Error 3e in a Samsung washing machine

error 3e in SamsungOn Samsung washing machines, error 3e is not as common as all others, but, nevertheless, it can create a lot of difficulties for a user who suddenly loses a “home assistant” at a time when he needs it so much. When this error appears, like all other errors, the washing stops and does not resume until the cause of the problem is eliminated. Let’s begin to establish the causes of error 3e, and at the same time decipher it.

The moment of appearance of the code and its analogues

Error 3e appears quite rarely randomly. More often it “pops up” at certain stages of the washing program, revealing a certain pattern. Imagine a Samsung washing machine starts washing clothes. Water fills up, the drum gradually begins to spin, and suddenly a freeze occurs, the machine stops rotating the drum and at the same minute error 3e appears on the display. It also happens differently.

  • You are starting a wash program on a Samsung automatic washing machine.
  • The machine draws water and performs the wash.
  • Next, the washer drains the dirty water, collects clean water for rinsing, and starts rinsing.
  • This should be followed by the spinning stage, but the spinning does not occur. The machine, after turning the drum a little, freezes, giving an error code 3e.

After rinsing, the machine tries to spin the drum to a more or less decent speed, but this does not happen.

If you encounter exactly the above symptoms, but a different code appears on the display, remember that error 3e has analogues that have a similar interpretation.It is very possible that you will encounter codes: 3C, 8E, EA, 3e1, 3e2, 3e3, 3e4, 3c1, 3c2, 3c3, 3c4, 8c1, 8c, 8c1. There are quite a lot of analogues, it’s easy to make mistakes, so be careful. Code EA is typical for washing machines that were released before 2008, but codes 8E, 8e1, 8c, 8c1 are typical for washing machines younger than 2013.

Another question arises: how does error code 3e appear on Samsung washing machines that do not have a display? In the picture below you will see the answer to it. When such an error occurs, two lights 40 light up on the display0C and then Bio 600C. But that’s not all, the indicators indicating the washing programs will start flashing quickly.

error 3e on Samsung washing machines without a display

How is it deciphered?

As always, let's start with a literal explanation of error 3e. It means there is a problem with the tachometer or engine. We are unlikely to be satisfied with such a lengthy description of the error, so we will try to decipher it in more detail. First of all, let’s decipher the twin errors that occur on some models of Samsung washing machines instead of the 3e code.

  1. An error with the EA code is deciphered in exactly the same way as 3e, it’s just that this code was used on older models of Samsung washing machines, however, we have already talked about this above.
  2. Codes 8e, 8c, 8c1 mean problems with the vibration sensor, which is installed on the most modern models of washing machines.

A vibration sensor is a device that allows you to control the movement of the drum in different planes, while a conventional tachometer can only control its revolutions.

  1. Error 8e1 indicates serious malfunctions in engine control, in fact, a complete loss of communication with the vibration or tach sensor.
  2. Well, errors of the 3C series may appear due to a loss of engine power in a Samsung washing machine.

Why does the code appear?

Conventionally, the problems that this error “symbolizes” can be divided into two categories. The first category includes problems that do not cause damage to the parts and components of the Samsung washing machine, and the second category includes more serious breakdowns that create the need to carry out serious repairs to the “home assistant”. So, let's start with simple problems.

At first glance it may seem funny, but such trivial things as overloading the drum with laundry can lead to an error with code 3e or 3C. If you put too little laundry, error 3C may appear. These codes can also symbolize drum jamming due to foreign objects getting between the tank and the drum if the engine does not have enough power to overcome the jamming. Any of the above errors can pop up due to a short-term failure in the self-diagnosis system, and if this is the case, you are very lucky - you don’t need to fix anything.

tachometerLet's move on to the second category of faults. Error 3e may result from complete combustion of the tachometer and complete loss of communication with it. If your Samsung washing machine has a vibration sensor instead of a tachometer, similar problems may arise with it. Not everything is going smoothly with the engine either. When error 3C appears, you can judge the loss of engine power due to worn brushes or a broken winding.

The tachometer may produce incorrect signals due to oxidation of the magnetic ring or the motor shaft. Also, dirt gets between the motor shaft and the tachometer ring, which causes the same problems. A weakening of the tachometer signal, or its periodic disappearance, may be due to poor attachment of this sensor to the engine; all this can also generate an error code 3e.

One of the rarest causes of error 3e and its analogues is a weakened drive belt. Due to such a problem, the engine cannot gain speed and spin the drum, which is sometimes perceived by the washing machine’s self-diagnosis system as a problem with the motor, which is why it issues code 3e.

As you can see, there are quite a lot of cases of code 3e and its analogues, so be extremely careful not to confuse anything, this will delay the troubleshooting time.

Eliminating the causes

Well, we have listed the reasons for error 3e in a Samsung washing machine, now let’s figure out how to eliminate them. Let's go in order.

  • If you happen to fail to add things to the washing machine drum or, on the contrary, overload it and this leads to error 3e, you will correct yourself. Disconnect the machine from the power supply, take out the extra items or add additional ones if they are missing, and then start the washing machine again - the problem will be solved.
  • When the drum jams, the situation is worse. If a foreign object gets into the tank, you will have to remove it through the hole for the heating element, and to remove the heating element you will have to remove the front wall of the Samsung washing machine. How best to do this is described in the article. Samsung washing machine displays error HE2. As soon as you manage to remove the heating element, you can put your hand into the hole and take out from the bottom of the tank what accidentally got there.
  • If there is a short-term malfunction of the washing machine, you just need to restart it, unplugging it from the power supply for 5 minutes, and then turning it on again. Error 3e or similar should disappear.
  • If the tachometer burns out, it must be replaced with a new, similar one.We unscrew the back wall of the washer, remove the drive belt so that it does not create interference, remove the wiring from the motor and unscrew it. We remove the old tachometer from the engine and install a new one.

To make sure the part is faulty, check it with a multimeter.

  • If the engine has lost power, the brushes must be checked and replaced. On the sides of the body there are electric motor brushessmall screws that need to be removed to remove the spring loaded graphite rods. They are called brushes because they rub against the moving part of the brushed motor and can wear off. If this happens with at least one brush, change both at once.
  • We treat a broken connection with the tachometer by thoroughly checking and cleaning this element. It is necessary to thoroughly clean the internal magnetic ring from oxide and dirt, after which contact will be restored. At the same time, we also check the integrity of the wire supplying the sensor and its contact.
  • If you still encounter error 3e, which is caused by a weakened drive belt, you need to replace the belt immediately. It is unacceptable to continue operating the washing machine with such a belt. Read the article about how to replace this part. How to put a belt on a washing machine?

To summarize, we note that error 3e is not only multifaceted in itself, but it also has many analogues that are not always deciphered in the same way. To understand all this in more or less detail, read the publication again, and we wish you good luck and patience!

   

7 reader comments

  1. Gravatar Radmir Radmir:

    UBL SAMSUNG DC64-01538A could be the cause of error 3e?

  2. Gravatar Victor Victor:

    Well done, my belt broke and the wires came off the tachometer, thanks for the tip.

  3. Gravatar Sergey Sergey:

    Thanks for the tip, the Hall sensor is a little dusty.

  4. Gravatar Val Shaft:

    Thanks to the site developers, it helped!

  5. Gravatar Victor Victor:

    And where is the answer to the main question: why did the path burn down? You eliminated the consequences, but did not find the cause.

  6. Gravatar Bogdan Bogdan:

    Please tell me, Samsung eco bubble machine 7kg model WF72F5E5P4W, The drum twitches, but does not spin. I replaced the control board with a new one, but the problem did not go away. There is no tachometer on the engine. The motor is inverter, the machine worked for 2 months.

  7. Gravatar Nikita Nikita:

    Did you solve the problem, otherwise I have the same thing, but wf80 series?

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