What E01 actually means
The machine can't confirm the door is locked, so it won't start filling or washing.
Before a Willow washer takes any water in, it energises the door interlock and waits for confirmation that the door is held shut. If that confirmation doesn't arrive — or it disappears part-way through a programme because the lock has released — the machine stops and shows E01. It's one of the few faults the manual flags up to the user rather than keeping to service mode, because very often it's something about the door itself rather than the electronics.
What usually causes it
- Door not pushed fully home, or laundry trapped in the seal stopping it closing
- Overloaded drum pushing against the door
- Worn or sticking door catch so the lock never engages
- Failed door interlock (the part that holds the door and reports back)
- Loose or broken wiring to the interlock, or a control board fault
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.
- Open the door, redistribute the load if it's packed tight, and close it firmly until you hear it click.
- Run a hand round the rubber seal and check no sock or shirt corner is caught in the door.
- Look at where the catch meets the lock — if the door feels loose or rattly when shut, the catch is likely worn.
- Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then power up and restart the programme.
- Wipe any detergent residue off the catch and the recess it goes into.
When to call someone
This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, and it's £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it — £84 in total if it's repaired on the visit with no parts needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
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 Willow washing machine codes
- Willow E02 — The machine isn't getting enough water in, so it has stopped…
- Willow E03 — The machine can't get the water out of the drum, so it has s…
- Willow E04 — The machine thinks it has taken in more water than it should…
- Willow E05 — The machine can't get a sensible reading from the temperatur…
- Willow E06 — The machine has lost the signal that tells it how fast the d…
- Willow E07 — The washing machine's control board has lost or mismatched i…
- Willow E08 — The control board can't drive the drum motor properly, so th…
- Willow E09 — The machine has stopped because the mains voltage reaching i…