If your LG Washer is showing error code SE, the machine has detected a problem with the motor’s hall sensor (also called the motor speed sensor or rotor position sensor). Error SE means the control board is not receiving the correct rotation speed signal from the motor during the spin cycle. Here is how to diagnose and fix LG Washer error SE.
Error SE stands for Speed or Sensor Error. LG Washers use a direct drive motor with an integrated hall sensor (also known as a rotor position sensor) that monitors the motor’s rotational speed and position in real time. The control board uses this data to correctly time the motor’s power pulses for smooth, efficient rotation. If the hall sensor fails to provide a valid signal — either because the sensor itself is faulty, its wiring is disconnected, or the motor has a problem — the board cannot control the motor correctly and displays error SE.
Note: SE is closely related to error LE (motor overload). If both errors appear in sequence, it often indicates the drum is mechanically obstructed or the motor has a winding fault rather than a pure sensor issue.
Follow the steps below one at a time — many error codes can be fixed faster than they look.
Press Power to turn the washer off. Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet and wait 10–15 minutes. Reconnect power and run a test cycle with a small, balanced load. If SE does not return, the error was caused by a temporary signal issue and is resolved.
Unplug the washer and attempt to rotate the drum manually — it should turn smoothly with moderate resistance. If the drum is stiff or will not rotate, a foreign object may be obstructing it. Remove any items from the drum and check the drum gap (visible around the door seal) for trapped coins, buttons, or wire. If the drum rotates freely but SE continues appearing on normal loads, proceed to the sensor check.
Unplug the washer. On front-load LG models, remove the rear panel (6–8 screws) to access the direct drive motor. The hall sensor is located on the stator (the non-rotating part of the motor) and connects via a small 3–5 pin connector to the wiring harness. Check that the connector is fully seated and that no wires are pinched or broken along the harness route to the inverter board. Reconnect any loose connectors firmly. On top-load LG models, the motor is accessed from the bottom of the machine or the rear.
A hall sensor test requires a multimeter with a DC voltage setting. With the washer plugged in (take appropriate safety precautions), measure the supply voltage to the hall sensor (typically 5V DC between the power and ground pins). As the drum is slowly rotated, the signal output pin should toggle between 0V and approximately 5V. If the output does not change, the sensor is faulty. If the supply voltage is absent, the wiring or inverter board has an issue.
On LG direct drive motors, the hall sensor is mounted on the stator assembly and is sometimes replaceable as a separate component. Search for your model number and “hall sensor” to find the correct part. If the sensor cannot be sourced separately, replacing the stator assembly or the full motor is required. If the motor tests correctly in all respects but SE persists, the inverter drive board should be inspected for damage and replaced if faulty.
After fixing the underlying cause, unplug the washer for at least 10 minutes to allow the motor control board to clear all stored fault data. Plug back in, run a short test cycle with a small load, and confirm SE does not return. If SE still appears on an empty drum, the motor or sensor fault has not been fully resolved.
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