LG Dishwasher Error Codes — IE, OE, AE, HE, TE, FE, nE, CE, E1 Complete Guide

Common Symptoms

• Error code displayed on LG control panel mid-cycle or at startup
• IE — dishwasher hums but no water fills; cycle does not start
• OE — standing water at bottom of tub after cycle completes
• AE or E1 — dishwasher stops and will not restart; possible water under unit
• HE — dishes are wet and cold after a full heated dry cycle
• FE — dishwasher stops mid-fill; overflow protection triggered

Most Likely Causes

1. 1

   IE — Water Inlet Failure

   IE means the dishwasher did not detect a water fill within the required time. Primary causes: water supply shutoff valve under the sink is closed or partially restricted, the inlet valve solenoid has failed, or the inlet screen is clogged with mineral deposits. LG inlet valve solenoids are tested by disconnecting the valve connector and measuring resistance across the solenoid terminals — spec is 500–1,500Ω. A reading of OL (open) or near 0Ω (shorted) means the solenoid has failed and the valve must be replaced. If the solenoid tests in-spec but IE persists, verify household water pressure is adequate (LG dishwashers require a minimum of 20 PSI) and the inlet screen is clear.

2. 2

   OE — Drain Failure

   OE means the dishwasher detected water remaining in the tub at the end of the drain cycle. Primary causes: clogged LG EasyClean filter (the most common cause — LG's twist-off filter often goes months without cleaning), kinked drain hose without a proper high loop, garbage disposal knockout plug not removed, failed drain pump motor, or a stuck drain check valve. The drain hose must form a high loop (minimum 20 inches above floor level) to prevent siphoning. On LG dishwashers connected to a food waste disposer, the sump drain port inside the disposer must have its knockout plug removed — an oversight that blocks drainage completely.

3. 3

   AE / E1 — Leak Sensor or Base Pan Float Triggered

   AE and E1 both indicate water has entered the dishwasher base pan and triggered the float switch — same fault, two different code designations used across LG model generations. The float switch is a small magnetic sensor in the base pan; when the pan fills with water, the float rises and opens the circuit, triggering AE/E1 and cutting water supply. The code will not clear until the base pan is completely dry. The procedure: unplug the dishwasher, tilt it forward approximately 45 degrees to drain the base pan water, allow it to air-dry for 30+ minutes, then test. If AE/E1 returns after drying, there is an active leak — the most common sources are the door gasket, the spray arm hub O-ring, the sump seal, and loose hose clamps at the pump.

4. 4

   HE — Heating Element Failure

   HE means the water temperature did not rise to target during the wash cycle. Test the heating element: unplug the dishwasher, disconnect both element leads, and measure resistance across the element terminals. A functional LG dishwasher heating element reads 15–30Ω. OL (open circuit) = failed element, replace. The element is located in the base of the tub and is accessible without pulling the dishwasher out — remove the lower rack and filter assembly to reach it. If the element tests within spec but HE persists, test the thermistor next.

5. 5

   TE — Thermistor (Temperature Sensor) Fault

   TE means the thermistor is reading outside the expected range. LG dishwasher thermistors are NTC type — resistance decreases as temperature increases. At room temperature (77°F / 25°C), a functional LG dishwasher thermistor reads approximately 5,000Ω (5kΩ). OL = open/failed; near 0Ω = shorted/failed. The thermistor is typically mounted in the sump near the heating element. Disconnect the thermistor connector and measure resistance — compare to the 5kΩ spec at ambient temperature. A thermistor reading significantly above or below 5kΩ at room temp is suspect even if not showing OL.

6. 6

   FE — Overflow / Overfill Error

   FE means the water level sensor detected an overfill condition — too much water in the tub. Primary cause is a stuck-open inlet valve solenoid that continues allowing water flow after the target level is reached. A failed water level sensor (pressure switch or float switch) that does not signal the control board to close the inlet valve can also trigger FE. Test the inlet valve solenoid resistance (spec: 500–1,500Ω) and inspect the float switch assembly in the tub for debris that may be holding the float in the up position.

7. 7

   nE / CE — Fan Motor or Communication Fault

   nE indicates the condenser fan motor (present on LG TrueSteam and certain models with condensation drying systems) has failed or is not responding. CE indicates a communication error between the main control board and a subsystem board — often the display panel or the door latch assembly circuit board. Both nE and CE typically require a power-cycle reset first. If CE returns after reset, inspect the ribbon cable connectors between the control board and the display panel. Loose or corroded connectors are the most common CE cause and can often be reseated without part replacement.

Quick DIY Checks

1. 1Power-cycle reset and code confirmation: photograph the error code on the display. Unplug the dishwasher from the wall for 5 minutes. Restore power and run a short rinse cycle. If the same code returns, it is a confirmed fault — proceed with targeted diagnosis. Many AE and E1 codes clear permanently after a single base pan drain cycle when the initial water entry was condensation accumulation rather than an active leak. For IE, also confirm the water supply shutoff valve under the sink is fully open before further diagnosis.
2. 2Enter LG dishwasher diagnostic mode: close the door. Press and hold the Rinse and Spray Intensity buttons simultaneously. On models without labeled Spray Intensity, the button combination varies — on LDP6797ST and LDFN4542S, try Rinse + High Temp; on LDTS5552S try Steam + Rinse. Hold for 3–5 seconds until all indicator lights illuminate. The dishwasher runs a self-test covering inlet fill, wash motor circulation, heater, and drain pump. Stored fault codes display after the sequence. This is the most reliable way to isolate which subsystem is actually at fault.
3. 3Fix IE — inlet valve solenoid test and screen cleaning: turn off the water supply valve under the sink. Disconnect the dishwasher from power. Pull the dishwasher forward slightly to access the inlet valve at the rear. Disconnect the solenoid harness connector and set a multimeter to resistance mode. Measure across the solenoid terminals — spec 500–1,500Ω. OL = failed solenoid, replace the complete inlet valve assembly. If the solenoid tests in-spec, disconnect the water supply hose from the valve inlet port. Inside the brass port there is a mesh screen — remove it and rinse under running water to clear mineral scale. Reconnect, restore water and power, and test.

1. 4Fix OE — LG EasyClean filter cleaning and drain hose loop: open the door and remove the lower rack. The LG EasyClean filter is the cylindrical filter in the center of the tub floor — grip it and twist counterclockwise to remove (it lifts straight up after one quarter-turn). Beneath it is the flat mesh pre-filter. Rinse both under warm running water. Use a soft brush on the cylindrical filter to clear grease. Reinstall: seat the flat filter first, insert the cylindrical filter, and twist clockwise until it stops. Under the sink, check the drain hose arc — it must peak at 20+ inches above the floor. If the hose runs low or flat along the cabinet floor, use a zip tie to the cabinet top to hold the high loop. Run a Rinse-Only cycle to confirm OE is cleared.
2. 5Fix AE / E1 — base pan drain and leak source identification: unplug the dishwasher immediately — do not run it with AE/E1 active. Remove the toe kick panel (two screws or clip tabs at the bottom front). Use a flashlight to confirm water in the base pan. Place towels in front of the unit. Tilt the dishwasher forward 45 degrees — the base pan water will drain out through the front gap. Return to upright. Allow 30 minutes for residual moisture to evaporate. Restore power and run a short 20-minute cycle while watching from floor level with a flashlight for drip sources. Primary leak points: door gasket bottom corners, spray arm hub O-ring, pump outlet hose clamp, and the sump gasket.
3. 6Diagnose HE — heating element resistance test: unplug the dishwasher. Remove the lower rack and filter assembly. The heating element runs around the perimeter of the tub base — it is visible as a metal rod. Locate the two terminal leads at the element ends (usually near the rear of the tub floor). Disconnect both leads and set multimeter to resistance mode. Measure across the terminals: spec 15–30Ω. OL = failed element, replace. If the element tests good but HE persists after replacement, test the thermistor (next step).
4. 7Diagnose TE — thermistor resistance test and HE thermistor cross-check: unplug the dishwasher. The thermistor is a small probe mounted in the sump housing near the heating element. Disconnect the thermistor two-wire connector. Set multimeter to resistance mode and measure across the connector pins at room temperature (77°F / 25°C). Spec: approximately 5,000Ω (5kΩ). Significantly above 6,000Ω or below 4,000Ω at room temperature indicates a degraded sensor — replace even if not fully open. OL = definitively failed. Confirm: apply ice water to the thermistor probe while watching the resistance — resistance should increase as the probe cools. No change with temperature = failed sensor.

Repair vs Replace

Recommended Tools & Parts

• LG Dishwasher EasyClean Filter Assembly

  Replacement EasyClean cylindrical filter and flat mesh pre-filter for LG dishwashers. Clean monthly to prevent OE drain codes. The leading cause of OE is a clogged filter — replace only if the filter mesh is torn or permanently deformed. Verify model compatibility for LDP6797ST, LDFN4542S, LDT7808SS.

  $15–$35

  Buy on Amazon →

• LG Dishwasher Water Inlet Valve

  Replacement inlet valve solenoid assembly for LG dishwashers. Spec: solenoid resistance 500–1,500Ω. Required when IE code persists after cleaning the inlet screen and confirming water pressure. Includes integrated mesh filter screen. Model-specific — verify for LDP6797ST, LDFN4542S, LDTS5552S.

  $30–$65

  Buy on Amazon →

• LG Dishwasher Heating Element

  Replacement heating element for LG dishwashers. Resistance spec: 15–30Ω. Located at the base of the tub floor. Fixes HE heating error codes and cold/wet dishes after the dry cycle. Confirm model compatibility before ordering.

  $30–$65

  Buy on Amazon →

• LG Dishwasher Thermistor / Temperature Sensor

  NTC temperature sensor for LG dishwashers. Reads approximately 5,000Ω at room temperature (77°F). Mounts in the sump housing. Causes TE error codes when open or shorted. Replace if resistance is significantly out of spec even without a full OL reading.

  $15–$35

  Buy on Amazon →

• LG Dishwasher Door Gasket / Door Seal

  Perimeter door seal for LG dishwashers. Cracked or deformed gaskets let water into the base pan, triggering AE/E1 codes. Inspect the full gasket perimeter — the bottom corners are the most common failure point. Replacement requires no tools on most LG models.

  $20–$45

  Buy on Amazon →

Links are Amazon affiliate links (tag: fixitfastai-20). Prices are estimates.

Related Repairs