on a Montpellier washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Montpellier washing machine, E03 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Machine not draining
Water left in the drum at the end of the cycle
Stops mid-cycle full of water
Standing water in the bottom
Not heating the water
Washing coming out cold
Cycle takes far longer than it should
No function at all

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 heater switching component on the main control board
Wiring or connection fault at the heating element
Failed heating element
Water temperature sensor giving false readings
Drain pump fault (when the code appears in service test mode)

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, leave it a minute, then switch back on and try a short cold wash to see if the code returns
Check the drain hose isn't kinked or pushed too far into the standpipe
Clean out the pump filter at the bottom front of the machine if your model has one

Which Montpellier models show E03

E03 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.

MWBI7012 · SFPO77MBX

Common questions about Montpellier E03

What does E03 mean on a Montpellier washing machine?

The machine has spotted that the water heater is staying switched on when it shouldn't be, so it has stopped the wash to be safe. The control board switches the heating element on and off during a wash. With E03 it has detected the heater receiving power when the programme hasn't asked for it — usually a fault in the switching circuit on the board or the heater's wiring. It halts the cycle because uncontrolled heating can overheat the water and damage the drum, seals and clothes. On some Montpellier models this code can also appear during an engineer's test routine if the drain pump has failed.

Can I fix Montpellier E03 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall socket, leave it a minute, then switch back on and try a short cold wash to see if the code returns.
Check the drain hose isn't kinked or pushed too far into the standpipe.
Clean out the pump filter at the bottom front of the machine if your model has one.

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

How much does it cost to repair Montpellier E03?

£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 E03?

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 Montpellier washing machine codes

All Montpellier 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.

Montpellier E03 error — washing machine