Leica E01 Error: What It Means and How to Fix It

Applies to: TS06, TS16, TS60, TPS series

What Does E01 Mean?

E01 on Leica total stations indicates a fault in the ATR motor system. Leica's ATR directs a modulated laser beam at the prism and uses a CCD to track its position, with servo motors making fine corrections to keep the crosshair on the prism. When those motors fault — due to wear, obstruction, or electronics failure — E01 appears.

Leica total stations are used heavily in precision survey and monitoring applications where ATR reliability is critical. E01 is treated seriously — it means the automatic pointing system is compromised, which directly affects productivity on robotic setups and automated monitoring.

Common Causes of E01

• ATR motor wear on instruments with high observation counts
• Physical impact shifting the ATR motor alignment
• Debris in the ATR optical path or motor mechanism
• Cold temperature motor stiffness below -20°C (Leica instruments are rated to -20°C)
• ATR motor drive circuit fault
• Dust contamination on the ATR CCD sensor

How to Fix Leica E01 — Step by Step

1. Power cycle completely on charged battery
2. Test manual pointing — if the instrument aims correctly by hand but ATR fails, the optical/motor system is the issue
3. Test ATR calibration: set up on a prism, run ATR calibration procedure from the Instrument menu
4. If ATR calibration detects gross error: the ATR motor alignment needs service
5. If calibration runs but accuracy remains poor: ATR CCD needs service

When to Send It In for Service

Leica authorized service for ATR motor/CCD replacement and system calibration. Turnaround 10-14 days. Cost $500-900 depending on TS series.

Preventing E01 in the Future

Protect instruments from impacts — ATR motor alignment is factory-set and sensitive to physical shock. Service annually on high-use monitoring setups.

Related Error Codes

Leica Total Station Error E03 | Leica Total Station Error E05 | Sokkia Total Station Error E001