Willow 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 control board can't drive the drum motor properly, so the machine stops rather than carry on.

E08 is logged as a motor triac fault ">main control board" " — the triac is the switching device on the main control board that feeds power to the motor. When the board sees that switch behaving incorrectly, it shuts the cycle down, usually as the drum is being asked to turn or spin. One of Willow's service flowcharts also has the engineer check that the mains supply at the socket sits between 170 and 265 volts before condemning the board, so a poor or unstable supply can trigger it too.

What E08 looks like on a Willow washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Willow 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 triac on the main control board
Unstable or low mains voltage at the socket (extension leads, poor wiring)
Motor wiring loom chafed or a connector worked loose
Motor itself drawing too much current, often after a bearing has gone stiff
Water or damp having got to the control 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 knob to off, wait a few seconds and restart — that resets the machine and clears a one-off fault
Switch off at the wall for a minute, then power up and try a short cycle
Plug the machine directly into a wall socket rather than an extension lead or adaptor
Listen when you restart: if the drum makes a harsh rumble or won't turn by hand, mention that when you book the repair

Common questions about Willow E08

What does E08 mean on a Willow washing machine?

The control board can't drive the drum motor properly, so the machine stops rather than carry on. E08 is logged as a motor triac fault ">main control board" " — the triac is the switching device on the main control board that feeds power to the motor. When the board sees that switch behaving incorrectly, it shuts the cycle down, usually as the drum is being asked to turn or spin. One of Willow's service flowcharts also has the engineer check that the mains supply at the socket sits between 170 and 265 volts before condemning the board, so a poor or unstable supply can trigger it too.

Can I fix Willow E08 myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the knob to off, wait a few seconds and restart — that resets the machine and clears a one-off fault.
Switch off at the wall for a minute, then power up and try a short cycle.
Plug the machine directly into a wall socket rather than an extension lead or adaptor.
Listen when you restart: if the drum makes a harsh rumble or won't turn by hand, mention that when you book the repair.

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

How much does it cost to repair Willow 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 Willow washing machine codes

All Willow 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.

Willow E08 error — washing machine