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Your LG washer is a complex machine with many parts working together in perfect harmony. However, when something stops working correctly, the machine will display an error code to let you know.
When your LG washer displays the SE error code, it’s experiencing a position sensor error. This sensor is also called a Hall Effect sensor which senses the washer’s drum movement/speed. When it fails, the machine doesn’t know how fast to spin the drum, and therefore will not work at all. This issue is likely caused by a faulty sensor, bad wiring, or a faulty main control board.
In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the meaning of the SE error code on your LG washing machine and what you can do to resolve it.
What The SE Code Means On Your LG Washer
Suppose you’re faced with an SE error code (sometimes mistaken as 5E) on your LG washer. If that’s the case, then the washer is experiencing a motor sensor error.
In simple terms, your LG washer has a sensor that monitors the speed of the drum as it turns. This component is known as a Hall Effect Sensor, or ‘Hall Sensor’ for short. It’s designed to sense the speed of the drum at any time and supply that information to the main control board, which then adjusts the speed of the drum as needed.
In the following sections, we will look at the three most likely reasons behind the SE code on your washing machine, namely the sensor itself, wiring problems, and a fault at the main control board.
Initial Troubleshooting Steps
There is a likelihood that the SE error code on your washing machine is only a temporary error. So, before assuming that there’s a fault with any of its components, here are some initial troubleshooting steps you can take:
- Firstly, turn off the washing machine’s power at the source (i.e. remove its plug from the wall socket).
- Then, wait for one minute.
- Lastly, reconnect the washer to its power source.
If the error is temporary, then the SE error code will disappear after you’ve taken these steps. However, if the error persists or returns, you will need to troubleshoot the matter further by following the steps described below.
Possible Causes And Solutions
Here are the most likely causes behind the SE code on your LG washing machine and what you can do to resolve them.
Hall Sensor Problem
What it is: As mentioned earlier, the SE error code on an LG washer refers to a sensor error. The sensor in question is the Hall sensor attached towards the rear of the washer drum’s exterior.
This sensor aims to measure the speed of the drum and relay that data to the main control board. In doing so, the washing machine can then adjust the speed of the drum as needed by the wash program you have selected.
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How it fails: When the Hall sensor becomes problematic, it will not sense the washer drum’s movement. As a result, it cannot supply the main control board with data, and the washer cannot decide whether or not it should turn the drum or how fast it should do that.
So, what happens is that the washer will not spin the drum at all and instead display the SE error code.
How to fix it: To fix this problem, you’ll need to inspect the hall sensor and its connections. Firstly, ensure that the wire connectors are firmly in place as they should be. A loose connection can prevent signals from travelling between the sensor and the main control board, triggering the SE error code.
If that doesn’t work, the next step is to test the Hall sensor with a multimeter. After that, a faulty Hall sensor will need to be replaced entirely to resume the washer’s regular operation.
Wiring Problems
What it is: The inside of your LG washer is home to incredible lengths of wiring. When troubleshooting the SE error code, the wiring you’ll want to pay attention to is that between the motor and the main control board.
How it fails: Another likely issue here is that the components are in good working order, though the wiring that connects all of them is the part at fault. Here are two possibilities:
- The connections might be loose at either the motor or the main control board.
- The wiring might be damaged in some way, e.g. torn or burnt
When the wiring or connections are damaged or otherwise problematic, signals and power will not travel between the motor and the main control board.
How to fix it: Fixing this issue will require a close inspection of your washer’s wiring, particularly between the motor and the control board. Before you begin, make sure that you’ve disconnected the washer from the power source for safety reasons. Then, you can remove the washer’s panels to gain access to the wiring.
Firstly, ensure that the connections at both ends are firmly in place. Then, inspect the length of the wire for any damaged wiring. If you do find any signs of damage, the best solution is to replace the wires entirely.
Faulty Main Control Board
What it is: The main control board is responsible for coordinating the functions of all your LG washer’s components. In addition, the board itself has several tiny components, some of which are directly responsible for the motor and sensor functions.
How it fails: When the main control board fails, it’s most likely due to excessive wear or because of an electrical fault. For example, if the machine has been in use for many years, components on the main control board could stop working as they should.
Besides that, electrical faults like a power surge or a short circuit could also damage one or more components on the control board.
If any of these problems affect the components related to the motor or sensor, the SE error code could be triggered.
How to fix it: The best solution for a faulty main control board is to replace it entirely. To do this, you’ll need to locate the main control board housing inside the washer.
Then, it’s best to take a photo of all the electrical connectors before you remove them. Doing so will make it much easier to replace them the same way when you install the new control board.
Once you’ve removed the old control board, you can mount the new one in its place and replace all the electrical connectors by referring to that photo you took earlier.
How To Clear The SE Error Code On Your LG Washer
It’s possible to clear the SE error code on your LG washer by performing a reset. However, the code will return unless the root cause of the problem has been resolved. So, start by troubleshooting the issue following the steps mentioned above.
Once that’s done, you can then perform a reset following the steps below.
How To Reset An LG Washer
Resetting your LG washer is very straightforward. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Start by turning the machine off at its power source. That means you’ll need to remove the plug from the wall socket or shut off the dedicated circuit breaker if necessary.
- Then, press and hold the Start/Pause button for 5 seconds.
- Once that time has passed, you can then reconnect the washer to its power source.
At that point, you have performed a reset of your washer, and the code will be cleared.
How To Test Your LG Washer After Fixing It
After you’ve fixed the issue, you’ll undoubtedly want to test your LG washer to make sure that it’s in good working order. There are two ways you can do so.
The first method is to run a complete wash program from start to finish. That way, you will see for yourself whether the washer is working correctly and if any error codes will appear.
However, a more thorough way to test your washer is to enter its diagnostics or test mode, the same way a technician would.
How To Enter Diagnostics Mode On Your LG Washer
To enter diagnostics mode on your LG washer, start by putting the machine on Standby. That means the machine should be connected to its power supply, though the washer is turned off at its control panel.
Once that’s done, follow these steps:
- Firstly, press and hold the Spin Speed and Soil Level buttons simultaneously.
- Then, while you’re pressing those two buttons, press the Power button as well. The washer will play a ‘ding’ sound twice to let you know that you’ve entered diagnostics mode.
- From here, your LG washer will test individual functions, one at a time. You can cycle through each test stage by pressing the Start/Pause button.
- Should there be an error during any test stage, you will see an error code appear.
Once you’ve cycled through all the tests and reached the end, the washer will then shut off. That will let you know you’ve completed the diagnostics mode for your LG washer
