My Zanussi FL-844 has problems finishing its programmes. Until a few weeks ago, it hadn't being used at all for a year, prior to which it worked fine. I moved it into my new house (yep, involving some tilting, and I never had transit bolts for it anyway) and gave it a good clean (including a "maintenance wash"), but it frequently stops at one place on the dial, and never completes the final drain of the programme. One time I heard it "stop" - there was quite a bit of clicking, then the power light went out.
When it stops, you have to turn the power off for a little while before it will restart (I move it onto the next programme and it seems to know it has water in). It then completes the programme (bar the final drain) without problem. Spin etc. works fine, so it's not a motor problem. Water fill/drain etc. also seems to work without problem.
Any ideas? I don't know the names of anything inside the machine, but should I look for some contacts to clean around the dial area?
And a second question: this washer has always leaked slightly when starting its spin. An old baking tray underneath is a cheap and effective solution, but does this sound like the rubber seal at the front needs changing? Is that an easy job for an amateur like me?
And bearing in mind both problems: Is it worth keeping a machine like this going (on the grounds that they don't make them like they used to) or would a new one pay for itself with reduced electricity consumption? (Reduced water consumption is also good, but wouldn't pay as we're not metered!) I haven't invested any money in the machine yet (it was free a few years ago, on account of the slight leak) so I'm not attached to it on those grounds...
Alastair
When it stops, you have to turn the power off for a little while before it will restart (I move it onto the next programme and it seems to know it has water in). It then completes the programme (bar the final drain) without problem. Spin etc. works fine, so it's not a motor problem. Water fill/drain etc. also seems to work without problem.
Any ideas? I don't know the names of anything inside the machine, but should I look for some contacts to clean around the dial area?
And a second question: this washer has always leaked slightly when starting its spin. An old baking tray underneath is a cheap and effective solution, but does this sound like the rubber seal at the front needs changing? Is that an easy job for an amateur like me?
And bearing in mind both problems: Is it worth keeping a machine like this going (on the grounds that they don't make them like they used to) or would a new one pay for itself with reduced electricity consumption? (Reduced water consumption is also good, but wouldn't pay as we're not metered!) I haven't invested any money in the machine yet (it was free a few years ago, on account of the slight leak) so I'm not attached to it on those grounds...
Alastair