Indesit WD14 (washer dryer) playing up

[Coniferman]

First of all, a few washes back there was a loud band from somewhere in the kitchen and the ring main circuit had tripped. The washing machine was washing at that time. Reset circuit, all seemed well.

For a while it has sounded like it is draining the water slowly. Water trickling into the waste. Have checked the pump and there is nothing stuck and the motor is turning. It does the 90 degree turn thing when rotated by hand (finger!). I have even removed and checked the rubber hose from the pump to the drum (not checked at drum end) and taken off the outlet pipe from the pump and no obstructions. On a recent 30 degree wash it stuck on spin and gave 5 flashes. I reset it and all was well. I decided to do a 90 degree maintenance wash which completed successfully.

The latest (40 degree) wash kept repeating the rinse cycles so I eventually had to progress it to a spin. Thinking this might indicate a water heating element failure, (possibly the bang?) I am currently running another 90 degree wash to test but already I can hear the water getting hot. (like the noise of a kettle heating up) So the element must be working?!??

So other than jokes about Indes*it, any ideas what the problem(s) might be and what other testing might be appropriate?

In case it is relevant, the hot water supply has been cold during recent washes. i.e. hot and cold supplies are cold water.


Also, I've heard mention of a fluff filter and condensor box. Does this machine have such a thing? The dryer does heat the clothes but takes a bit longer than expected to dry so if their is fluff filter it might be an idea to check it???

I will update if/when the current 90 degree test wash completes.

 

[Coniferman]

Well the 90 degree test completed successfully. We are wondering if it just repeats the fill/drain/spin rinse cycle more times than we were expecting, making us think it was stuck and not progressing.

Don't know what caused the bang and circuit to trip though?

Might avoid the 30 degree washes in case that caused the slow draining issues?

Only other thing I can think to check is the drum end of the sump hose. Do the eco balls (in the sump hose) cause any issues? Can I check the hose entry is clear by removing one of the paddles inside the drum?

 

[Leccy758]

There is no eco ball in the sump hose, there is a non return valve affair though (the plastic ball and sump hose end)

Did you check the mains suppressor on the machine 'under the lid on the inside of the machine near the cable entry'

This can blow and occasionally burn through so it trips the electrics but will work afterwards when reset.

The wiring could be chafing somewhere and have shorted out while the machine was running 'outer insulation worn off allowing the inner core to touch the chassis/motor intermitantly'

 

[Coniferman]

There is no eco ball in the sump hose, there is a non return valve affair though (the plastic ball and sump hose end)

Sorry yes it was getting late. I think I was trying to think of Oko which I have seen mentioned. I guess I will leave alone if it is unlikely to be clogged up. Have had the odd item of clothing chewed up so was thinking there might be some remnants somewhere.

>>Did you check the mains suppressor on the machine 'under the lid on the inside of the machine near the cable entry'<<

Not looked for that. Will leave as it is for now and see how it gets on. Might have to take the lid off again sometime soon though as the hot inlet valve is leaking yet again. (a slow drip with power off into the drum) Normally starts to happen every 12 months. I can usually remove and rinse it out with limescale remover and all is well again.

 

[Coniferman]

Well there is definitely a problem in that clothes are coming out soaking wet after the dry cycle when they are "dry" after the wash. The dryer is definitely heating the clothes and there is water in the drum after drying.

Does this suggest the pump is weak (is it working) or some other problem? (I guess the pump must be working for the clothes to be dry after a spin?)

I have had a look at the inlet valves and they seem ok. i.e. I removed them from the machine and reconnected to the water supply and they did not let any water through.

 

[Coniferman]

I found that a bracket had fallen off the plumbing for the waste pipe which might have slowed draining?

However, I decided to take the drying heater/fan assembly apart and check for blockages/excessive fluff. It looked fine and went back together easily enough. But now I am getting 8 flashes a few seconds after starting to dry. Not sure if washing still works.

Could I have broken something or what could cause the 8 flashes?

Only thing I noticed was the small round device above the heater element. The two (blue) wires are quite blackened, although does not appear to be broken?????