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Fault Diagnosis on a Washing Machine

by / Tuesday, 11 November 2014 / Published in Washing machines

Paul Says

How to find your fault on your washing machine.

This short guide is designed to outline the most common problems on a washing machine, although many people that read this tutorial are looking for a quick way to find out how to repair a washing machine there are not really any shortcuts. What this guide is intended to do is compliment all the other information that you will find in the site detailing individual washing machine tutorials on how to repair the faults as well as the other articles in this section to allow you to correctly diagnose the problem or, at least have a clue about what the fault is and how to go about repairing your washing machine. You will always be able to ask questions in the blog for people to answer or us.

Safety First,

When accessing the washing machine, make sure you disconnect the washing machine from the electric supply

Specific Washing Machine fault to see causes and solutions

  • Appliance is leaking
  • Appliance will not start
  • Clothes are damaged after washing
  • Clothes are still dirty
  • Door will not open at end of programme
  • Drum will not rotate
  • Machine overfills and floods
  • No water entering machine
  • Stuck on wash cycle
  • Washer doesn’t fill with water
  • Washer/Dryer doesn’t dry

Common Washing Machine Problems.

Please bear in mind that this washing machine and washer dryer guide is very generic and offers only rough guidance and not our expert opinion on any one appliance or brand they are all slightly different, so some common sense will be required.

Washing machine will not start, no power.

There are lots of things that can cause this to happen but as with any fault diagnosis, start at the beginning and work through the problem methodically. So begin at the plug and make sure that there is power to the socket and that the fuse is okay before looking any further.

  • Mains filter
  • Door lock
  • Mains cable & terminal block
  • Main power switch
  • Control module or PCB

Washing machine noisy.

Objects trapped in between the outer tub and drum can also be the cause of noise, things like bra wires are extremely common to be retrieved from around the heater between the drum and they can cause damage to the machine and any clothing in it. If you can, remove the wires before washing or wash them in a special wash bag.
When machines are a few years old then it is very possible that the bearings are either faulty, or starting to collapse. With bearings the sooner that they are replaced the better as there is liable to do less damage, not using or minimising the use will help to avoid further damage.
Replace them as soon as you can see videos on how to change bearings.
Suspension stability can also cause excessive noise; obviously a fault with the suspension system can also produce a lot of noise from the machine shaking badly.

  • Noisy pump
  • Object in the drain pump
  • Object trapped in the tub
  • Bearings faulty
  • Washing machine not levelled correctly
  • Faulty dampers or suspension
  • Poor flooring or installation

Washing machine will not drain or is noisy on drain.

Generally this will be some sort of drain pump failure or blockage, see video for more help on this.

  • Drain pump blocked
  • Drain pump faulty
  • Waste outlet hose blocked
  • Sump hose blocked
  • Object in pump (coin, screw, baby sock ETC)
  • Poor flooring or installation

Washing machines drum not washing, turning or spinning.

Normally when this happens people often assume that the belt is faulty and, whilst this can be one of the causes it likely,
The most common fault still is if they have fitted the carbon brushes to the motor. See videos on this topic.
It can also be a problem with the speed control PCB or module or even what is referred to as the “tacho generator” on the washing machine’s motor.
Assuming everything else works these should be checked:

  • Belt
  • Faulty carbon brushes
  • Speed control PCB or module
  • Motor capacitor (where fitted)
  • Main control module
  • Motor faulty

Washing machine not heating or over heating.

Pretty easy one usually, in most cases there will be a faulty heater, thermostat, thermistor or pressure switch but there can be other causes. See videos on this topic.

  • Heater
  • Thermostat
  • Thermistor
  • Pressure switch/level sensor
  • Timer or control PCB/module

Washing machine not spinning.

(Also see previous ‘Washing machines drum not washing, turning or spinning.’)
Remember if the machine cannot drain within its time frame correctly then the spin will often abort so bear this in mind when looking for a problem.

  • Faulty or worn carbon brushes
  • Blocked pump or drain
  • Speed control PCB/module
  • Faulty contacts on fast cam within the timer
  • Faulty capacitor (where fitted)
  • Faulty motor
  • Faulty motor tacho
  • Overloaded or out of balance, can be made worse by poor installation or flooring
  • Faulty pressure switch

Washing machine not filling.

First, check the water supply is okay! Taps can stop working or you end up with very low water pressure.
Check the water valves or solenoids
Pressure switch is connected to the pressure chamber by a small bore air hose these can become faulty or the air passage can block.

  • Water supply
  • Water fill valve
  • Pressure switch
  • Control PCB/module
  • Bad smell from washing machine
  • door seal mouldy
  • Mould problems on seals and hoses.
  • dirty soap drawers.
  • Waste hose or trap problem

Washing machine lights flash and won’t work

This is most likely a new electronically controlled machine and the flashing lights will almost certainly be giving you a fault code

  • See manual to find code fault

Washing machine leaks from the front (see video tutorial on this)

  • Soap Drawer
  • Soap Drawer box to tub hose
  • Door Seal
  • Door glass
  • Washing machine leaking from underneath (see video tutorial on this)
  • Drain pump leaking
  • Filter is leaking
  • Tub gasket leaking on drum
  • Hose leaking (any of them)
  • Water pressure too high
  • Heater gasket perished
  • Door seal gasket
  • Pressure switch or sensor fault (overfilling)
  • Physical tub damage
  • Soap drawer damage
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458 Responses to “Fault Diagnosis on a Washing Machine”

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  1. ragu says : Reply
    December 17, 2016 at 4:21 pm

    i have a ifb front loader washing machine elite 5.5kg model. due to lock problem ,i changed my door interlock and turn it on.it working but suddenly power of machine gets stopped.i dont know why?
    after sometime i started again . after 2 to 3 min automatically its gets switch off.
    kindly solve my problem.

  2. Steve says : Reply
    December 20, 2016 at 1:57 am

    We have an Amana top loader machine which turns on and start filling with everytime if it ever gets uplugged and then plugged back in/circuit breaker resets/and after power outages. Do you thing its a control boar issue or something else is wrong?

  3. Valerie says : Reply
    January 7, 2017 at 12:39 pm

    Hi Paul
    I have a 4 yr old Seimens si12-14 washing machine that is stopping in the middle of the wash cycle I have to turn machine off at wall and leave for few mins before starting again This can happen a few times during the cycle Any help with the fault would be greatly appreciated
    Thanks

    • Paul Charmbury says : Reply
      January 12, 2017 at 12:15 pm

      I would check for blockages in the pipes at the bottom of the machine and also inspect the carbon brushes in the motor

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      Paul Charmbury
      Appliances Engineer
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      • Simon says : Reply
        April 4, 2017 at 3:09 pm

        Hi Paul. I replaced the seal on my Ignis wm (Im not an expert!) Sadly, it now wont work properly..either doesnt spin or no water enters…spanner light shows…sometimes. Is there anything i can try please?

  4. Ella. Evans says : Reply
    January 14, 2017 at 6:43 am

    I have 6 year old lamone Hja 8553 washing machine will fill up then a few minutes later the temperature light is flashing and that’s it will do nothing would appreciate any help thanks

  5. Zara says : Reply
    January 15, 2017 at 11:27 pm

    Hi Paul, I have a Beko washer/dryer 9kg 6kg, WDA91440, that is just over 2 years old. The drum doesn’t rotate on any wash program. The machine starts up, fills with water, although the screen says “spinning”, it isn’t and then drains and then a message comes on “safety”. The drum can be moved manually and the belt is on it fine. The “dryer” part of the machine stopped working 6months in, not sure how relevant that is to the drum not spinning now. Is it worth fixing?

  6. Lorraine says : Reply
    January 16, 2017 at 11:20 pm

    Hi my front loading washing machine has a trickle of water running from lower center of door has the seal gone? HELP!

  7. Debby says : Reply
    January 17, 2017 at 7:47 pm

    Samsung ecobubble no lights, check fuses and all ok. Took top of washer but can’t tell which plug is power going into board

  8. Yilmaz says : Reply
    January 24, 2017 at 3:49 pm

    Hi paul
    My bosch exxel B makes like a deep rindin noise every so often and the noise comes from within.
    I am guessing from around the internal drum where the clothes go.
    I do not thing there is any object as it would be continuous.
    The noise is every so often and more so just in spin cycle.
    Any clues paul would be a great help please ?

    Kind regards
    Yil

  9. Dominik says : Reply
    February 4, 2017 at 11:22 am

    Paul – I got a burning smell and light smoke coming from the top of my washing machine while on the spin cycle last night. After turning it off and pulling my clothes out, they smelt of the smoke as well. I have pulled the maching out and had a look around the inside for an obvious source of the smoke. I couldn’t see much but did notice the smokey smell around the control panel on the inside. The belts and motor look fine and present no obvious signs of being the problem areas. Any thoughts? I would be very grateful!

  10. Ross Wilson says : Reply
    February 7, 2017 at 10:40 am

    My ariston machine is not spinning or draining WATER. What can i do the machine is full of water

  11. Yasmin says : Reply
    February 8, 2017 at 9:20 pm

    Washing machine leaking from soap box, have already emptied filter and that’s not worked. Doesn’t seem to finish it’s cycle as soap still visible and also clothes are wetter than normal

  12. PAULINE THOMPSON says : Reply
    February 9, 2017 at 1:51 pm

    my beko is putting the water into the pre wash tray, not into the main wash, and the programme timer is not counting down. it only runs for about 6 mins regardless of what programme it is started on.

  13. kathryn kelly says : Reply
    February 13, 2017 at 6:41 pm

    little problem with our beko washing machine i put connditioner in the middle container of the soap tray after a wash softlan is still in the soap tray is it blocked up

  14. David says : Reply
    February 18, 2017 at 8:29 pm

    My Hotpoint washing Machine half way through a cycle had all lights flashing intermitantly , then all lights including the power went out for 30 seconds or so and came back on. There was also a strange burning smell so i turned it off and unplugged it. opened the top to see if there was any visual evidence of what i could smell and noticed that there is a melted area, where on what i can only assume is the power conduit that is connected to the mains lead. what should i do? and is this the manufacturers responsibility to replace it.

  15. Dipesh says : Reply
    February 23, 2017 at 6:07 am

    Hi paul . I have a Smart stwm801 8kg top loader .. everytime i want to use it .. it will stop in the mid cycle and flases E2 error .. i tried to do the lid check and balance check too but didn’t work .. it always stops After the rinse cycle and didnt spin when its turn to get into the spin cycle .. i tried to put it in spin cycle only for few times but it doesnt spin .. please help me

  16. DEBBIE says : Reply
    February 28, 2017 at 11:09 am

    WE HAVE A BEKO 6KG NEW MACHING – BOUGHT SEPTEMBER AND NOTICED IT STILL WASHING WHEN WE PUT ON A 28 MIN CYCLE. WE REVIEWED IT AND IT STARTED RE-FILLING 5 MINS BEFORE THE END AND JUMPS BACK TO START AGAIN. WE RAISED THE ISSUE WITH THE SHOP AND GOT A BRAQND NEW ONE LAST THURSDAY.
    GUESS WHAT- YES IT IS DOING THE SAME!
    THEY SAID THEY HAVE NOT GOT ANY OTHER ISSUE LIKE THIS CURRENTLY.
    WHAT CAN IT BE?

  17. Ken clarke says : Reply
    March 2, 2017 at 4:18 pm

    A power cut when the washer was on it will not start even though power was off for only a few minutes

  18. David H says : Reply
    March 10, 2017 at 12:52 am

    I have a kemore top loader that suddenly stopped working before the spin cycle. I replaced the timer today but nothing. Suggestions please

  19. Ol says : Reply
    March 13, 2017 at 1:03 pm

    My Miele washing machine was not washing or spinning properly, leaving clothes drenched. It chugged and seemed not to have enough power. I changed the brushes but to keep the original terminal connectors I cut the old ones off and soldered them to replace the new ones. Though worn it was not the brushes, one was worn more than the other but still protruded enough to complete the circuit.
    I had cleared the drain previously, it was partially blocked, that had not been the problem. I located the small L shaped tube beneath the machine from the drum to the sensor. Removing this I found the 90 degree bend was very effective as a trap. Trapped at the bend was a tip of a ball point pen/press pencil and what appeared to be a date seed. I could not blow air through this tube, it was blocked solid. With a tweezer I gently removed these objects, thus able to identify them, taking care not to puncture the tube. The tube was about 3 inches long at most I think. (My wife wanted to throw the machine out and I had to insist to keep it.) After clearing this blockage I replaced the tube and the two spring clips securing the tube at the drum and the sensor connectors. The machine worked, taking time to clear the slimy sludge that must have remained within the sensor. The machine now works perfectly and I have done about 10 washes since. Spins quietly, like new even when the load in unbalanced, it adjusts for best balance but spins beatifully. The machine my wife tells me is over 20years old, I don’t think it’s been repaired before. I now double check all pockets prior to washing and at times find something I had missed first time round.
    Hope this helps, not only Miele owners but those with other machines too.

  20. Gab. says : Reply
    March 13, 2017 at 1:37 pm

    I have a Siemens washing. It won’t start. The panel shows No. Yes.
    Please tell me what’s wrong.Thanks.

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