LG Washer Code FE – Troubleshooting Guide

LG washers begin their wash programs by filling up the drum with water. Once there’s enough water, a washer working correctly will stop the inflow and begin washing. However, there are situations where the washer will continue filling regardless, leading to it overflowing and flooding your floor.

When your LG washer shows the FE error code, that’s mean the machine is overflowing with water, and the likely reasons are a faulty water inlet valve, failed water pressure switch, or a damaged water pressure switch tube. Unfortunately, none of those parts can be repaired, so they must be replaced entirely to resume the regular operation of your washing machine.

In this guide, we’ll dive deeper into what causes the FE error code and what you can do to fix it.

What the FE code means on your LG Washer?

When an LG washing machine shows an FE error code, that’s an indication that it’s experiencing a filling error. To be more precise, what that means is that the washing machine fails to stop filling when it should, causing the drum to overflow with water.

Accompanying Symptoms

When the FE error code appears, you’ll notice that your washing machine overflows with water. That will likely continue until the water flows out of the washer and begins to flood your laundry room.

When that happens, your first action should be to shut the washing machine off and disconnect it from its power source. Next, shut off the water supply as well to prevent the washer from overflowing any further.

Safety Precautions

Before you begin to troubleshoot and repair your LG washer, there are some necessary safety precautions to take. Firstly, clear up all the excess water that may have flooded the floor of your laundry room. Next, ensure that the water and power supply remains disconnected as you work on your washer.

Taking these steps will reduce your risk of injury and electrocution.

Possible Causes and Solutions

The FE error code and overflowing are likely caused by a failed water inlet valve, a faulty pressure switch, or possibly a clogged or damaged pressure switch tube. In this section, we’ll dive deeper into each issue and how you can fix them.

Failed Water Inlet Valve

What it is: The water inlet valve is designed to control water inflow into your LG washer. You’ll find it located at the rear of your washing machine. This component is also where the incoming water supply hose connects to your washer, and it’s the first point of contact when the water enters the machine.

As soon as you begin a new wash program, the inlet valve will let water flow into the drum. When it has reached the target level, the valve will shut to prevent excess water from entering.

How it fails: The water inlet valve is an electrically controlled component. So, it can fail electrically and mechanically.

If the valve suffers from an electrical failure, it will not receive signals from the washer to close and stop the water flow. As the inlet valve remains open, the washer will continue to fill until it overflows and triggers the FE error code.

An example of a mechanical failure is when a buildup of minerals inside the valve prevents it from closing. As a result, the valve will remain stuck in the open position, causing an overflow.

How to fix it: Whether the inlet valve is experiencing an electrical or mechanical failure, it will need to be replaced. To do this, you must first access the water inlet valve by removing the necessary panel on the top or side of your washer.

From there, you can disconnect the electrical connector attached to the affected valve and unthread the screws holding it in place. Then, instal the new inlet valve by mounting it in the same place and replacing the connector the same way as before.

Faulty Pressure Switch

What it is: The pressure switch in your LG machine has one specific purpose: it tells the washer how much water is inside the tub at any given time. The switch does that by sensing water pressure levels inside the washer with the help of a pressure switch tube attached to it.

When there is enough water inside the drum, the pressure will trigger the switch. That will then cause the washer to stop any further inflow of water.

How it fails: When your pressure switch becomes faulty, it’s likely due to excess wear and tear. That’s especially true if your washer has been in use for several years.

When that happens, the switch can no longer accurately sense how much water is inside the washer drum at any time. So, in simpler terms, the washer will continue to overfill with water simply because it thinks that the drum is empty or only partially full.

How to fix it: Fixing the pressure switch will require a complete replacement of the part, as it cannot be repaired. Regardless of the LG washer model you have, the switch is located inside the washer towards the top.

First, remove the washer’s top panel (on front-loading models) or the control housing (on top-loading models). Once that’s done, you’ll be able to locate and identify the pressure switch quickly.

Remove the switch’s electrical connector, then free the pressure switch from where it is held. The pressure switch is also connected to a tube that leads to the washer drum. Therefore, you will have to disconnect that tube from the drum as well.

Lastly, install the replacement pressure switch the same as before, and connect its tube to the drum. Then, replace the electrical connector the same way as before.

Clogged or Damaged Pressure Switch Tube

How it fails: In the section above, we saw that the pressure switch works in conjunction with a tube that connects to the washer drum. If your washer is overflowing, there’s also a likelihood that the pressure switch is fine, though the tube is clogged or damaged.

Even when the switch is in good working order, a clogged or damaged tube can cause the washer to overfill with water and trigger the FE error code.

You can troubleshoot the tube by removing and inspecting it. Also, you can blow through the tube to identify any clogs.

How to fix it: To resolve this problem, you will only have to replace the pressure switch tube. If the switch is in good working order, you will not have to replace or repair it. Instead, remove the tube from both ends (the switch and the tub), then replace it with a new one.

How To Clear The FE Error Code On Your LG Washer?

The most effective way to clear the FE error code on your LG washer for good is to troubleshoot and resolve the root cause of the problem. Until you do that, the error code will persist and return even if it disappears for a while.

Once the problem is solved, you can then clear the error code by resetting your LG washing machine.

How To Reset An LG Washer?

The process to reset your LG washer is very straightforward. Follow these steps:

• Firstly, shut off all power to the LG washer. That means removing the plug from the wall socket and even turning off the dedicated circuit breaker (if you have one).
• Next, press and hold the Start/Pause button for 5 seconds.
• After that time, you can release the Start/Pause button. Your washer has been reset, so you can plug it back in and use it like usual.

How To Test Your LG Washer After Fixing It?

After you’ve fixed your LG washer, you’ll want to test to make sure that it’s working correctly again. The FE error code is related to the washer’s filling function. You can test it by selecting the shortest wash program available.

Let the wash program go past the filling stage. If that happens without any error codes appearing and without the washer overflowing, that means you’ve solved the problem.

If you’d like to perform a more thorough test of your washer, you can enter its diagnostics mode.

How To Enter Diagnostics Mode On Your LG Washer?

The diagnostics mode on your LG washer consists of several testing stages. Each of the tests a particular function of the washer for any errors. This approach is the same that a qualified technician would use when troubleshooting your washing machine for any errors.

To enter the diagnostics mode on your LG washer, follow these steps:

• First, put your washer on standby. That means the washer should be plugged into its power source, though it should be turned off at the control panel.
• Next, press and hold the Soil Level and Spin Speed buttons simultaneously.
• While those two buttons are pressed, then also press the Power button. You will hear the machine ding twice to let you know you’ve entered the diagnostics mode.
• To progress through each testing stage, press the Start/Pause button. The machine will only show an error code if there is a problem.
• Once the washer turns itself off, that means you’ve completed the final stage and exited the diagnostics mode.