What E03 actually means
The machine can't get the water out — the drain pump isn't doing its job, so it has stopped with a drum full of water.
E03 is a pump fault. The control board expects the water level to drop once the drain pump runs, and when it doesn't within the expected time it halts the cycle and shows the code. Most of the time the pump itself is fine and something is blocking or restricting the drain path.
What usually causes it
- Blocked pump filter — coins, hair grips, buttons, fluff
- Kinked, trapped or blocked drain hose
- Blocked sink trap or standpipe the hose empties into
- Drain hose pushed too far down the standpipe, or set at the wrong height
- Failed drain pump or a wiring/control board fault
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 try a drain or spin — it can clear a one-off glitch
- Clean the pump filter at the bottom front of the machine (put a towel and shallow tray down first, water will come out)
- Check the drain hose isn't kinked, squashed behind the machine or crushed against the wall
- If the hose drains into a sink trap, check the trap isn't blocked with grease
- Make sure the hose end isn't pushed too far into the standpipe and the outlet isn't blocked
When to call someone
This sometimes clears with the checks above. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, and it's £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it — £84 in total if it's repaired on the visit with no parts needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
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.
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