On the covered Amana top-load washer, F3 E1 means the washer cannot read the water level, which usually means the air tube from the tub or the level sensor First, cycle the power and look for a kinked or loose air tube behind the console.
Differential
Likely causes of “Amana top-load washer code F3 E1”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The water-level signal is out of range
What separates it The washer fills too much or too little, or stops filling
How to confirm Check the washer's water level against the cycle setting
- 2
A kinked or loose air tube from the tub to the control
What separates it The tube is pinched behind the console
How to confirm Follow the tube by eye with the power off
- 3
Water in the air tube
What separates it The code follows an overfill or a siphon
How to confirm Disconnect the tube and let it drain
- 4
A pressure sensor on the control board that has failed
What separates it Tube and wiring are sound
How to confirm Replace only after the tube is cleared
- 5
A one-off glitch
What separates it F3 E1 appears once and clears
How to confirm Cycle the power and run a wash
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- That the code reads F3 E1
- How full the tub gets
- Whether the tube behind the control is kinked
- The model number
Try in this order
0 of 9 completedWhat to do first
Reversiblecycle the power and look for a kinked or loose air tube behind the console.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleReplace a damaged tube; if the tube is sound the level sensor on the control is the remaining part. Amana documents these checks for this code: did you receive a F3 E1 water level alert; and cycle power to the control to reset the washer. Work them in that order and correct only what you actually find.
Cycle the power
ReversibleUnplug for a minute, plug in and run a short cycle.
Watch the fill
ReversibleNote whether the water stops where the cycle expects.
Open the console
ReversibleWith the washer unplugged, find the clear tube running to the control.
Check the tube
ReversibleLook for kinks, a loose end or water inside.
Run another cycle
ReversibleSee whether the code returns.
Book service
ReversibleThe sensor or board is replaced only when the tube is sound.
Verify once, then respect the service boundary
ReversibleAmana specifies a 5 minutes power interruption for this code, not an arbitrary one.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The code on this page
- F3 E1, the water level signal.
- Parts involved
- The air tube, the pressure sensor on the control and the wiring.
- Platform
- Amana top-loaders share their control with Whirlpool and Maytag machines of the same generation.
- How the washer senses water
- A top-loader does not use a float. It measures the pressure of the air in a small tube that runs from the bottom of the tub to the control, and the pressure tells the control how deep the water is. A pinched or wet tube therefore gives a wrong reading, and F3 E1 is the result.
- A cheap first test
- With the washer unplugged, pull the tube off its fitting on the control, check that it is clear, and blow gently through it. Resistance that feels like a blockage, or water coming out, tells you where the fault is.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If F3 E1 returns after the tube is checked and the power is cycled, book Amana service with the model number
- !Never leave a washer that overfills unattended
- !Unplug the washer before any panel is lifted
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What does F3 E1 mean on a Amana top-load washer?+
the washer cannot read the water level, which usually means the air tube from the tub or the level sensor
Can a kinked tube cause it?+
Yes, it is the most common cause and costs nothing to fix.
Does the washer still wash?+
It may fill wrongly, so stop it rather than risk an overfill.
Do I need the manual?+
The model number helps technicians find the right sensor.
How is the level sensed?+
By air pressure in a tube from the bottom of the tub.
Is the air tube a part I can buy?+
Yes, it is an inexpensive part, and replacing it is often all that an F3 E1 needs.