tE
HighTechnicianWashing Machine · 5–10 min (diagnosis only)

Temperature sensor error — water heating malfunction

The tE error on the Samsung WF50A8600AV indicates temperature sensor error — water heating malfunction. This typically occurs due to faulty thermistor (temperature sensor) giving incorrect readings. A qualified technician can usually diagnose this in 5–10 min (diagnosis only), but the steps below will help you understand the issue.

Quick Fix
Disconnect the washer from power at the wall outlet
See all steps

Common Causes of tE

  • 1Faulty thermistor (temperature sensor) giving incorrect readings
  • 2Broken heating element
  • 3Loose wiring between temperature sensor and control board
  • 4Control board malfunction

How to Fix tE

5–10 min (diagnosis only)
  1. 1

    Step 1

    Disconnect the washer from power at the wall outlet

  2. 2

    Step 2

    Try running a cold water cycle only to check whether the heating system is the issue

  3. 3

    Step 3

    Unplug the washer for 5 minutes and plug it back in to reset the control board

  4. 4

    Step 4

    Run a normal warm cycle to test whether the error returns

  5. 5

    Step 5

    Note the results — if the error only appears on warm or hot cycles, the thermistor or heating element is faulty

Tools Needed

none (requires multimeter for advanced diagnosis)

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Samsung tE error

You can likely still run cold water cycles without issue. The tE error specifically relates to the heating circuit, so cold washes bypass the faulty component. However, warm and hot cycles will not work until the thermistor or heating element is repaired. Use cold water as a temporary workaround while scheduling a repair.

The thermistor itself is one of the more affordable washer parts — typically $15 to $40 depending on the model. Professional labor adds $80 to $140. The total repair usually stays under $180, which makes it a worthwhile fix for any washer less than 8 years old. A technician can confirm whether the thermistor or the heating element is at fault before ordering parts.

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