Montpellier E20 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 E20 actually means

The machine has stopped because it cannot see the drain pump working, so the water in the drum isn't going anywhere.

On these Montpellier machines the control board checks the drain pump circuit and watches the water level fall when it calls for a drain. With E20 the board reports the pump as an open circuit — it is not drawing power as expected — so it shuts the water valve and halts the cycle. You'll typically find it mid-wash or at the point the machine should be emptying, with water still sitting in the drum and the door locked shut.

What E20 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, E20 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

Failed drain pump, or its motor winding gone open circuit
A loose or broken connection in the wiring to the pump
Pump filter or impeller jammed by a sock, coin or hair grip
Blocked or kinked drain hose behind the machine, so the level never drops
Main control board fault — much less common than the pump itself

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 switch back on and try a drain or spin programme on its own.
Check the drain hose at the back isn't kinked, crushed against the wall or pushed too far down the standpipe.
If your model has a pump filter behind the small flap at the bottom front, drain it into a shallow tray and clear any debris — have towels down, the water will come out.
Take out a heavy load if the drum is full; that rules out the drain being slowed by a soaked wash.

Which Montpellier models show E20

E20 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.

MIWM65 · MW6215W · MW7142P · MWM1214W

Common questions about Montpellier E20

What does E20 mean on a Montpellier washing machine?

The machine has stopped because it cannot see the drain pump working, so the water in the drum isn't going anywhere. On these Montpellier machines the control board checks the drain pump circuit and watches the water level fall when it calls for a drain. With E20 the board reports the pump as an open circuit — it is not drawing power as expected — so it shuts the water valve and halts the cycle. You'll typically find it mid-wash or at the point the machine should be emptying, with water still sitting in the drum and the door locked shut.

Can I fix Montpellier E20 myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and try a drain or spin programme on its own.
Check the drain hose at the back isn't kinked, crushed against the wall or pushed too far down the standpipe.
If your model has a pump filter behind the small flap at the bottom front, drain it into a shallow tray and clear any debris — have towels down, the water will come out.
Take out a heavy load if the drum is full; that rules out the drain being slowed by a soaked wash.

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

How much does it cost to repair Montpellier E20?

£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 E20?

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 E20 error — washing machine