Sharp E02 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 E02 actually means

The machine isn't getting enough water in the time it expects, so it has stopped and shown E02.

E02 is the "no water" fault. The machine opens its inlet valve and waits for the drum to fill to the expected level; if that doesn't happen quickly enough, it halts the programme rather than run dry. The cause is usually something restricting the water supply, though it can also be the inlet valve or the sensor that measures the water level.

What E02 looks like on a Sharp washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Sharp washing machine, E02 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Not filling with water
No water going in
Takes for ever to fill
Stops right at the start of the cycle
Overfilling, or won't stop filling
Stops with water still inside
Fills and drains over and over
E02 flashing on the display

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

Tap to the machine turned off or only part open
Kinked, trapped or crushed fill hose
Blocked filter in the fill hose connection
Low mains water pressure, or supply temporarily off
Faulty inlet valve or water level sensor inside the machine

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.

Check the water tap behind or under the machine is fully open
Run another cold tap in the house to confirm you have mains water
Look along the fill hose for kinks or where it may be squashed against the wall
With the tap turned off, unscrew the fill hose at the tap end and rinse the small mesh filter, then refit hand-tight
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, switch back on and restart the programme

Which Sharp models show E02

E02 means the same thing on all 5 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.

ES-FA6102W2-EN · ES-FA6122W2-EN · ES-FB7124W2-EN · ES-FB7144W3-EN · ES-GFD9144W3-EN

Common questions about Sharp E02

What does E02 mean on a Sharp washing machine?

The machine isn't getting enough water in the time it expects, so it has stopped and shown E02. E02 is the "no water" fault. The machine opens its inlet valve and waits for the drum to fill to the expected level; if that doesn't happen quickly enough, it halts the programme rather than run dry. The cause is usually something restricting the water supply, though it can also be the inlet valve or the sensor that measures the water level.

Can I fix Sharp E02 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Check the water tap behind or under the machine is fully open.
Run another cold tap in the house to confirm you have mains water.
Look along the fill hose for kinks or where it may be squashed against the wall.
With the tap turned off, unscrew the fill hose at the tap end and rinse the small mesh filter, then refit hand-tight.
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, switch back on and restart the programme.

This sometimes clears with those checks. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly.

How much does it cost to repair Sharp E02?

£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 E02?

This sometimes clears with the checks above. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly. 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 Sharp washing machine codes

All Sharp 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.

Sharp E02 error — washing machine