Sharp E05 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 E05 actually means

The machine can't read the water temperature properly, or the water isn't heating, so it stops rather than carry on.

E05 is the washer temperature sensor (NTC) fault. The control board watches the sensor while the heater runs — if the temperature doesn't rise as expected, or the sensor reading is nonsense or the sensor is disconnected, it flags E05 and halts the wash. It's usually either the sensor itself, its wiring plug, or the heating element that has failed.

What E05 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, E05 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Not heating the water
Washing coming out cold
Cycle takes far longer than it should
No function at all
Dead — nothing lights up
Lights flashing and nothing happening
Programme won't start
Machine tripping the electrics

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 water temperature sensor
Loose or corroded sensor connection
Failed heating element
Water heating circuit or control board fault
Damp or damaged wiring behind the drum

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 short cycle — occasionally clears a one-off glitch
Try a cold wash (30°C or cold) to see whether the fault only appears on heated programmes — useful information for the engineer
Check the machine isn't standing in a very cold, unheated space, which can push the sensor reading out of range

Which Sharp models show E05

E05 means the same thing on all 7 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-FC8144W3-EN · ES-GFD9144W3-EN · KH-7I19CS00-EU

Common questions about Sharp E05

What does E05 mean on a Sharp washing machine?

The machine can't read the water temperature properly, or the water isn't heating, so it stops rather than carry on. E05 is the washer temperature sensor (NTC) fault. The control board watches the sensor while the heater runs — if the temperature doesn't rise as expected, or the sensor reading is nonsense or the sensor is disconnected, it flags E05 and halts the wash. It's usually either the sensor itself, its wiring plug, or the heating element that has failed.

Can I fix Sharp E05 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and try a short cycle — occasionally clears a one-off glitch.
Try a cold wash (30°C or cold) to see whether the fault only appears on heated programmes — useful information for the engineer.
Check the machine isn't standing in a very cold, unheated space, which can push the sensor reading out of range.

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

How much does it cost to repair Sharp E05?

£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 E05?

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 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 E05 error — washing machine