LG Dryer tE1 / tE3 Error
One page for two displays because LG's US guide groups them in one entry: “If the tE1 or tE3 displays…” — one meaning, and the same reset for both. tE2 and tE4 are separate codes with their own pages.
What to check first
- One meaning: a problem detected with the thermistor (LG US + UK FAQ).
- The shared first step: LG's factory reset — power off, hold Start/Pause 5 seconds, restore power.
- If the code persists or returns after the reset → stop troubleshooting and contact LG to arrange service.
- tE2 and tE4 are different codes — do not borrow their procedures, or lend them this one.
A tE1 or tE3 code means a problem has been detected with the thermistor — LG's UK FAQ glosses tE3 the same way, as a thermistor problem related to temperature sensing. LG's US guide groups tE1 and tE3 and recommends the same reset: the factory reset (the same reset it prescribes for PF). LG UK's tE1 guidance gives the same reset. If the code persists or returns after the reset, stop troubleshooting and contact LG to arrange service. There is no cleaning step, no part to reseat, and no second reset variant in LG's lists — the honesty of this page is its shortness.
Safety first
- A thermistor fault is a temperature-control fault: a dryer that cannot sense its own temperature should not be run “to see if it heats”. Do the reset once, as LG prescribes; if the code returns, stop and book service.
- Stop condition: stop using the machine and unplug it — and do not run it again until it has been checked — if you smell burning, see smoke, find damaged electrics (a scorched plug, a melted or cut cable), or water is leaking in quantity.
Common causes
A thermistor problem — sensing, not heating
The thermistor is the dryer's temperature sensor. LG's diagnosis stops at “a problem has been detected with the thermistor” — it does not publish user-level causes beyond that, and this page does not invent any. LG recommends a reset as the first troubleshooting step. If the error persists or returns, contact LG service. A successful reset does not establish the original cause.
Step-by-step checks
- Do the factory resetUnplug the dryer or turn the breaker OFF. While the unit is unpowered, press and hold the Start/Pause button for 5 seconds. Restore power (plug in, or breaker ON), then select a cycle and press Start/Pause.
- If tE1 or tE3 appears again, book serviceLG's direction on both lists: if the code persists or returns after the reset, stop troubleshooting and contact LG to arrange service. Do not loop the reset.
When to call a technician
If a tE1/tE3 persists or returns after the reset, stop troubleshooting and contact LG to arrange service. Quote the exact display — LG groups tE1 and tE3 together, but the technician will still want the one your machine shows.
A note on LG's own documentation: the tE3 section of LG UK's dryer list contains pasted text about a washer fault (the FE overfilling error — water taps and spin) that does not belong to dryers. The FAQ on the same LG UK page defines TE3 as “a thermistor problem related to temperature sensing”, agreeing with the US list — that is the definition used here, and the stray text is recorded as a documentation error, not followed.
Model differences
| What you have | What changes |
|---|---|
| Display reads tE3 | Same entry, same meaning, same reset (LG US files tE1 and tE3 together; LG UK's FAQ agrees: thermistor problem related to temperature sensing). |
| Display reads tE2 | A separate thermistor code with its own conditions — cold weather and steam cycles — and its own procedure: the tE2 page. |
| Display reads tE4 | LG UK documents tE4 separately (temperature out of range) with a straight-to-service instruction — no reset is published for it: the tE4 page. |
One-page checklist — tE1 / tE3
- Code read exactly (tE1 or tE3 — quote the one shown)
- Factory reset done once: power off, Start/Pause held 5 seconds, power restored
- Code persisted or returned after reset → LG service contacted (no reset loop)
Official LG references
Frequently asked questions
Are tE1 and tE3 the same fault?
LG treats them as one entry: its US list heads the section “tE1 or tE3” and gives one meaning — a problem detected with the thermistor. LG's US guide groups tE1 and tE3 and recommends the same reset; LG UK's tE1 guidance gives the same reset, and its FAQ's gloss of tE3 (thermistor problem related to temperature sensing) agrees. They share this page for the same reason they share LG's section.
Why does LG's UK page describe a washing machine under tE3?
It is a documentation error on LG's side: the UK tE3 section's body text describes a washer water-supply fault (its FE error). The FAQ on the same LG UK page defines TE3 as a thermistor problem related to temperature sensing, as does its US list — this page follows the definition both of LG's fault summaries agree on, and records the stray text rather than hiding it.
The reset cleared tE1. Am I done?
LG recommends a reset as the first troubleshooting step. If the error persists or returns, contact LG service. A successful reset does not establish the original cause.