Hotpoint WF340 some (not all) lights flashing

[washernoob]

Hi, after extensive googling, this forum looks an excellent place to ask, thanks in advance for any advice.

I found the thread about lights flashing like a Christmas tree and how to find and remove the circuit board with a view to replacing a bad capacitor (C17). I was delighted to learn this, for in the past I've fixed similar bad caps faults in PCs and monitors.

However, I jumped to conclusions too fast. C17 looks fine and checks out ok with a meter. In fact my machine was not flashing ALL lights, so I should first have investigated what the lights mean.

The lights are flashing in a sequence. The right hand light lights (for about 0.5 sec) and, as it goes out, lights to the left light (for a similar duration). There are 5 lights in a column. The 2nd and 4th lights are the ones lighting. Then the sequence repeats, ad inf.

I've taken a video of this, but I'm not sure where I can upload it. But hopefully the description is sufficient. I'd much appreciate advice... a family's wash is depending on it!

 

[rocks1]

Error fo5. Filter blocked. Poss under the front kickstrip or at the rear under the rear lower panel.

 

[washernoob]

Error fo5. Filter blocked. Poss under the front kickstrip or at the rear under the rear lower panel.

Many thanks, that sounds easy to check, will do as soon as I get access (it's not actually my own machine).

Meanwhile I've been searching around, I've found http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=163622 which lists error codes and it seems like lights are to be interpreted as
top 8
2nd 4
3rd 2
4th 1
5th 16?
so that seems to mean f05 lights 2&4, pressure sw stuck on full

Is the pressure switch the same thing as the filter? (Sorry if that's a daft question, but I know nothing about washing machines beyond putting clothes in the front door!).

 

[rocks1]

Yes cos the filters blocked.

 

[washernoob]

Yes cos the filters blocked.

Brilliant. And thanks so much for replying so quickly. I've phoned my friend, I'll be trying it out on Monday. I just hope I can reconnect the PCB correctly, it was a pig to remove, but I did take notes of where the various connectors went.

Although C17 looks ok, nearby there is a 220K resistor that had some soot on it, but I hope it's just its age or something. I'll wait and see.

 

[rocks1]

Yep it will be soot or carbon nothing to worry about

 

[washernoob]

Yep it will be soot or carbon nothing to worry about

Some good news, some bad...

First, for anyone reading this, the filter is at the front. At the bottom there's a panel that flips down as if hinged and then it comes off. "Flips down" sounds easy, but actually it needed quite a lot of prizing to release it initially.

The filter is at the right and unscrews. It was far too tight for my fingers and I feared using a pair of pliers might break the plastic, but it didn't. Inside the filter (as rocks1 predicted) was a load of rubbish, even including a large button! I don't see how it works as a filter, there doesn't seem to be any mesh to hold anything back, I guess being at the lowest point it just acts as a kind of trap for heavy particles.

Connected it up, big celebration, lights not flashing, all seemed normal.

However, owner has since called, wash started at noon (letter F on the dial) and 3 hours later it's still going (still on same letter). Usually it washes within 90 mins.

Any thoughts?

 

[rocks1]

Waste pipe down too low syphoning. Heater wire come off. Heater open curcuit. Does it now drain might be more rubbish in there.

 

[washernoob]

Waste pipe down too low syphoning. Heater wire come off. Heater open curcuit. Does it now drain might be more rubbish in there.

Filter is ok, will check rest tomorrow, many thx. Waste pipe goes to outlet same as before, but it's an awkward route behind cupboard, I'll check it's not kinked. I guess there must be a cold wash programme I could try too. I'm pretty sure I put back all the wires on the circuit board, but I'm not perfect! Is there a service manual I could check which connection goes to the heater?

 

[rocks1]

No service manual. Just see if the wires are on the heater.

 

[washernoob]

No service manual. Just see if the wires are on the heater.

Infuriating when no service manual available. I often tell people buying laptops to take this into consideration. E.g. HP usually have downloadable service manual. Sony never do.

Further news. Owner has tried again to do a wash. Now there's a smell of burning plastic. I've got a bad feeling about this!

I'll go look tomorrow. If it gets to the point where we give up and buy new, what good reliable makes are there? I have a Bosch Maxx which is so old the outside panels are rusty, but it just keeps working... but maybe I've been lucky.

 

[rocks1]

If it's burning smell sounds like the waste pipe is kinked and can't pump out the water. As for a new one. Bosch all the way.

 

[washernoob]

If it's burning smell sounds like the waste pipe is kinked and can't pump out the water. As for a new one. Bosch all the way.

I hate when people just leave a thread, no end to the story, so here's an update...

I found the machine was now giving error f07 (middle 3 lights) and not working. The owner is fed up and has bought a new Bosch. The old machine is now in my utility room where there's more space to work on it and the pipes are in full view, but it will be a long time before it gets to the top of my "to do" list (even though I'm very curious to find out more). We shall see whether my wife gets fed up with it being there before I get time!

Rocks1: I really appreciate the help you've given me, if we were face to face the least I could do would be get you a couple of beers. Let me know how I can do that, e.g. Paypal? Maybe PM me?

 

[TMWeddingPlanner]

Hi, I have a similar problem to this but with different lights flashing, can someone help pls? Thanks a lot.

My washing machine has stopped working. When I switch it on, all the lights flash on and off quickly and no buttons seen to do anything, even the cancel or off buttons. I've switched off the power to it two or three times for 10 minutes each time and the problem is still the same, although one time some of the lights had gone out and only some were flashing, I think this is an error code but can't find a list on the internet. The lights on the front are listed below, the ones that were flashing have a '1' in front

1 Wash enhance
1 Reduce creases
1 Rinse hold
1 Mini hold
Extra rinse
Door locked
Prewash
Wash
Rinse & spin
1 Final spin

I'm quite handy so would be comfortable with getting into the machine if it's an easy fix.

Thanks a lot