What E04 actually means
The dryer has flagged a problem with its heating circuit — the control board is not seeing the heater behave as it should, so the cycle is halted.
Willow's own service flowchart for E04 on the dryer sends the engineer straight to the heating circuit: the heater connections, the heater's own resistance readings, the wiring between the board and the heater, and finally the main board itself. In practice the owner usually notices the drum turning with cool or barely warm air, or the programme stopping early with clothes still damp. On the washer-dryer models in this range the same number is also used in the washing tables to mean an overflow, so if you find water where it shouldn't be, treat it as a water fault and stop the machine at once.
What E04 looks like on a Willow tumble dryer
Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Willow tumble dryer, E04 usually shows up as one or more of these:
- Machine door won't open
- Door won't lock or click shut
- Door lock light flashing
- Door stuck shut with the load inside
- Won't start even with the door closed
- Machine not draining
- Water left in the drum at the end of the cycle
- Stops mid-cycle full of water
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
- Heavy fluff build-up on the filter or condenser making the heater cut out
- A loose or corroded connection at the heater
- The heater element itself having failed
- A damaged or chafed wire between the control board and the heater
- A fault on the main control board (the last thing to be blamed, not the first)
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.
- Take out the fluff filter, clean it properly and refit it — a clogged filter is behind a surprising number of heating complaints
- If the model has a condenser you can remove and rinse without tools, clean it and let it drain before refitting
- Check the door shuts and latches cleanly so the cycle isn't being interrupted
- Switch off at the wall for a minute, then power up and start a short programme to see whether the code returns
- If you can see or smell water leaking, or anything scorched, leave it off and call it in
Which Willow models show E04
E04 means the same thing on all 5 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.
W6120W · W7120W · WCD8W · WWM712BI · WWM814BI
Common questions about Willow E04
What does E04 mean on a Willow tumble dryer?
The dryer has flagged a problem with its heating circuit — the control board is not seeing the heater behave as it should, so the cycle is halted. Willow's own service flowchart for E04 on the dryer sends the engineer straight to the heating circuit: the heater connections, the heater's own resistance readings, the wiring between the board and the heater, and finally the main board itself. In practice the owner usually notices the drum turning with cool or barely warm air, or the programme stopping early with clothes still damp. On the washer-dryer models in this range the same number is also used in the washing tables to mean an overflow, so if you find water where it shouldn't be, treat it as a water fault and stop the machine at once.
Can I fix Willow E04 myself?
There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.
- Take out the fluff filter, clean it properly and refit it — a clogged filter is behind a surprising number of heating complaints.
- If the model has a condenser you can remove and rinse without tools, clean it and let it drain before refitting.
- Check the door shuts and latches cleanly so the cycle isn't being interrupted.
- Switch off at the wall for a minute, then power up and start a short programme to see whether the code returns.
- If you can see or smell water leaking, or anything scorched, leave it off and call it in.
This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried them.
How much does it cost to repair Willow E04?
£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 E04?
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 tumble dryer 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 Willow tumble dryer codes
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- Willow E07 — The control board has lost or does not recognise the setting…
- Willow E08 — The dryer has stopped because the electricity reaching its c…
- Willow E09 — The machine has decided the electricity reaching it is outsi…
- Willow E10 — The machine can no longer trust the sensor that tells it how…
- Willow E11 — The main control board has lost communication with the separ…
- Willow E12 — Two of the machine's internal electronic boards have stopped…
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