LG Washer TE Error Code: Meaning, Causes & Fix
Temperature sensor error — LG's front-load manuals head this code 'Temperature Sensor Error' and give its cause, in one word pair, as a control error; LG's top-load list describes a problem with the temperature sensor inside the tub.
tE is the code LG's documentation treats most tersely, and this page follows LG rather than the internet's expanded version of it. In current US front-load manuals the troubleshooting row is headed TEMPERATURE SENSOR ERROR, states the cause as 'Control error', and prescribes exactly one owner action — unplug the washer and wait 60 minutes, reconnect power and try again; if tE is still displayed, call for service (a sister manual family shortens this to: unplug the power cord and call for service). LG's top-load support list is the one place LG explains the sensor side: the tE error may appear when there is a problem with the temperature sensor inside the tub, including contact issues or a malfunctioning sensor; it can also occur if excessively hot water was poured directly into the tub; and a disconnection of connectors or a break in the circuit can trigger it. What LG does not publish — in any manual or support page — is an owner test for the sensor: there is no LG resistance value, no expected reading at room temperature, and no owner replacement procedure for tE. Pages quoting you an ohm figure for an LG washer thermistor are not quoting LG. The front-load manual row for tE rewards a literal reading, because it explains the code's confusing reputation: the row is headed TEMPERATURE SENSOR ERROR, its cause column says 'Control error', and its solution column contains no sensor test at all — just the power-down and the service call. Owners go looking for the thermistor procedure the heading seems to promise and find only third-party inventions, including resistance values (10k, 40k and other figures circulate) that appear in no LG manual or support page and contradict each other between sites. LG's top-load list is the more forthcoming document: it locates the sensor (inside the tub), names contact issues and malfunction, adds the hot-water trigger, and adds connector disconnection and circuit breaks. Put together, LG's position is consistent — the temperature-sensing circuit has faulted, owners get exactly one documented remedy attempt per platform, and the separation of sensor from connector from control belongs to a technician working from service information LG does not publish to owners.
What causes the tE code on a LG washer?
Temperature sensor malfunction (top-load list)
LG's top-load wording: a problem with the temperature sensor inside the tub — contact issues or a malfunctioning sensor.
Connector disconnection or a break in the circuit
LG names the sensor's connections explicitly: disconnection of connectors or a break in the circuit triggers tE without the sensor itself having failed.
Excessively hot water poured directly into the tub
LG's one non-hardware trigger: hand-poured very hot water can set tE on an otherwise healthy machine.
Control error (front-load manuals)
The front-load manual row gives the cause as a control error under the Temperature Sensor Error heading — which is why LG's remedy there is a long power-down and, if tE returns, service rather than a part swap.
The hand-filled hot water event (documented on top-load)
LG's top-load list is explicit that tE may occur if excessively hot water was directly poured into the tub — the bucket-of-hot-water soak, the kettle topped-up wash. It earns a cause entry because it is the one tE with a fully documented owner recovery: disconnect the power cord, wait for the water to cool, plug back in. A tE with that history is an event report, and treating it as a failed sensor wastes a service visit.
A sensing circuit disturbed by work around the machine
LG names disconnection of connectors and breaks in the circuit as tE triggers, which makes timing a cause-level clue: tE that first appears after the machine was moved, after plumbing work behind it, or after any service visit belongs to the connection branch until inspection proves otherwise. The sensor does not know the machine moved; its connector does.
Checks to run before you replace anything
- Establish which story you are in: if very hot water was poured into the tub by hand shortly before tE appeared, LG's top-load guidance is to disconnect the power cord and wait for the water to cool before plugging back in — that tE is an event, not a failure.
- Note when tE appears: immediately at start on every cycle (a hard sensing/control fault) versus once after an unusual event (the hot-water case) — the distinction decides whether the 60-minute power-down is a test or a formality.
- Do not go looking for a published meter value to test against: LG provides none for owners, so a resistance number from a forum cannot clear or condemn your sensor.
- Establish your platform's remedy before performing it: current front-load manuals prescribe unplug, wait 60 minutes, reconnect, retry — but LG's Signature washer-dryer combo manual prescribes unplug, wait 60 seconds, reconnect, try again, with service if tE reappears. The two are not interchangeable typos; your model's manual governs, and the difference is worth the minute it takes to check.
- Write down the tE timeline for the technician: first appearance, any hot water poured by hand, any recent move or service, and whether the code shows at start-up or during a heated cycle. LG's cause list is short — sensor/contact, connectors/circuit, control — and the timeline is what orders it.
- Resist the multimeter detour: with no LG-published value to compare against, a resistance reading cannot clear or condemn anything. A reading taken against a forum figure has sent owners to replace healthy sensors while the connector — LG's documented suspect — sat untouched.
How to fix lg washer te error code?
- Front-load models: follow the manual — unplug the washer and wait 60 minutes, reconnect power and try again. If the error code is still displayed, call for service; that is the end of LG's owner procedure for tE.
- Top-load models with no hot-water event: LG's list ends at inspection by a technician if the error persists — the sensor, its connectors and the circuit are separated during that inspection.
- If the machine was recently moved or serviced, tell the technician: LG lists connector disconnection among tE's triggers, and a disturbed connector is checked before any part is condemned.
- Front-load, current manual family: unplug the washer and wait 60 minutes, reconnect power and try again; if the error code is still displayed, call for service. That is the complete owner procedure — LG offers no second attempt and no parts step after it.
- Washer-dryer combo (Signature manual family): unplug the washer and wait 60 seconds, reconnect power and try again; if the error reappears, call for service. Same shape, shorter wait — follow your own manual's number, not the other family's.
- Top-load with a hot-water history: disconnect the power cord and wait for the tub water to cool before plugging back in (LG's list). Top-load without one: if the error persists, LG's list ends at inspection by a technician — book it with the timeline from the checks above.
The part that usually fails: Temperature sensor circuit — sensor, connectors, control (service-separated)
LG names the components but publishes no owner test values or replacement procedure for them; which of the three is at fault is a service determination against your model's service information.
How to reset / clear the tE code
There are two LG-documented power-downs and they are model-family specific: front-load manuals prescribe unplugging and waiting 60 minutes before reconnecting and retrying; the top-load hot-water case prescribes disconnecting power and waiting for the tub water to cool. Neither is a five-minute reset, and a tE that returns after its family's procedure is, in LG's words, a call-for-service code.
LG's standard reset is a power cycle: press Power off, unplug the washer for about 5 minutes, then — with the machine still unplugged — press and hold the Start/Pause button for 5 seconds to drain residual charge from the board. Plug back in and run a test cycle. There is no hidden reset button on LG washers; any code that reappears after this procedure is an active fault the control is still detecting, not a glitch that needs a deeper reset.
Why does the tE code keep coming back?
tE returning after the 60-minute power-down has exhausted LG's owner remedy — book the service visit rather than repeating resets. A one-off tE after hand-poured hot water that never returns needs nothing further. A tE that returns after its platform's full documented wait has consumed LG's entire owner remedy — the productive move is the service call, with your timeline notes, not a second and third power-down performed hopefully. A tE that never returns after the cool-down (hot-water event) or after the 60-minute wait needs nothing further, but note the date: a second tE months later converts 'event' into 'pattern', and the pattern is what the technician will ask about first. And a tE that arrives together with a recent move or service visit should be reported with that fact leading — LG's own cause list puts connectors and circuit breaks alongside the sensor, and disturbed connections are the cheapest item on it.
How to stop tE coming back
- Temperature sensor malfunction (top-load list): LG's top-load wording: a problem with the temperature sensor inside the tub — contact issues or a malfunctioning sensor.
- Connector disconnection or a break in the circuit: LG names the sensor's connections explicitly: disconnection of connectors or a break in the circuit triggers tE without the sensor itself having failed.
- Excessively hot water poured directly into the tub: LG's one non-hardware trigger: hand-poured very hot water can set tE on an otherwise healthy machine.
Retrieving stored fault codes on LG washers
LG front-loaders have a test mode used by technicians: with the machine off, a specific three-button combination (commonly Soil Level + Spin Speed + Power held in sequence on many models, and a button-pair hold on others) steps the machine through fill, wash, drain, spin and heater tests while the display shows stored error history. The exact combination differs by model year, so technicians read it from the service manual for the model; if you enter a mode where the tub starts filling or the motor jogs, that is the test mode working — press Power twice to exit.
Other LG washer error codes
| Code | Meaning | First fix |
|---|---|---|
| 1E | Inlet error — the washer is not filling (1E is the segmented-display rendering of IE). | Restore full flow; replace the valve if a solenoid meters open. |
| AE | Two different LG faults share this code, by platform. On LG top-load washers AE is a rotation error: the gears responsible for rotating the drum cannot operate properly. On LG front-load washers (global/EU manuals) AE is a water leakage error: water leaks — call for service. | TOP-LOAD: remove the trapped object with a pair of tweezers (LG's published fix, verbatim in method). Run the machine and confirm normal, quiet rotation. |
| CE | Current error; the motor control component is damaged. | LG states this cannot be fixed by basic troubleshooting; request service. |
| CL | Child Lock is ON — not an error. The control panel is locked on purpose. | Deactivate: hold the Child Lock button (or the two buttons marked with the lock icon — often Temp + Spin or the dedicated button) for about 3 seconds until CL disappears. The exact pairing is printed on your panel. |
| DE | Door error — the washer door was unable to lock (LG US wording). The door is open, not fully closed, or the lock has not engaged/reported. | If a dE-family code is showing, LG's remedy is to pull the door open with the handle and close it again firmly; once the door is properly closed, the code clears and the washer resumes. |
| E1 | Drainage error in LG's group listing; the washer is struggling to drain water properly. | Clean the drain pump filter and confirm the drain hose is not blocked. |
| E3 | Drain motor error; there is an issue with the operation of the drain motor. | Unplug, reconnect and retry; thaw the tub and drain hose if frozen. |
| E6 | Motor and drum rotation error in LG's group listing; drum or motor faces resistance. | Remove tangled or heavy items, spread the load evenly, restart the cycle. |
| E7 | Stacking switch error on SideKick pedestal washers; switch not working or unit misinstalled. | Align the SideKick correctly and verify the stacking switch sits properly. |
| FE | Overflow error — the water level is too high (LG's manuals: 'Water level is too high due to a faulty water valve'; LG's top-load list: the washer has detected an overfilled tub). | Faulty-valve story (level too high, water clear, dosing correct): follow the manual exactly — close the water faucets, unplug the washer, and call for service. A passing valve is replaced, not adjusted. |
| FF | Freeze failure; prolonged cold weather has frozen the inlet or drain hose. | Thaw the tub, drain hose, inlet hoses and taps with warm water. |
| HE | Heating error — the washer's heater circuit is not performing (on LG washers with a built-in heater). | Replace an open element; descale-recoverable elements are the minority — burnt is burnt. |
| IE | Inlet error — the washer is not filling with water properly (Water Inlet Error). | Restore flow (taps/hoses/screens). |
| LC | Door or lid lock error in LG's group listing; door is not closing or locking. | Clear the seal, close until it clicks; replace lock assembly if it persists. |
See the full list on the LG Washer error codes hub.
Codes tE gets confused with
AE — Two different LG faults share this code, by platform. On LG top-load washers AE is a rotation error: the gears responsible for rotating the drum cannot operate properly. On LG front-load washers (global/EU manuals) AE is a water leakage error: water leaks — call for service. AE is the LG washer code where reading a single meaning off the internet does real damage, because LG itself publishes two.
FE — Overflow error — the water level is too high (LG's manuals: 'Water level is too high due to a faulty water valve'; LG's top-load list: the washer has detected an overfilled tub). FE is LG's overfill code, the mirror of IE: too much water has been supplied to the tub.
vS (shown as u5 / uS) — Vibration sensor error — LG's code is vS; on the display it appears as u5 or uS. LG: the error may occur if there is a contact issue with the vibration sensor or if the sensor malfunctions. Start with the letters themselves, because they explain most confused searches: LG names this code vS, and its own guides warn that the vS error may appear as u5 or uS on the display — the seven-segment rendering of vS is what owners transcribe as 'U5'.
DE — Door error — the washer door was unable to lock (LG US wording). The door is open, not fully closed, or the lock has not engaged/reported. dE means LG's control cannot confirm the door is closed and locked, so the washer won't start or it pauses.
Frequently asked questions
Can a loose plug really cause tE?
Yes — LG's top-load list names disconnection of connectors and a break in the circuit among tE's triggers, alongside the sensor itself. It is why a recently moved or serviced machine goes to the connector check first during inspection.
How do I fix the TE error code on my LG washing machine?
Start with your platform's LG remedy, not a parts swap: front-load manuals say unplug and wait 60 minutes, reconnect and try again (the Signature combo manual says 60 seconds); top-load guidance adds the cool-down recovery if hot water was poured into the tub. On every platform, a tE that persists past its documented remedy is a service case in LG's own wording — there is no LG owner fix beyond that point.
What does washer error code TE mean on an LG front loader?
LG's front-load manual heads the row 'Temperature Sensor Error' and gives the cause as a control error — the temperature-sensing side of the control has faulted. The manual's remedy is a 60-minute unplug, a retry, and service if tE is still displayed; it publishes no sensor test or replacement procedure for owners.
Can I test my LG washer's temperature sensor with a multimeter?
You can measure it, but LG gives you nothing to measure against: no LG manual or support page publishes an owner resistance value for the washer's temperature sensor, and the figures quoted on third-party sites conflict with each other because none of them is LG's. Sensor-versus-connector-versus-control separation is a service test against your model's service documentation.
I poured hot water into my LG top-loader and now it shows tE — what happened?
LG's top-load list names exactly this: the tE error may occur if excessively hot water was directly poured into the tub. Its remedy is to disconnect the power cord, wait for the water to cool down, and plug the cord back in. If tE persists after the cool-down, the list directs you to a technician's inspection.
Is TE1 the same as TE on an LG washer?
LG's washer documentation covers tE; a separate washer tE1 does not appear in the LG washer sources checked for this page. The tE1 code owners find in searches belongs to LG dryers, where LG lists tE1 with tE3 as thermistor problems. A washer showing 'te1' is worth a second look at the display — and if it truly reads tE1, give the exact rendering to LG support rather than borrowing the dryer code's meaning.
How to fix lg washer te error code?
Start here: Front-load models: follow the manual — unplug the washer and wait 60 minutes, reconnect power and try again. If the error code is still displayed, call for service; that is the end of LG's owner procedure for tE. Top-load models with no hot-water event: LG's list ends at inspection by a technician if the error persists — the sensor, its connectors and the circuit are separated during that inspection.
How to fix lg washing machine error code te?
Start here: Front-load models: follow the manual — unplug the washer and wait 60 minutes, reconnect power and try again. If the error code is still displayed, call for service; that is the end of LG's owner procedure for tE. Top-load models with no hot-water event: LG's list ends at inspection by a technician if the error persists — the sensor, its connectors and the circuit are separated during that inspection.
Related guides
Facts on this page were checked against manufacturer documentation: www.lg.com · www.lg.com · lg.com · www.lg.com