Sharp F02 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 F02 actually means

The machine has tried to pump the water out and it hasn't gone within the expected time, so it has stopped.

F02 is a drain timeout. The control board ran the drain pump and waited for the water level to drop; because it didn't, the cycle halts with the drum still holding water rather than carrying on and flooding or spinning a full tub. It's usually a blockage somewhere between the tub and your waste pipe rather than a fault in the machine itself.

What F02 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, F02 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
Leaking

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

Blocked pump filter — coins, buttons, hair, lint
Kinked, trapped or crushed drain hose
Blocked or slow household waste pipe or standpipe
Debris jammed in the drain pump impeller
Faulty drain pump or pressure sensor

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 cycle
Clean the pump filter at the bottom front (put a shallow tray and towels down first — there will be water, and let it cool if you've washed hot)
Check the drain hose behind the machine isn't kinked, squashed against the wall or pushed too far down the waste pipe
Check the sink or waste pipe the hose feeds into isn't draining slowly or blocked
Run a hot maintenance wash with no load once it drains again, to clear sludge

Common questions about Sharp F02

What does F02 mean on a Sharp washing machine?

The machine has tried to pump the water out and it hasn't gone within the expected time, so it has stopped. F02 is a drain timeout. The control board ran the drain pump and waited for the water level to drop; because it didn't, the cycle halts with the drum still holding water rather than carrying on and flooding or spinning a full tub. It's usually a blockage somewhere between the tub and your waste pipe rather than a fault in the machine itself.

Can I fix Sharp F02 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 cycle.
Clean the pump filter at the bottom front (put a shallow tray and towels down first — there will be water, and let it cool if you've washed hot).
Check the drain hose behind the machine isn't kinked, squashed against the wall or pushed too far down the waste pipe.
Check the sink or waste pipe the hose feeds into isn't draining slowly or blocked.
Run a hot maintenance wash with no load once it drains again, to clear sludge.

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

How much does it cost to repair Sharp F02?

£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 F02?

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 F02 error — washing machine