Sharp E03 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 E03 actually means

The machine has tried to pump the water out and hasn't got the result it expected, so it stops with the drum still holding water.

E03 is Sharp's drain pump fault. The control board switches the pump on, expects the water level to drop, and if that doesn't happen — or the pump doesn't respond at all — the cycle halts and the code appears. Sharp's own service test bears this out: in the engineer's test routine the pump is run on its own as a dedicated step, and E03 is the code that comes up if it fails.

What E03 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, 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
Overfilling, or won't stop filling
Stops with water still inside
Fills and drains over and over
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

A blocked pump filter — coins, hair grips, buttons, sludge
Drain hose kinked, crushed behind the machine or pushed too far into the standpipe
Blockage in the pump itself or in the sump hose between drum and pump
Worn or seized drain pump
Wiring or control board fault on the pump circuit

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 power it back on and try a drain or spin — a one-off glitch will sometimes clear.
Clear the pump filter behind the flap at the bottom front. Put towels and a shallow tray down first, as there will be water in there. Check for coins and debris and make sure the filter screws back in fully.
Pull the machine out gently and check the drain hose isn't kinked, trapped or squashed against the wall.
If the hose goes into a standpipe, check it isn't shoved down too deep — that can siphon and confuse the drain.
Take a heavy load out by hand if you can and try a drain-only or spin programme with the drum empty.

Which Sharp models show E03

E03 means the same thing on all 3 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-FC8144W3-EN · ES-GFD9144W3-EN · KH-7I19CS00-EU

Common questions about Sharp E03

What does E03 mean on a Sharp washing machine?

The machine has tried to pump the water out and hasn't got the result it expected, so it stops with the drum still holding water. E03 is Sharp's drain pump fault. The control board switches the pump on, expects the water level to drop, and if that doesn't happen — or the pump doesn't respond at all — the cycle halts and the code appears. Sharp's own service test bears this out: in the engineer's test routine the pump is run on its own as a dedicated step, and E03 is the code that comes up if it fails.

Can I fix Sharp E03 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then power it back on and try a drain or spin — a one-off glitch will sometimes clear.
Clear the pump filter behind the flap at the bottom front. Put towels and a shallow tray down first, as there will be water in there. Check for coins and debris and make sure the filter screws back in fully.
Pull the machine out gently and check the drain hose isn't kinked, trapped or squashed against the wall.
If the hose goes into a standpipe, check it isn't shoved down too deep — that can siphon and confuse the drain.
Take a heavy load out by hand if you can and try a drain-only or spin programme with the drum empty.

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

How much does it cost to repair Sharp 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 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 E03 error — washing machine