LG is a truly popular brand of washing machines. Units of this brand are popular and are found in the apartments and houses of a huge number of people. The washing machine gives us comfort and convenience, but at the same time it requires careful handling and regular maintenance.
Imagine the situation: you routinely load the washing machine drum with a batch of laundry, fill the detergent and rinse aid reservoirs, anticipating half an hour of free time. You turn on your favorite washing program and... something goes wrong. There is no usual sound, which is usually heard when water is filled, or the machine “slows down”. We see the ominous inscription “IE” on the screen. On LG models without an LCD screen, the error can be expressed in the simultaneous blinking of several indicator lights at once. Meet this IE error in LG washing machine.
Reasons for the error
When an erroneous code occurs, the machine emits a characteristic sound signal, as if raising an alarm cry. Don't worry too much right after this. Let's try to understand the reasons for the IE signal.
First of all, you should look at the instructions. However, its content on this matter is not very informative and understandable to the average user. Roughly speaking, the machine requires water because one of the following has occurred:
- its supply is difficult (the tap is closed). The simplest and most easily removable reason. This may be a planned or emergency water shutdown. Before you panic, you should ask the management company if the utility services are carrying out relevant work at your address. In addition, you should check all the taps inside the apartment. It often happens that before using the tap they forgot to turn it to the desired position. The same applies to valves located directly in front of the washing machine;
- The special start valve has failed. It may not work at all or open halfway, which also impedes the flow of water, and it does not fill the machine’s tank in sufficient quantities;
- The sensor responsible for determining the volume of incoming water has broken down. The characteristic sound of water is heard, but the error code flashes on the display;
- low water pressure (water flows in, but in small quantities);
- The inlet hose is not functioning properly (damage, bend or blockage, disconnection, incorrect installation). If irreparable damage to the hose is detected, it must be replaced;
- a malfunction occurred in the electronic module of the machine. This type of breakdown can “hit” any function of the washing machine;
- The water supply filter mesh is clogged. Small particles of debris clog the filter holes, making it difficult for liquid to flow through. If this reason is detected, the device must be cleaned.
The IE error can also occur due to user inattention or serious damage to parts of the washing machine.
It is possible that there may be several reasons at once.
Prevention of breakdowns
To prevent breakdowns, you must follow some rules. First of all, be sure to clean the filter and hose once a year. It won't take much time, but the car will last a long time. You must remember to install a stabilizer for the washing machine. This is necessary to ensure that the voltage is stable, and then the control module and other parts will not be subject to voltage surges.
Water quality and assembly greatly affect the operation of the washing machine. But if all the rules of prevention are followed, the washing machine will serve for a long time. Many experts say that it is advisable to regularly disassemble it at least once every two years and check whether all the parts are in good condition. You can do this yourself or call a professional.
First of all, before washing, you need to check the pockets, because if something gets stuck in the drum, it will lead to damage. Do not wash at a high temperature often, this will make your LG machine last less. Don’t forget to open the lid after washing the washer and wipe the drum dry. It is important to remember that it is not advisable to interrupt the wash. This may lead to complete failure of the electronic module. Do not leave home while the washing machine is running, as there are times when the machine breaks down and this leads to serious consequences.
Many people do not know what to do if a breakdown has already occurred. You don’t need to do repairs yourself if you don’t have experience in this matter. The best option would be to call a good specialist so that he can figure out the breakdown himself. It’s better to pay for repairs right away than to only aggravate the problem later and the work will end up costing more.
Fixing the error yourself
To get rid of the error yourself, you need to clearly try to identify the cause of its occurrence:
- We check the availability of water supply. If this is a planned or emergency water outage, then we simply wait for the water supply to be restored;
- Pay attention to the valve that supplies water directly to the machine. The problem will be resolved if it is in the correct (open) position;
- look at the water pressure. The IE error may appear when the pressure is low. To normalize the operation of the washing machine, it is necessary to restore good water pressure;
- straighten and check for integrity the hose supplying water to the machine;
- We clean the filter mesh through which water enters the washing machine drum. It may be clogged with small debris found in tap water. Remove the filter and wash it. You can soak the mesh in a solution of citric acid for 30-60 minutes;
- Pay attention to the water intake valve. To do this, you need to remove the lid of the washing machine, check for rusty areas, and use a special measuring device (multimeter). Its display should normally show a value from 2 to 4 kOhm;
- If there is a malfunction in the water level sensor (pressostat), it is necessary to check it for blockages. When the tube becomes full of debris, water cannot flow into the drum and the machine cannot start washing. Here you can also use a multimeter measurement;
- We check for a failure in the electronic module: turn off the machine from the network, wait a few minutes (experts recommend at least fifteen) and connect it again. Thus, a kind of system reboot occurs. If this does not help, you need to inspect the block. If there are faults in it, dark lines will be visible, which are a sign of burning.
Preventive measures
If your LG washing machine shows IE, you can fix the problem in simple ways. But it is better, in principle, not to allow an error to occur. To ensure that the unit does not experience problems with water intake, you must:
- before putting the machine into operation after a long period of non-use, check the position of the shut-off valve;
- Once every few months, preventively clean the filter mesh from plaque;
- do not wash when the water pressure in the water supply is temporarily reduced;
- install voltage stabilizers in case of frequent current surges in the electrical network, which can damage the control board of the machine;
- When installing the unit, make sure that the wires and flexible hoses are not twisted anywhere, and that the drain tube is located above the drum.
If the water is very hard, it makes sense to install a main filter at the inlet of the water supply to a separate apartment. This will require financial costs, but will extend the service life of the washing unit. When using purified water, the dishwasher will break down less often, and using the liquid for household needs will also become much more pleasant.
Control module is faulty
In modern washing machines, an important element is the electronic module. It is he who determines the program execution parameters, what needs to be turned on and when. But when there are overloads in the network or machine circuits, it becomes damaged and processes information incorrectly or gives the wrong commands.
In this position, correct operation of the SMA is impossible. Then you need to install a new module that matches the model with the firmware or restore the faulty one. You won’t be able to do this yourself - you need to contact a specialized service for repairing household appliances.
Control module
OE error value on the display and its mechanical equivalent
Models that do not have a screen indicate an error with two combinations of indicator lamps:
- LEDs flash/light;
- The spin speed indicators are lit/flashing.
The period of time during which water must be drained from the drum is regulated. It is 5-8 minutes (for different models). Malfunctions can be caused by minor reasons, which can be eliminated yourself, and serious problems - only a specialist can solve them.
Problem: washing machine, OE error, what to do with the unit. First of all, drain the drum and remove the laundry. After that, try to fix the problem yourself.
I.E.
The most common problem that affects the performance of a washing machine is the water supply. If code 1E appears on the display, this indicates that the quantity is insufficient. In such a situation, it is recommended to check the condition of the filters. In addition, make sure that the water supply valve to the device is fully open, and that the water intake hose is not compressed.
Elimination
Most often, the solution to a problem in the event of a washing machine breakdown is to replace the part, but when dealing with the LG brand, many things can be done with your own hands
The most important thing is not to forget about safety precautions before making repairs, since the most important components operate when connected to electricity with a voltage of 220 volts
If there is a problem with draining water, you should first check the integrity of the pump. It may not necessarily be damaged; problems with drainage also arise in the event of a normal blockage. First you need to drain the water, otherwise everything will end up on the floor. Near the round plug behind the drum or behind the panel (depending on the assembly version) you can find a thin hose plugged with a small plug. Having pulled it out and uncorked, all that remains is to carefully drain the water into any suitable container.
There is another fairly simple way - lower the drain hose to the floor level. Only after draining the water can you remove the pump and view the condition of the drain system. In most cases, regular cleaning of debris manually or using special products helps.
If the pump is broken, then you will have to do a little disassembly of the device:
- Be sure to remove the plug from the socket;
- pull out the dispenser; there is usually some residual water left in it, so it’s better to tilt the machine;
- remove the bottom panel and place the machine on its left side (in most LG machines the pump is on the right).
Before removing the pump, an obligatory step is to test it with a multimeter. It also makes sense to check the integrity of the electrical circuit or pump.
If the pump wears out, it will also need to be replaced. To do this, remove the dispenser in the same way and remove the bottom panel. Regarding the latter, a regular Phillips screwdriver may not always be suitable. For reassembly, it is best to photograph or mark all terminals and hoses. The hoses are secured with clamps, the filter plug is unscrewed when everything else has been turned off. There should be no problems with selecting a drain pump; they are usually universal and suitable for all modern models.
Before reassembling, be sure to clean off dirt and deposits. First, the pump is screwed on, then all the hoses and wires are connected back, after which the plug is closed. You can verify its functionality by simply running a short operation. For example, spin. And if everything is in working order, you can put the machine back together.
If the water heater breaks down, it needs to be replaced, but before doing this, you must check it with a multimeter or similar device. The heating element itself is located at the bottom of the tank, a grounding wire and several power wires are connected to it to supply current. After disconnecting the terminals, you can check the device for functionality.
To remove the device, simply unscrew the nut in the middle and press the pin a little. Next, remove the rubber seal. This must be done extremely carefully so as not to break the seal.
A replacement heater is also purchased with a seal included. If a temperature sensor is installed in the heater, it is not necessary to change it along with the entire set. It is enough to check the effectiveness of the work. Inside the tank for installing the heater there is a special bracket into which it must be installed. There should be no scraping sound when spinning the drum after installation. It makes sense to fill the drum with water and make sure that the seal does not leak.
If water is drawn slowly, it makes sense to check and clean the filter; it is located behind the inlet hose at the entrance to the machine.
If there is no water in the machine at all, in addition to checking and cleaning the filter, the valve is also tested using a multimeter. It is located behind the top cover, which can be easily removed by unscrewing a few screws.
If the machine does not wash, but the water gurgles, this is a sure indicator of wear on the mechanical part. Before replacing the valve, be sure to photograph the wires. The valve itself is removed after disconnecting all the wires and hoses; it is secured with special latches that need to be tightened by turning it slightly. When installing the part, you need to proceed in the reverse order.
If, on the contrary, it collects too much water, then a software reset may not help - you will need to change the pressure switch to a new one. The sensor itself is visible immediately behind the top cover and can be removed after disconnecting the terminal. But before that you can blow out the pressure switch. If a characteristic click is heard, it means the part is working properly and does not need to be replaced.