Westinghouse, Simpson and Electrolux Washer E40 Error Guide

Quick answer: E40 on a Westinghouse, Simpson or Electrolux washing machine means the door is not closed or the door lock has not told the board it is locked, so the machine will not fill or spin. The commonest cause is a door that was not pushed shut or a corner of laundry caught under the seal lip: open it, clear the seal, close it until it clicks and press Start. If E40 comes back with the door firmly shut, the door lock (interlock) has failed and is the part most often replaced for this code; it is a two-screw swap behind the seal clamp. E41 to E45 are the same door circuit in more detail, and top loaders show it when the lid switch fails.

Every brand’s error codes in one index · Find your exact part

Last updated October 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.

What to check first when E40 shows.

1. Open and re-close the door. Push it until you hear a solid click. A gently closed door is the most common cause of E40.
2. Clear the seal lip. A sock or sheet corner between the glass and the seal holds the door a few millimetres open.
3. Look at the door catch. The plastic hook on the door edge must be intact and enter the lock squarely; a worn or cracked hook never trips the switch.
4. Run a short cycle. If it fills, the fault was the door, not a part. If E40 returns within a few seconds of pressing Start, the lock is not registering.
5. Check the lock connector. Unplug the machine, fold the seal back on the lock side and look for a loose or scorched plug. Refit it and try again.
6. Replace the door lock. Door shut, catch good, connector tight and still E40: fit the lock listed for your model below. On a top loader with the same symptom, replace the lid switch.

Which door lock is listed for your model.

Find the model number on the model sticker inside the door rim or on the back panel, then pick the listing that names it. The same lock serves several models in each family; the model number on your sticker must appear in the listing title, as the badge on the front is not enough. These are in stock in Sydney today and dispatched the day you order when it is in by 12pm Sydney time.

• Westinghouse WWW9024M5SA and WWW9024M5WA door lock
• Westinghouse WWF8025DQWA, WWF9024M5SA and WWF9024M5W door lock
• Westinghouse WWF1044M7SA, WWF7025EQWA and WWF8024M5W door lock
• Westinghouse WWF7524N3WA, WWF1274 and WWF1284 door lock
• Simpson SWF12743, SWF12843 and SWF14743 door lock
• Simpson 45S557E, 45S558E and 45S710E door lock
• Electrolux EWF9043BDWA and SWF7025EQWA door lock
• Electrolux EWF7525DQWA, EWF8024CDWA and EWF8524CDWA door lock
• Electrolux EWW12753, EWW12832, EWW14013 and EWW14912 door lock
• Electrolux EWF14023, EWF14742, EWF14822 and EWF14912 door lock
• Electrolux EWF1074, EWF1083 and EWF1087 door lock
• Electrolux EWW1042ADWA, EWW7524ADWA and EWW9043ADWA door lock

Not listed? Send us the model number and we match it before you pay. Other codes on this platform: E10 is the fill fault, and the full Westinghouse, Simpson and Electrolux error code list covers the rest.

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

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.

Related guides:

• 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
• 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