Error E03 in Zanussi washing machine

Modern washing machines, in addition to many additional functions - protection against leaks, washing with steam, self-drying - also have a self-diagnosis system. This system allows equipment to detect a breakdown and inform the user about it using an indication or error code on the display. If your Zanussi washing machine displays code E03, this may mean that several parts are faulty.

"Tricky" code

Why does the unit display error E03? Decoding the display code is very simple: “drain time exceeded.” The drain system, consisting of a pipe, filter and hose, comes under suspicion. Drain failure also occurs when the pump is clogged. Therefore, a good housewife starts cleaning the drain tract, cleaning the filter and hose with various chemicals, but this does not lead to any results.

Let's try to understand the algorithm of the electronics that generates the E03 fault code. The error occurs when the software module receives mutually exclusive readings from elements and sensors. And it’s not the drain system that’s to blame, but the temperature sensor or heating element. In practice, the breakdown of these particular components of the Zanussi washing machine leads to the appearance of E03.

What and how to test?

If you suspect a malfunction, immediately turn off the equipment. All the same, in cold water you will not be able to wash your clothes properly, plus the electronics will hang up all the time. Then you need to start rinsing or spinning. Once the unit has completed its cycle, open the drum and remove items. Now you can start diagnosing and repairing:

• reset error code;
• unplug the power cord from the outlet;
• after 15 minutes, connect the machine back to the network;
• If the error appears again, turn off the power to the equipment again, remove the back wall of the case and free the heating element from the wires.
• dismantle the cover of the machine, take out the powder receptacle, unscrew the screws at the edges and ends of the control unit, then pull out the board along with the wires;
• Next you need to take a multimeter, set the nominal to 180-220 kOhm, measure a bunch of resistors on the software module;
• the next step is to ring the temperature sensor (it should respond to heating of more than 20 degrees with a resistance of 20 kOhm), the part is located at the back in the heating element housing.

Important! During manipulations, observe safety precautions!

Be sure to inspect the board and the heating element relay circuit. If you see burnt elements, damaged “paths” or contacts, this means that the washing machine requires repair. If you are not sure that you can fix it yourself, it is better to immediately trust the specialists from the service center.

We are looking for other “symptoms”

A malfunction does not necessarily manifest itself by a flashing indicator or a code on the display. Sometimes the self-diagnosis system may miss a problem, especially if the water temperature does not drop below 30 degrees. But you have the power to detect the breakdown yourself. Just touch the door of your Zanussi washing machine 15-20 minutes after starting to operate on high temperature (60-90 degrees). If the heating element is faulty, then the hatch will be cold - the washing machine simply will not bring the water temperature to the set value. There may be no heating for the following reasons.

1. Consumer inattention (you chose the mode without heating the water).
2. Failure of the heating element (the heater may overheat due to wear or due to scale).

The heating element of the washing machine must be regularly cleaned of scale; usually special cleaning agents or citric acid are used for this purpose.

3. Inoperative temperature sensor. This item cannot be repaired. It is inexpensive, so you just need to replace it with a new one.
4. Broken wiring on the heater - it is necessary to inspect the heating element for damaged and loose contacts. It is not difficult to fix such a problem with your own hands, but it is not easy to detect it.
5. Failure of the pressure switch - if the level sensor fails, the control module will not receive a signal that the tank is filled with water and will not transmit a command to heat the heating element.

Now you know what to do if the washing machine displays error E03 on the display. In such a situation, there is no need to panic - just follow the instructions above. It is possible that you will be able to cope with the problem yourself.

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