Sharp E08 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 E08 actually means

The machine has spotted a fault in the electronics that control the drum motor, so it has stopped the wash.

E08 is a motor triac fault. The triac is the switching part on the main control board that feeds power to the drum motor — if the board sees it stuck on, stuck off or behaving oddly, it shuts the programme down rather than risk the drum running out of control. In Sharp's own documents this is a service-only code, not one intended for the end user, which tells you it points at the control electronics rather than anything you've done.

What E08 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, E08 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Drum not turning
Won't spin
Hums or buzzes but nothing moves
Turns one way only
Very noisy on spin
Banging or knocking
Moving across the floor
Load left soaking wet because it won't spin up

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 switching component on the main control board
Motor carbon brushes worn out or motor winding fault
Damaged or loose wiring between board and motor
Water or damp reaching the control board
Power surge or unstable mains supply damaging the board

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 socket for a minute, then switch back on and try a short programme — this clears a one-off glitch.
Check the drum turns freely by hand with the machine switched off and nothing jamming it.
Take out any very heavy, unbalanced load and try again with a smaller wash.

Which Sharp models show E08

E08 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-FA6102W2-EN · ES-FA6122W2-EN · ES-GFD9144W3-EN

Common questions about Sharp E08

What does E08 mean on a Sharp washing machine?

The machine has spotted a fault in the electronics that control the drum motor, so it has stopped the wash. E08 is a motor triac fault. The triac is the switching part on the main control board that feeds power to the drum motor — if the board sees it stuck on, stuck off or behaving oddly, it shuts the programme down rather than risk the drum running out of control. In Sharp's own documents this is a service-only code, not one intended for the end user, which tells you it points at the control electronics rather than anything you've done.

Can I fix Sharp E08 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall socket for a minute, then switch back on and try a short programme — this clears a one-off glitch.
Check the drum turns freely by hand with the machine switched off and nothing jamming it.
Take out any very heavy, unbalanced load and try again with a smaller wash.

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

How much does it cost to repair Sharp E08?

£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 E08?

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 E08 error — washing machine