On the covered Whirlpool top-load washer, F3 E1 means the water-level signal is out of range: the control cannot read the tub's water level First, follow the air tube from the bottom of the tub to the console and look for a kink, a blockage or a loose end.
Differential
Likely causes of “Whirlpool top-load washer code F3 E1”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A kinked, blocked or loose water-level air tube
What separates it F3 E1 appears early in the fill or at the first level reading, and the tub level does not match the cycle
How to confirm With the washer unplugged, follow the small hose from the bottom of the tub up to the console and run it between your fingers for a kink or a pinch
- 2
An air leak in the tube or at its fittings
What separates it The code returns on the same step every time and the tube looks intact but feels loose at one end
How to confirm Push each end firmly onto its fitting; a tube that slides on freely has lost its seal
- 3
The level sensor on the main electronic control board
What separates it The tube is intact, clean and firmly seated, and the code is still there
How to confirm Blow gently through the tube to prove it is open, then reconnect it; if it is open and sealed, the sensor on the board is the part left
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The display code and the step of the cycle it appeared in
- Whether the tub was empty, filling or full at the time
- Whether the air tube looked pinched, cracked or off its fitting
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedWhat to do first
ReversibleFollow the air tube from the bottom of the tub to the console and look for a kink, a blockage or a loose end.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleReplace a damaged tube; if the tube is sound the level sensor on the main control board is the remaining part. Whirlpool 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.
Unplug the washer and lift the top panel
ReversibleFollow the Sears table, which starts with the water-level pressure tube. Lift the top panel and find the small clear air hose running from the tub to the pressure switch or board.
Check the tube along its whole length
ReversibleLook for a kink, a blockage from lint or detergent, or a loose end. Whirlpool's F3 E1 text also points at the control unit or its wiring, so look at the connector on the board at the same time.
Replace a damaged tube
ReversibleThe service table for the 2015 Cabrio says to replace the water-level pressure tube if it is damaged. A tube that is only pinched can be straightened; one that is cracked or hardened should be replaced.
Replace the board last
ReversibleThe table says the water level detector is a component of the main electronic control board, so replace the board only after the tube is proved sound. On the Cabrio/belt-drive platform the board and the level switch are one part.
Verify once, then respect the service boundary
ReversibleWhirlpool 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
- Parts named by the service tables
- Water-level pressure tube; main electronic control board (which carries the level sensor).
- Tools
- A screwdriver or nut driver for the top panel and a flashlight to trace the tube.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Unplug the washer before you reach into the console, because the board and the water valve terminals are at line voltage
- !Stop if you find water inside the console or a burnt smell at the board, and have a technician look at the board
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. Whirlpool's own page for F3 E1 gives only the description and the 5-minute reset; the tube check comes from the Sears tables.
Exact questions
Common questions
What does F3 E1 mean on a Whirlpool top-load washer?+
the water-level signal is out of range: the control cannot read the tub's water level
Is the water-level sensor a separate part?+
On the 2015 Cabrio platform the level detector is part of the main electronic control board; the service table lists the pressure tube and the board as the two parts.
Will resetting the washer clear it?+
Whirlpool documents a 5-minute power reset as the first step, which clears a one-off reading. A code that returns after the reset is a real fault.
Can a clogged drain cause F3 E1?+
A drain fault gives F9 E1. F3 E1 is about the level reading itself, so a good tube and a good board come before drain work.
Do Maytag and Amana washers use the same fix?+
Yes. Maytag and Amana top-load washers on this platform use the same code table, so this page is the page for all three brands.