Frigidaire front load washer (LTF600ES1) Error E20

Holla, Im not showing a E20 code on the tech sheet. There is a E21. Water not draining fast enough. Try holding the start/pause and cancel key together for 3 seconds. The door lock, wash, rinse and final spin leds should light. Any error codes should be displayed when holding those keys. If you see a different error code, post it. If not, I would suspect a clogged pump...Catriver.

I'd like to say a huge thanks to everyone who has already posted here - the information was invaluable, and I likely just saved myself $200.

However, having read all these posts and having just done this myself, I'd like to summarize all of this information into one, concise post.

#1 - You do not need to remove the entire front panel. There is an access panel on the front bottom of the machine that comes off (maybe 12" tall). It is held on by two screws that are underneath it. The best way to access these is to tilt the machine back about 3" or so and prop it up. I used a steel toed boot as my prop. Also, since you've likely thrown the error and not finished the cycle, there will be water in your machine. You need to remove as much of it as possible, and also have a tub or container of some sort standing by for when you remove the housing later.

#2 - Remove these two screws with a phillips head screwdriver and pull down on the access panel. There are two barb type plastic pieces on the top that hold the top in. You can now move the access panel out of the way.

#3 - You will now see what is shown in the picture in the post above. You need to remove the screw clamp that holds the big, black plastic housing in, and also remove the two smaller "pinch" type clamps that hold the smaller tubes on. One is up and to the right and one is behind the main housing. These two pinch clamps are a true SOB to remove. I'm serious as a heart attack when I say that if I ever meet the person who chose to use these clamps on this machine, I'm punching them right in the face. You will likely need some form of plyer or clamp to get these off. Once you've removed them, throw them the hell away and go to home depot and get some replacement screw hose clamps. Your hands and sanity will thank you for not trying to get them back on for 30 minutes like I did (and then ended up going to Home Depot anyway).

#4 - Pull the big, black, accordion housing out and figure out what all is stuck in there. Although most people have been finding money, all I found was a pair of panties. Remove all that ****, and put the housing back on using your new screw clamps. Also, have a little WD-40 to spray on the hose connection areas so they will slide back on easy. Tighten your clamps and put everything back together and you are good to go.

Hope this helps some people save some time on this project!

P

I found a much simpler solution! I am 9 months pregnant and was able to do this, on my own, in 1/2 hour!!

1. Drain washer (used a Shami & a bucket)
2. Remove the back panel (not necessary but made for better lighting)
3. Tip the washer on its side (opposite the soap dispenser).
4. From the bottom access panel, loosen the long screw around the neck of the large black accordion tube (see solution #4 diagram).
5. Squeeze the bottom of the tube to inch the trap up & out of the tube.
6. Empty it & slip it back in by squeezing from the top until you can feel it at the bottom then tighten the screw.

No messing with tight clamps or sharp edges & its running pretty well now.

What I found: Purex 3 in 1 laundry sheet--DO NOT recommend these, a handful of unrecognizable change, a necklace & a couple of stickers.

Gotta love this washer design (not!). 
Catriver's solution was PERFECT, except for one thing.  There was no way that the front panel was coming off without my killing my husband and parts flying.  
Went in thru the back and had my husband unscrew the motor so we could get to the flexible tubing fairly easily.  Inside the big, flexible, accordion looking tube is a hard, plastic "filter".  This is the holder of all things evil in a front loading washer.  One soda pop can top, wad of cat fur, paperclip and five dollar bill later.... VIOLA! We had no error code on the washer.
Catriver... thank you so much for the photo.  Would never have been able to do this without your expert help.  Cheers!

Thanks to those who had 'gone before'. I bought the repair manual & it was worth $15 in less aggravation.

I went through the front & it took 1hr from start to finish- including filling the washer and pouring a beverage when done.<g>

To get the front panel off, the manual is worth its weight in gold- all steps are illustrated.
For mine;
Take out soap tray.
2 screws on back of top- and slide back.
5 screws & 3 clips on console, and fold out of way.
pull spring clip off boot and release boot.
8 screws ro loosen front panel
2 screws on door latch- and a clip to release wires.

Done. - follow catriver's instructions above.
Mine is on a shelf already, so I did a minimum of moving. Tipping it on it's side would have been a 2 hr job- one way.

Oh- my take? $2.91, an earring, and 2 Color Catchers.

Huge help. I took 10 minutes to read through all of the posts. Pic was huge help. I did not have to move my washer at all. I took the bottom front panel off (2 screws). It looked similar to catdriver's picture in Solution #4 (thank you). I unscrewed the top part of the rubber hose and pulled off, then used viseclamps to pull the bottom right hose off. Above, one of the gals mentioned to pinch the bottom of the hose and continue to do this until the trap pulls out. Worked beautifully and was able to put everything back on within minutes. BTW, 16 bobby pins, a baby sock, a fake nail, hair, a candy wrapper, loose change, and 200 buck saved. Priceless!

Hello,

Here is the Complete Repair Manual for your Affinity Washers. Extremely Helpful.

Affinity Washer Manual Download

Catriver's photo excellent. Front panel removal impossible for us w/o hassle due to gas dryer stacked above washer. Back panel edge very sharp -- caution. Grab a few dirty bath towels, about two quarts of water on the floor imminent. Easy to remove back access panel. Remove pump (two black screws, right side hard to get at- use small handled screwdriver or 5/16 open end). Use visegrips to remove green clips. Unscrew long screw holding black tube at top. Take out black tubing assembly and clean out trap. Cannot remove coin trap from bottom, trap has a flange at top. Must remove from top. Very sad to disclose the cause of my clog because I like the Purex 3-in-1 sheets. But **** if two of them and 48 cents wasn't the entire problem. No more Purex 3-in-1 sheets for our house! grrrrr.... Thanks for all the info. This took about 30'

Easy fix...Take off front panel,under door above drawer,two screws,look inside,,looks like a big plastic elbe take off clamps from top and bottom remove rubber see a little plastic cup its cloged up remove and clean out.put back same way...You just saved 200 dollars....Your welcome

OMG!!! SUCH GREAT ADVICE FROM EVERYONE!! I READ THE 1ST ONE WITH THE PICTURE FIRST AND ATTEMPTED TO GO TAKE OFF THE BOTTOM FRONT PANEL.. THAT DIDNT LAST LONG! I CAME BACK UP AND READ THE REST OF EVERYONES IDEAS/STORIES... WENT BACK DOWN TILTED THE WASHER UP AND UNSCREWED 2 SMALL SCREWS WITH A PHILLIPS AND THE FRONT PANEL CAME RIGHT OFF. I SAW THE BLACK TUBE AND LOOSENED THE SCREW CLAMP AND IT CAME RIGHT OFF.. AND "TADA"!! THE PROBLEM WAS MY LOST/STOLEN VISA CARD CLOGGING THE HOLE RIGHT UP!! THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE IN THERE.. AND IT WAS EASY TO SLIDE THE TUBE BACK ON AND TIGHTEN THE SCREW BACK. THE 1ST LOAD SINCE IS GOING NOW AND I HOPE IT'S A SUCCESS!! MEANWHILE.. I'LL BE WAITING A COUPLE MORE DAYS FOR MY NEW VISA TO ARRIVE IN THE MAIL.. URGH!!! =)

The weird noise you hear is the pump sucking air not water.
Remove the rear panel. On the bottom left you will see the pump with two hose clamps. One hose is grey the other is black. The black hose contains a plastic cylinder filter with holes in the sides. Remove the pump (two screws hold it in place) Remove the filter from the Black hose (warning water will run on the floor). In mine I found a $1.86 in change and lint from a large blanket; this was the clog. The filter holds money like a change holder nice and stacked. After cleaning reassemble pump works like new. You will need a phillip screw driver, vise grip pliers to remove the clamps, shop vac for water and some WD40 to get the filter back in the hose. Remember to put the filter back in the way it came out.

Thanks for the help, the claps were VERY hard to get back on proper, but as well I found five bucks!!!!!

Yes, thank you everyone!!!! I had the same problem and this post saved me. The washer is only a year old however i have 5 dogs and wasn't suprised to find dog hair clogging the coin trap.
And thanks to Biska for recommending the hose clamps to replace the impossible original clamps. I'd say if you're reading this don't even waste your time trying to put those 2 back on and just go out and purchase two hose clamps for under $2. I got size 1"--2 and 1/4"

Catriver, thanks a lot for the solution and the photo! It probably saved me over 200 bucks.  However, I spent most of the day struggling with this machine. It had to be tilted in order to unscrew the access panel, and the clamps are impossible to work with. I finally had to use one regular metal clamp with a screw instead of the original one. By the way, are there some small devices that will keep these clamps expanded? If so, what are they called? It's very hard to hold the clamp with a pair of pliers and at the same time to try and get all the hoses connected properly. In retrospect, I think that it would have been easier to pull the washer out and access the area from the back.  Electrolux doesn't make things easy for you!

Turned machine on its side and solved problem in about 20 minutes thanks to these posts. thanks everyone. i found 2 of the purex 3-n-1 sheets in the trap, won't be using those anymore. i was disappointed however to only find 15 cents in there, some of you had gotten my hopes up that i would be able to buy lunch tomorrow for my efforts.

I did what rebs73 suggested by tipping the Frigidaire Affinity on the side opposite the soap tray (since mine did not have a front panel that was easy to remove. I found an access hole on the bottom and was able to get to every thing through that hole. I only removed the black accordion looking tube with the screw closing clamp. I found 1 quarter and 2 purex 3-n-1 sheets in the trap (likely the culprits - I didn't like those cleaning sheets anyway). I didn't take anything else apart. Took about 30min total even with clean up. Thanks everyone.

Wow, you guys are brilliant! I did this repair by just unscrewing the front panel but not removing the boot. Very tight space, you have to remove the green clamp by touch. Found a pair of pliers with a special channel in each side in my dad's toolbox. Thanks dad!
I think I am a winner, my take? A very worn $20 bill and a popsicle stick wrapped in hair!

Thanks for the info. Helped alot. The green clamps were extremely difficult to get back on so I used nylon ties, I hope they hold. So far so good. I would recommend one of the above posts as to not remove the green clamps unless absolutely necessary. About 45 minutes and various curse words its working fine.

Thank you for the excellent diagram.  I tipped the machine on it's side and finally got the screw clamp off.  My hands are shredded and I just now read the post about the nasty infection from the black sludge.  The machine spins and drains properly but is leaking.  I have reconnected the screw clamp several times but so far haven't been able to stop the leak.  Whoever decided the use razor sharp metal to edge all access areas was a sadist.  
One question-does the basket piece that is inside the black rubber boot fit straight into it, anchored down in the accordion pleated section or should it be somehow shoved in  around the corner facing the other tube?  Just wondering if I have replaced the basket incorrectly.  Can't locate the leak although I tried to remove many clamps so I might have loosened one of them.
Although this has not been painless, I appreciate the advice and am glad I could fix this without calling a repairman.  

Took off the screw clamp and it had a sock in it. works great now thanks

I had the same E20 problem. E20 *was* listed on the Error Code Chart that came with the washer and had the same meaning: "Water doesn't drain". Cleaning the coin trap solved the problem, even though the chart does not mention anything about a coin trap. This is for model Gallery Series GLTF2940ES. I removed only the screw-fastened clamp (using a hex ratchet wrench made this easy) and was able to reach into the coin trap. I pulled out my daughter's Cinderella sock (missing for 18 months!) and some change. I could not tell if I completely emptied the coin trap with only one clamp removed, but removing the sock that was stuffed in the trap solved the problem for now. Reading about how much trouble people had getting the other clamps off and back on, I opted try just remove the easiest clamp. It seems I was able to clean the trap sufficiently for now. I've run a couple loads since and have not seen the E20 error. Thanks to Catriver for the great picture!

I looked at Catriver excellent picture and I read most of the other follow-up solutions. Removing the front panel (bottom part) was relatively easy; I tilted the washing machine enough to be able to slide a 2x4 under it so I could remove the 2 screws. Thanks to the advice of others, I only slightly unscrew the drain and was able to remove my little girl\'s sock that prevented the drain (no spare change for me...but I saved plenty thanks to my wife Manon who dared typing "E20 Frigidaire" on Google...and beg me to do the job, so we could finish up the laundry today...) Thank you all !!!

THIS WORKS!!!!! I did want to add that I am soooo not mechaincally inclined! I took bottom front panel off, removed clamp with a butter knife, pulled boot off (big rubber piece), took trap out,cleaned it out put back and boom it worked!!! To add for those like me who know nothing about fixing things the trap is metal and has holes it in, it is up in the boot,. It is very hard to get out and even harder to put back, but it will go in with a lot of pushing! Paperclips were my culprits, some change and a dogtag. So gross but so much better than a $200 or more dollar bill at Christmas time when I am not working. Thank you all for your help!!!!!!! Simply wonderful and my husband couldn\'t believe I fixed it!!

I had the E20 issue and broke down and called for service today. I came home to goggle the error and found this website and THANK GOODNESS I did! I canceled the repairman and went it myself since my hubby is at work. I have small hands so was able to reach through the bottom of the machine to do the work. I didn't take off all the clamps only the screw one. My teenage son helped me get the filter out which was jam packed with a variety of things. It took us about 30 minutes total would have been less if me and the teenager didn't argue over stuff. Thanks to all who shared, saved me $69 just to have it diagnosed and $35 a half hour for any work so potentially $150 bill!

My machine is only about 2 years old. Last night it was not spinning out the water. I was all worried that is was something bigger then what it really was. I was also getting the e20 code. I have misplaced my manual so I ended up on google and found this post. Thank you for all the helpful info here. My husband tipped the washer on it\'s back and removed the four screws on the bottom of the front panel. HE DID NOT I REPEAT DID NOT HAVE TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE FRONT PANEL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. He just propt up the bottom portion of the front panel and he worked thru the cut out under the unit. IT worked great. If you remove the panel you have to remove the rubber seal (the boot) from the unit itself and the door. He said it would take too much time and found another way an easier way. It took him 30 minutes from start to finish to fix this problem. We were clogged up with some dog hair and $1.13 in change LOL. Everything is running great now. thanks to all of the above info and help. Take care.

I went thru the back and only took off the back clip.  I pulled the plastic filter out of the boot and cleaned it out.  It's a little hard to put it back in, but you just have to force it.  BIG KEY IN GETTING THE CLIP BACK ON IS USE A SMALL "C" CLAMP TO HOLD IT OPEN WHILE PUTTING THE BOOT BACK ON.  The photo was a big help.

This was great advice. The inlet strainer on the water pump was plugged. Once I pulled the strainer from the rubber boot it was filled with pennys etc. I was receiving the E20 and E21 errors and this seems to have fixed both. My unit is only 2 years old.

My Frigidaire Front loader also had the Error 20.



I fixed it by testing the drainage hose from the back of the unit to the drain in the wall. I tested it for blockage by disconnectiong it and blowing thru it to see if there was any obstruction; thier was none.



Then I took the back (oval / elipse shaped) cover off by removing six 1/2" screws. Then I checked the hose that comes from the pump (just under the drum unit) by disconnecting it from the pump and blowing thru the nozzle end at the top of the back of the unit. No blockage.



The third and last thing I did was I tilted the unit against a wall and worked on the large black hose that contains a "Coin Drop". It right inside the hose, squeeze the biggest black part of the hose and you can feel it.



Disconnect that from the drum with a screw driver (pliers work well on the first 2 claimps, not this one) Pull the rubber hose off the drum and reach in and pull out the entire cup...which is full of coins and hair and disgusting black sludge. Be careful not to expose any open cuts to this material. You could get an infection but thats another website.



After you clean it out. Put it all back and testing the hot & cold water hook ups for leaks.

Cowain I have never laughed so hard! Those pinch clamps are hell! Thank you all! Was up till 4a.m. last night, fixed E21, have tio do it all again tio fix e20 now, wish I would've read these first!

My biggest problem is getting the hoses on.. the boot one with the side pipe on is .. is the hardest. and i got it all back and the bigger one of the two is leaking at its as tight as i can get it .. what do i do now?

Most of the posts here were very helpfull. Here is how my husband and I did it.

1) Un-hook all hoses from water and drainage as wel as the electric cord.
2) Pull washer out and tip it on its side. The side without the liquid drawer.
3) Remove the bottom front pannel by removing two screws.
4) Look into the access hole on the bottom of the machine and you will see the black hose with three connections. Remove the 2 clamps and loosen the large screw on the third clamp to pull the hose out of the machine.
5) Now work the trap out of the accordian side of the black hose. It takes a little finess but is not difficult.
6) Clean out the trap. Mine was full of horse hair and black sludge.
7) Now put the trap back in to the accordian side of the black hose the same way it came out.
8) The MOST IMPORTANT STEP. Go to the hardware store and buy 2 Hose Clamps to replace the two smaller metal clamps on 2 sides of the hose. This step will save you TONS of time in the long run.
9) First attach the small side of the hose on the accordian side with one of the new hose clamps.
10) Now attach the large side of the accordian with the long screw clamp.
11) Lastly attach the small side of the black hose on the square side with one of the new hose clamps.
12) Tighten every thing really well.
13) At this point we hooked the washer back up to the water and tested it to make sure there were no leaks.
14) Reattach the front pannel.

I had this issue. Looked around the washer's innards trying to figure out what was what. Eventually laid the washer on its back and pulled the rubber boot off the tumbler and pulled out the catch tube that was inside the rubber boot just to the side of the pump. It had all kinds of junk in it, mostly lint from cloths but plenty of coins and whatnot as well. Now the washer is working like a charm.

After doing the diagnostic testing, it gave me an E21 error. I took the rubber hose off, and found 3 all in one washer/dryer sheets stuck in the washer drain. I do not recommend using these for a front load washer...After I cleaned it out, my washer worked like new...