Candy Washing Machine Error Codes
Candy washing machines display error codes as E followed by a two-digit number — E01, E02, E03 and so on. The most commonly seen Candy error codes are E01 (door lock fault), E02 (fill fault), E03 (drain fault), and E08 (motor speed sensor fault). Find your code in the table below. Most Candy error codes are caused by a small number of common issues that can be checked without an engineer.
Which Candy washing machines does this guide cover?
This guide covers all Candy washing machines and washer dryers sold in the UK, including the Go, Smart, CO, COS, CMD washer dryer, Grando, Aquamatic compact, Activa, and RapidÓ series. The same E code system applies across the full Candy range, although some specific code meanings vary between collector motor models (older) and induction motor models (newer).
Most Candy machines from the early 2000s onwards display fault codes as E followed by two digits — E01, E02, E03 and so on. Some Candy models also display the code as just a number flashing in the display. Write the exact code down before doing anything else.
Older Candy machines without a digital display communicate faults through the indicator lights flashing. Count the number of flashes in the repeating sequence — the flash count typically corresponds to the fault number.
Candy and Hoover are both owned by Haier Europe and share the same manufacturing platform and control board (the “Cuore” board on many models). The E code error system is largely identical across both brands — codes are frequently interchangeable. If you have a Hoover machine, see our Hoover washing machine error codes guide.
A display showing H followed by a number (H02, H05, etc.) is not a fault code. H codes indicate the delay start timer is active and show how many hours remain until the programme starts. Press the delay start button to cancel it, or wait for the countdown to finish.
Candy washing machine error codes: complete reference
| Code | Fault description | Most likely causes | Check first |
|---|---|---|---|
| E01 | Door lock fault — machine not detecting the door is closed and locked | Door not fully closed. Failed door interlock mechanism. Wiring fault to the interlock. Obstruction in the door seal. Broken door handle or catch preventing the door from latching. | Open and firmly close the door, ensuring nothing is trapped in the door seal. If the code persists, test the door interlock for continuity. Door interlock replacement is one of the most common Candy repairs — genuine parts are available through our spare parts section. |
| E02 | Water fill fault — machine not filling within the expected time | Tap closed or partially closed. Kinked or trapped inlet hose. Blocked inlet hose filter. Low mains water pressure. Failed inlet valve solenoid. In cold weather, frozen inlet hose. | Confirm the tap is fully open. Straighten the inlet hose. Unscrew the inlet hose from the back of the machine and clean the small mesh filter inside the inlet port. Check household water pressure is adequate. |
| E03 | Drain fault — machine unable to drain water within the expected time | Blocked pump filter (the single most common cause). Kinked or blocked drain hose. Standpipe too high. Foreign object blocking the pump impeller. Failed drain pump motor. | Clean the pump filter — behind the small access panel at the bottom front of the machine. Place towels and a shallow tray in front before opening as water will flow out. Unscrew anticlockwise, remove all debris including coins and buttons, check the pump cavity, and refit firmly. See our full guide: washing machine not draining. |
| E04 | Water level fault — too much water detected in drum | Inlet valve stuck open allowing continuous fill. Failed pressure switch reading the level incorrectly. Pressure switch hose blocked causing false high reading. Excessive foam from too much detergent. | Check whether water is visibly above the door seal level. If foam is visible, run an empty rinse-and-spin cycle to clear it and reduce detergent on future washes. If overfilling is confirmed, the inlet valve is the likely cause. If the level appears normal, test the pressure switch. |
| E05 | NTC thermistor / temperature sensor fault | Failed NTC thermistor. Loose or corroded wiring connector to the thermistor. Limescale on the thermistor in hard water areas. Control board fault. | Test the NTC thermistor with a multimeter — approximately 30,000 ohms at room temperature, falling as temperature rises. Open circuit confirms failure. In hard water areas, run a descaling cycle before testing as limescale on the sensor can produce this code without the thermistor failing. |
| E06 | EEPROM / control board memory fault | Failure of the EEPROM memory chip on the main control board. Can be caused by power surge damage or age-related component failure. | Switch off at the mains for 2 minutes and restart. If E06 clears, the cause was transient. If it returns consistently, the control board requires replacement. Assess repair cost against machine age and condition using our repair or replace guide. |
| E07 | Door lock fault (some models) or motor fault (others) — varies by model generation | On some Candy models E07 is a secondary door lock code; on others it relates to the motor circuit. | Confirm which meaning applies to your model from the instruction manual. If door-related: same checks as E01. If motor-related: check drum rotation and inspect carbon brushes on collector motor models. |
| E08 | Motor speed sensor / tachometer fault — drum speed not reading correctly | Worn motor carbon brushes (most common on collector motor models). Failed tachogenerator. Wiring fault between tachogenerator and control board. Motor winding failure. On induction motor models: failed motor speed sensor or inverter board fault — there are no carbon brushes to check. | With the machine unplugged, check the drum rotates freely by hand. On collector motor models, inspect the motor carbon brushes and replace if worn below 10mm. On induction motor models, engineer diagnosis is required for sensor and inverter board testing. E08 on Candy is the same fault as Error 8 on Hoover. |
| E09 | Triac fault on control board — heating or motor circuit triac failure | Failed triac component on the main control board. May also cause the machine to trip the RCD. | Engineer diagnosis required. If the machine is also tripping the electrics, the triac is the likely cause. Test the heating element first to rule out an element short circuit causing the triac code. |
| E10 | Communication error between control modules | Internal communication breakdown between the main control board and a secondary module. Wiring harness fault. Moisture damage. Module failure. | Switch off at the mains for 2 minutes and restart. If the code clears it was transient. If E10 returns consistently, engineer diagnosis is required. |
| E11 | Heater / drying circuit fault (washer dryer models) | Failed drying heater on washer dryer models. Wiring fault to drying circuit. Open circuit on dryer heater element. | Applies primarily to washer dryer models such as the CMD series. Test drying heater for continuity. Engineer diagnosis required for board-level faults. |
| E12 | Communication fault between modules | PCB communication error. Wiring harness fault. | Power cycle. If persistent, engineer diagnosis required. |
| E13 | PCB / control board fault | Main control board failure. Internal board communication fault. | Engineer diagnosis required. Control board replacement is expensive — confirm diagnosis before committing. |
| E14 | PCB / control board fault variant | Same general cause as E13 — control board failure or fault. | Engineer diagnosis required. |
| E15 | Drying heater fault (washer dryer models) | Failed drying heating element on washer dryer models. Wiring fault. Heater relay fault. | Applies to washer dryer models. Test drying heater for continuity. Engineer diagnosis if heater tests correctly. |
| E16 | Heating element / inverter board fault | Failed wash heating element. On induction motor models: inverter board fault. | Test wash heating element for continuity. If element is good, engineer diagnosis required for inverter board on induction motor models. |
| E17 | No tacho signal — motor speed sensor not detecting drum rotation | On induction motor models: failed motor speed sensor or hall sensor. Wiring fault. Inverter board fault. On older collector motor models: equivalent to E08 motor speed fault. | Check drum rotates freely by hand with machine unplugged. Engineer diagnosis required for sensor or inverter board fault. |
| E18 | PCB / control board fault | Same general cause as E13 and E14 — control board failure. | Engineer diagnosis required. |
| E19 | Pressure switch / level sensor fault | Failed pressure switch. Blocked pressure switch hose. Soap suds in pressure system. | Check the pressure switch hose for blockage or kinks. Run a service wash to clear soap residue. Test pressure switch if hose checks are clear. |
| E20 | Drain pump fault variant or pressure switch error | Drain pump failure. Pressure switch fault. Pump filter blockage. | Clean pump filter first as for E03. If clear, test drain pump motor for continuity. |
| E21 | Motor current fault — incorrect current detected in motor circuit | Motor short circuit. Inverter board fault. Wiring fault. Significantly overloaded machine. | Remove some laundry to reduce the load and retry. If E21 persists with a normal load, engineer diagnosis required. If the machine is also tripping the RCD, a motor short circuit is likely. |
| E22 | Drum sensor / motor fault | Drum position sensor fault. Motor fault. Inverter board fault. | Engineer diagnosis required. Check drum rotates freely by hand with machine unplugged as a first step. |
The most common Candy washing machine faults
A small number of faults account for the majority of Candy error codes seen in UK homes. Understanding these well covers most of what you are likely to encounter.
Blocked pump filter (E03)
E03 is the single most common Candy error code in UK homes. In the vast majority of cases the cause is a blocked pump filter rather than a failed pump. Coins, buttons, hair grips, and bra underwires accumulate in the filter over time and eventually block it. Cleaning the filter takes around five minutes and resolves most E03 faults without any parts. Treat it as routine maintenance every few months regardless of whether a code has appeared.
Door interlock failure (E01)
The door interlock is the second most common cause of Candy error codes. The interlock locks the door during the cycle and releases it when safe — it is subject to mechanical wear over thousands of cycles and typically fails between five and ten years of regular use. Genuine replacement interlocks are widely available for most Candy models and the repair is practical for a confident DIY repairer.
Carbon brushes (E08, E17 on collector motor models)
On older Candy machines fitted with a collector motor, worn carbon brushes are one of the most common motor fault causes. The brushes gradually wear down and eventually trigger E08 or E17 motor speed sensor codes. Brush replacement is straightforward, inexpensive, and resolves the majority of these motor codes. Important: induction motor models (newer Candy machines with brushless motors) do not have carbon brushes — E08 and E17 on these models point to the speed sensor or inverter board instead.
Inlet valve and water supply (E02)
E02 fill faults often come down to simple physical causes — a tap turned off, a kinked hose, or a blocked inlet filter. The inlet hose has a small mesh filter inside the inlet port at the back of the machine that should be cleaned periodically, particularly in hard water areas where mineral deposits can restrict flow. If the supply checks all pass and E02 persists, the inlet valve solenoid has failed and requires replacement.
What to check before calling an engineer
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Power cycle the machine. Switch off at the wall socket, wait 2 minutes, and switch back on. Transient codes — particularly communication errors and some control board codes — sometimes clear on a power reset. If the same code returns consistently, it represents a real fault.
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Confirm you are not looking at an H code. H followed by a number is not a fault — it is the delay start timer showing hours remaining. Press the delay start button to cancel it.
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Clean the pump filter (E03 drain code). The filter is behind the small access panel at the bottom front of the machine. Place towels and a shallow tray in front before opening as water will flow out. Unscrew anticlockwise, remove all debris, check the pump cavity for foreign objects, and refit firmly. This single check resolves the majority of E03 faults.
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Check the door closes correctly (E01 door code). Open and firmly close the door, ensuring nothing is caught in the door seal. If the door closes correctly and E01 persists, test the door interlock.
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Check the water supply (E02 fill code). Confirm the tap is fully open, the inlet hose is not kinked, and the inlet filter mesh inside the inlet port is clean.
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Check carbon brushes if you have a collector motor model (E08, E17). With the machine unplugged, check the drum rotates freely by hand. If it does, inspect the motor carbon brushes. Replace if worn below 10mm. Applies only to older collector motor machines — induction motor models do not have brushes.
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Descale the machine (E05 temperature code in hard water areas). Run an empty cycle on the hottest programme with a proprietary descaler before testing or replacing the NTC thermistor. Limescale on the sensor can produce E05 without any component actually failing.
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Reduce detergent and clear foam (E04 water level code). If foam is visible through the door glass, the high water level reading may be caused by suds. Run an empty rinse-and-spin cycle and reduce detergent on future washes.
Always switch the machine off at the wall socket and unplug it before accessing the pump filter, opening any panels, accessing the motor, or inspecting internal components. Never work on electrical components with the machine connected to the mains. See our DIY appliance repair safety guide.
Can I fix a Candy error code myself?
Straightforward to check or fix yourself
Cleaning the pump filter (E03 drain code). Checking and cleaning the inlet hose filter (E02 fill code). Checking the door closes correctly and testing the interlock (E01 door code). Replacing the door interlock on confirmed failure. Power cycling to clear transient codes. Reducing detergent and clearing foam (E04). Descaling for temperature codes in hard water areas (E05). Replacing motor carbon brushes on collector motor models (E08, E17). Replacing the NTC thermistor on confirmed failure (E05). Replacing the drain pump on confirmed failure (E03 if filter is clear).
Requires an engineer or advanced competence
Control board faults (E06, E13, E14, E18). Inverter board faults on induction motor models (E16, E17, E22). Triac faults (E09). Motor current faults (E21). EEPROM and configuration faults (E06). Communication faults that persist after power cycling (E10, E12). Pressure switch replacement (E04, E19) if hose checks are clear. Drying heater faults on washer dryers (E11, E15). Any fault that persists after all basic checks have been completed.
Candy and Hoover: the same code system
Candy and Hoover are both owned by Haier Europe and have shared manufacturing platforms and control systems for many years. The “Cuore” board fitted to most Candy and Hoover machines is the same component, and the E code error system is largely identical across both brands.
This means that if you cannot find your Candy code fully explained here, cross-referencing with our Hoover washing machine error codes guide is worthwhile. The diagnosis steps and replacement parts are typically interchangeable across both brands on shared platform models. The same applies in reverse — Hoover users can usefully reference this Candy guide for any code not fully detailed in the Hoover article.
Candy error code pointing to a fault you cannot resolve?
If basic checks have not cleared the fault, a qualified engineer is the right next step. We cover Candy washing machine repairs nationwide with genuine spare parts available for most models including door interlocks, drain pumps, heating elements, NTC thermistors, and carbon brushes.
Frequently asked questions about Candy washing machine error codes
What does E03 mean on a Candy washing machine?
E03 is a drain fault — the machine has been unable to drain water within the expected time. In the vast majority of cases the cause is a blocked pump filter rather than a failed pump. The filter is behind the small access panel at the bottom front of the machine. Cleaning it takes around five minutes and resolves most E03 faults without any parts or engineer visit. If the filter is clear and E03 persists, check the drain hose for kinks then test the drain pump motor.
What does E01 mean on a Candy washing machine?
E01 indicates a door lock fault — the machine is not detecting the door is properly closed and locked. First confirm the door closes fully with nothing obstructing the seal. If it closes correctly and E01 persists, the door interlock has likely failed and requires replacement. Door interlock replacement is one of the most common Candy repairs — genuine parts are widely available and the repair is practical for a confident DIY repairer.
What does E08 mean on a Candy washing machine?
E08 indicates a motor speed sensor (tachometer) fault — the machine cannot detect drum rotation correctly. On older Candy machines fitted with a collector motor, worn carbon brushes are the most common cause — inspect and replace if worn below 10mm. On newer Candy machines fitted with a brushless induction motor, the speed sensor or inverter board is the likely cause and engineer diagnosis is typically required. E08 on Candy is the same fault as Error 8 on Hoover, since the brands share the same platform.
What does E02 mean on a Candy washing machine?
E02 indicates a water fill fault — the machine has not filled within the expected time. Check that the tap is fully open, the inlet hose is not kinked, and the small mesh filter inside the inlet port at the back of the machine is clean. In cold weather, check the hose has not frozen. If the water supply is correct and E02 persists, the inlet valve solenoid has likely failed and requires replacement.
My Candy washing machine is showing H02 or H05. Is this a fault?
No. H followed by a number is not a fault code — it indicates the delay start timer is active. The number shows how many hours remain until the programme starts. Press the delay start button to cancel the timer and start the programme immediately, or wait for the countdown to reach zero.
Are Candy and Hoover washing machine error codes the same?
Yes, largely. Candy and Hoover are both owned by Haier Europe and share the same manufacturing platforms and control systems including the Cuore board fitted to most models. The E code error system is largely identical across both brands and codes are frequently interchangeable on shared platform models. Diagnosis steps and replacement parts are typically the same across both brands.
Does my Candy washing machine have carbon brushes?
It depends on the age and model of your machine. Older Candy machines fitted with collector motors have carbon brushes that wear over time. Newer Candy machines fitted with brushless induction motors do not have carbon brushes. If you have a motor fault code such as E08 or E17, identify your motor type before assuming brush wear is the cause — there is no point looking for brushes on an induction motor model as they are not present.
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