What E05 actually means
The machine can't get a sensible reading from the temperature sensor that watches the heater, so it stops rather than heat blind.
E05 is raised when the control board reads an impossible value from the heater NTC (temperature sensor) — the sort of reading you get when the sensor is disconnected, open circuit or shorted. Because the board has no way of knowing how hot the water or heater is getting, it shuts the cycle down as a safety measure. In practice the cycle either won't start heating or halts partway through with the code showing.
What usually causes it
- The heater temperature sensor's plug has worked loose or come off
- A failed (open or short circuit) heater NTC sensor
- Damaged or chafed wiring in the loom to the sensor
- Moisture or corrosion in the sensor connector
- Less often, a control board fault misreading the 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 back up and try a short cold wash — an occasional one-off reading can clear.
- Try a cold programme with no heating; if that runs through and only heated cycles fail, it points firmly at the temperature sensor and is worth reporting when you book the repair.
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.
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