Dyson Vacuum Cleaner F8 Error Code Fix

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What This Error Means

F8 on a Dyson vacuum means motor power fault.

The machine is shutting itself down because the motor circuit is drawing the wrong amount of power – usually from a clog, overheated motor, or a failing battery/cleaner head.

Official Fix

What Dyson wants you to do, step by step:

  • Kill the power first. Switch the vacuum off. Unplug the charger or remove it from the dock. On cordless units, pull the battery out if it is removable.
  • Empty the bin properly. Open the bin flap and dump everything. Tap the bin gently to knock packed dust out. Do not bang it hard on the floor and crack it.
  • Check for clogs from tip to tail.
    • Pull off the wand and look down it against the light.
    • Check the inlet behind the bin for wads of hair or debris.
    • Look through the floor head airway and the small neck where it meets the wand.
  • Clean the brush bar. Cut away hair and string. Pop the end cap off (if your model allows) and slide the brush out. Make sure it spins freely by hand before refitting.
  • Clean the filters the Dyson way.
    • Remove the pre-motor filter (usually the purple top or blue cone).
    • Rinse under cold water only until the water runs clear.
    • Squeeze out excess water and leave it somewhere warm and airy for at least 24 hours.
    • If you have a post-motor/HEPA filter, check the manual. Some are washable, some are not.
  • Let it cool down. If the machine was hot or cutting in and out, leave it powered off and unloaded for 30–60 minutes. Overheat protection can throw the same F8 fault.
  • Rebuild and test bare. Fit the dry filter, bin, and battery. Do a quick test without the wand or floor head attached. Just the main body.
  • Test with accessories one by one. Add the wand. Then the floor head. If F8 only appears when a certain tool is on, that tool is likely the problem.
  • If F8 stays on after all this: Dyson’s manual answer is “contact Dyson support”. At that point they usually swap the cleaner head, the battery, or the whole main body under warranty or as a paid repair.

The Technician’s Trick

What a field tech actually does before calling it dead:

  • Run it with no filter for 5–10 seconds. Only as a test, bin empty, and don’t vacuum dirt. If F8 disappears with the filter out, the filter is choked or collapsed. Replace it; do not keep running without one.
  • Isolate the cleaner head.
    • Plug a different Dyson head (from a friend or another Dyson) into your wand.
    • If the spare head runs fine and your original throws F8, the motor in the head is shorting and needs replacement.
  • Check the battery connection, not just the battery.
    • Remove the battery.
    • Inspect the metal tabs on both battery and body. Look for burn marks or looseness.
    • Clean the contacts with a dry cloth or a little isopropyl alcohol on a cotton bud. Let dry fully.
    • Refit the battery firmly until it clicks. Loose contacts can trigger F8 under load.
  • Rule out a weak charger. If you have a multimeter, check the charger output against the rating on the label. A sagging charger can cause F-codes even when the battery itself is fine.
  • Robot models: For Dyson 360-type robots, pull the machine off the dock, hold the main power button for 20–30 seconds, then restart it on the dock. Clean all drop sensors and side cameras with a soft, slightly damp cloth. Dust over the sensors can throw F8 on those units.

If F8 still comes back after these tricks, the real-world fix is usually a new battery, new cleaner head, or a replacement main body (motor/electronics pack).

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: The vacuum is under warranty, or it’s less than 5–6 years old and only needs a battery, filter, or cleaner head.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: The machine is older, needs both a battery and a head, but you like the model and a new Dyson is much more expensive.
  • ❌ Replace: F8 persists even with a new battery/head, or Dyson quotes you for a new main body that costs close to a full replacement vacuum.

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