Appliance Spares
Quick answer: E40 on a Westinghouse, Simpson or Electrolux washing machine means the door is not closed or the door lock has not confirmed it is locked. E41 to E45 are the same door and interlock circuit in more detail. Close the door firmly, check nothing is trapped in the seal, and press Start. If E40 returns with the door firmly shut, the door lock has failed. On some top loaders the lid switch does the same job and the code appears when the lid is open.
Not sure which one fits? Match your model number or check the sticker inside the door.
Every brand’s error codes in one index · Find your exact part
Last updated September 2026
Westinghouse, Simpson and Electrolux front loaders share the Electrolux platform, and on that platform the E40 family is the door. The control board will not fill or spin until the door lock reports closed and locked. E40 is the general version: the door is open or not registering. E41 usually means the door is open when the program was started; E42 means the door lock failed to open at the end; E43, E44 and E45 point at the lock’s wiring and sensing.
In most laundries E40 is a door that was not pushed shut, or a corner of a sheet caught in the seal. When it returns with the door firmly closed, the door lock has failed, and that is a twenty-minute swap behind the seal clamp. This guide takes the causes in order and covers the WWF, SWF, EWF, WWW and EWW front loaders sold in Australia, with a note on the WWT, SWT and EWT top loaders where the lid switch does the same job.
Westinghouse, Simpson and Electrolux E40: the causes, ranked, and how to check each
Codes are listed as they appear on the display. Where two generations of the platform use different codes for the same fault, both are shown. Always confirm against the manual for your exact model before ordering a part.
| Check, in order | What you are looking for | What it means if you find it | Fix / the part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. The door | Door not pushed fully shut, a loud click missing when you close it | The lock never engaged | Close firmly and press Start |
| 2. Something trapped | A corner of a sheet or a sock caught between the seal and the door glass | The door cannot close far enough for the lock to catch | Open, clear the seal lip, close again |
 3. The door catch | The plastic hook on the door edge worn, cracked or loose | The catch does not enter the lock properly | Replace the door catch or handle assembly — fit the Westinghouse Washing Machine DOOR LOCK SWITCH WWW9024M5SA WWW9024M5WA |
| 4. The door lock | Door firmly shut, catch intact, E40 every time; or a door that will not release (E42) | The interlock has failed electrically or mechanically | Replace the door lock (interlock) |
| 5. Lock wiring | Scorched or loose connector at the lock, behind the seal clamp | A poor connection reads as door open | Refit or repair the connector |
| 6. Hinge alignment | Door sits low or does not meet the seal squarely | The catch misses the lock | Adjust or replace the hinge |
| 7. Top loaders: lid switch | Lid closed, machine will not start, code or light showing | The lid switch has failed | Replace the lid switch |
| 8. Control board | New lock fitted and wiring good, E40 remains | The board is not reading the lock | Board repair |
Close it properly, then check the seal lip
Electrolux-platform doors need a firm push and give a solid click. Half the E40 codes in the country are a door that was closed gently. The other common one is a corner of laundry caught under the seal lip; it holds the door a few millimetres open. Clear it and try again. If the machine now fills, the fault was never a part.
When it is the lock
The door lock, or interlock, sits inside the front panel where the door catch enters. It has a small bimetal or solenoid mechanism that holds the door shut during the cycle and a switch that tells the board it is locked. When either fails, E40 shows with the door firmly shut, or E42 shows when the door refuses to release at the end. To replace it: unplug the machine, prise off the outer seal clamp, fold the seal back on the lock side, undo the two screws holding the lock, pull it out, swap the connector, and refit. About twenty minutes.
The door will not open at all
A front loader keeps its door locked while there is water in the drum or the drum is hot. If the door will not open with no code, drain the machine through the emergency hose behind the kick panel and wait a couple of minutes. If it still will not release, or E42 shows, the lock has failed in the locked position; the emergency release tab behind the kick panel, where fitted, opens it so you can get the laundry out and replace the lock.
Westinghouse washing machine parts in stock in Sydney
These are the parts behind the codes above that we hold in stock and ship Australia-wide. Match the model number on your model sticker before ordering, or run it through the Part Finder and let it match for you. Every part we hold for the brand is listed on the Westinghouse parts page, and by model on the model pages; the wider range is in the washing machine parts store.
- Westinghouse Washing Machine DOOR LOCK SWITCH WWW9024M5SA WWW9024M5WA
- SIMPSON ELECTROLUX WASHING MACHINE WATER LEVEL SENSOR 0847
- Simpson Westinghouse Washing Machine Inlet Valve Hot 10MM 0713
- Simpson Westinghouse Washing Machine Inlet Valve Hot 10MM
- 2 x Simpson Hoover Washing Machine Inlet Valve 90º With Seals 0031
- ELECTROLUX DISHLEX WESTINGHOUSE DISHWASHER INLET VALVE 0172
- ELECTROLUX DISHLEX WESTINGHOUSE DISHWASHER INLET VALVE 0172
Is it safe to fix an error code yourself?
Most of the codes above are cleared with a filter clean, a hose check or a plug-in part swap, and those are ordinary DIY jobs: unplug the machine, photograph the wiring before you unplug anything, and never bypass a door lock or a thermal cut-out. Anything involving the sealed refrigerant circuit, gas, or a mains-side repair belongs with a licensed repairer.
- Westinghouse Spare Parts Australia: Washing Machine, Dryer, Fridge, Oven and Dishwasher Parts in One Place (2026)
- Westinghouse and Simpson Washing Machine E10 and EF0 Errors: What They Mean and the Parts That Clear Them (2026)
- Westinghouse Model Number and PNC: Where to Find Them (Washer, Fridge, Oven, Dishwasher)
- Westinghouse Washing Machine Parts Australia — Genuine Spares In Stock (2026)
- Westinghouse Dishwasher i30 Error Code — Anti-Flood Fault Fix (2026)
Frequently asked questions
What does E40 mean on a Westinghouse washing machine?
The door is not closed or the door lock has not confirmed it is locked. Close the door firmly, clear anything trapped in the seal, and press Start. If E40 returns, the door lock has failed.
What is the difference between E40, E41 and E42?
All are the door circuit. E40 is the general door-open fault, E41 usually means the door was open when the program started, and E42 means the lock would not release at the end of the cycle.
How do I fix E40 if the door is definitely shut?
Replace the door lock. It sits behind the seal clamp on the lock side of the front panel and is held by two screws and a connector.
Why will my Electrolux front loader not open?
Water or heat in the drum keeps the door locked. Drain it through the emergency hose and wait; if it still will not open, the lock has failed and needs replacing.
Does E40 apply to Simpson top loaders?
Top loaders use a lid switch instead. A lid that is closed but not registering means the lid switch has failed and needs replacing.
Which door lock fits my machine?
Match the model number on the sticker inside the door rim to the door lock listings on this page, or run it through our Part Finder.
Read the code, then fit the part
Close it firmly, clear the seal, then the lock. E40 with the door shut is a twenty-minute part swap. Find your Westinghouse part now
Disclaimer: this article is general information only and is provided without warranty of any kind. Appliance designs vary between models and production runs — always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, switch off and unplug the appliance before starting any work, and confirm parts against the model number on your appliance’s model sticker. Any repair is undertaken at your own risk and Oz Appliance Spares accepts no liability for injury, loss or damage arising from work performed after reading this guide, to the maximum extent permitted by law. If in doubt, use a qualified technician.
