Any washing machine guru's on here?
 

I need help diagnosing a fault with my washing machine.

The machine is a Zanussi FA1026, it started to be a bit temperamental a few months back and now doesn't want to start at all, previously i'd stick a wash in shut the door set the program press start door safety would click but it wouldn't go, so switch off wait for the door to release take some stuff out spin the drum make sure it's not over loaded and try again, and eventually it would go after some swearing and door slamming/vigorous button pushing and knob twiddling.:D

Naturally this led me to believe it was a faulty door switch, so purchased one off evilbay, i've just fitted it and it's the same story :( so now i'm at a bit of a loss and could do with pointing in the right direction before I end up going out and stumping up for a new one, although it's 5yrs old the machine has not had a hard life as it spent the first couple of years doing nothing and only done about one wash a week if that since then as it's in my place in Croatia.

Any ideas or known faults with this machine???

Don't have direct knowledge of said model Common problems with washing machines are blocked jammed waste water pumps, gummed up water level sensor. Motor problems could be worn brushes or faulty motor controller.

I would check the waste water pump and pipe work for clear pipes and impellor is free(the motor might feel very stiff to turn by finger but it it usually caused by the strong magnets)

Checked the motor brushes? Spring loaded carbon starts off about 25mm long.
Is it somewhere damp?

This is the most common problem. And a few pounds from a spares online shop and you'll be as good as new.

(Easy to check: Take back of washing machine, take out motor and release the brushes and see how long they are)

OK thank's guys, I shall give all of the above a try.:thumb:

Andy97, where will I find the water level sensor?

Generally there is a small pipe connected to the larger pipe work on the bottom of the drum assy. At the other end there will be a pressure sensor. If the pipe becomes gunged up the sensor will misread. I don't think your problem lays there as the washer would over fill possibly. Look at the waste motor for free movement and clear of debris and also the brushes on the main drum motor

My mate Vincent longslong, will pay you a visit to fix ur washing machine.
Ohhhhhh yeeeaaahhh!!!!

Ok tried all of the above and still no joy :( I have seen a pump on ebay for £20 delivered but i'm a tad reluctant to start throwing anymore money at it until i'm 100% what the problem is, brushes look ok and are 25mm+, I certainly dont want to spend £150 on motor so could do with some more clues.

Buy a new machine for £150 .............

Are you SURE the impeller is turning? I have a Zanusi and it acts up when the impeller sticks .... lower panel, drop down, right hand side a round cover, remove cover (some water will run out be ready), spin the impeller or take it out and re-insert.

My Ariston used to refuse to start when the pump/filter was blocked.

well - the first thing a washer does is lock door - then starts to fill. I would pull it out and check that the fill hose is not kinked and there is sufficient water supply.

edit -- have you tried it on 'spin' only, and what does it do then?

You have cleaned the filter haven't you?

There is no pump filter, there's what looks like a table tennis ball in the pipe work to the waste pump and a tube going to a pressure switch, I have cleaned everything including all electrical contacts, one last thing to try and then i'm off shopping for a new one in the morning because they're rob dogs over here and I dont want to spend £150+ having someone "fix" it only for something else to go wrong a short while down the line.:(

Get a Miele, they supposedly built to last 20 years, they currently have a free 5 year warranty on selected machines and a 10 year warrantly for £149.

I have a sneaking suspicion that if it's built to last 20yrs it will cost £500 ish which is way more than I want to spend.

The other problem I have here in Croatia is you kind of have to buy what ever it is they have in the store which is how I ended up with a Zanussi, which would not normally have been a first choice, I prefer hotpoint as they have served me well in the past.

All recommendations welcome though.:thumb:

As others have said, try it on spin only, but also check to see if there's a small bore plastic pipe coming off the back of the door switch and leading up to a sensor somewhere near the electrical controls. If this got bunged-up or disconnected it would most likely prevent operation or water-filling.

Lift the top lid. Look for a thermostats with a wax covered hole. Push a pen in it to reset the trip switch.

Oh wait. That's hot point.

Try: unplug it from mains. Leave half hour to discharge. Remove connectors from pwb at the front and then reconnect.

Try machine see what happena

Ok result, it's working on spin only so where do I go from here?

Btw if you don't leave it to discharge and then touch an electrical part it will throw you across the room!

Cheers rob, useful to know.:lol1:

P.s. No abbreviations please, I'm a washing machine virgin.:)

Ok, so the way I see it is the motor is working as is the pump because when I put it on spin It goes first then the drum starts to go round.

There is no pipe coming from the door switch just 3 connectors with a wire coming from each, but presumably this is working because it spins.

Sorry pwb is power board. A solder could have come off or a terminal corroded

Has to be water-level related, in that case. Sensor either thinks it's full or unable to fill.

Most likely the pressure switch, but could be the water inlet valve or something more subtle in the electronics.

Does this help

http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/help/f...ror-codes.html

Rob, sadly no as experience has taught me to avoid fancy display panels on dishwashers / washing machines and cookers. :(

Pressure switch works when I blow into it, so i'm suspecting water inlet valve.

Hotpoint now owned by the Merloni group, built to a price. Avoid.

when you put it on a wash cycle, do you hear a droning 'buzzing' sound (that will be the water-valve 'calling' for water) ::

no buzzing sound = water valve suspect (or no power to valve)

buzzing sound = no water supply

There's no buzzing sound so i'll get my meter out and check for a power feed, finally getting somewhere.:)

Thanks for the help so far guys, your saving me a few hundred quid.:thumb:

I think i'm on the home straight now, got the meter on the job and it would seem all connections are in tact, I set it to volts and switched on while on each contact at which point the readings became fixed indicating that they are at least making contact with the PWB, not sure how to test the switching aspect of either the inlet valve or pressure switch so any pointers would be welcome.

The pressure switch seems to be related to the waste side as the vacuum pipe that comes off the bottom goes down to the pump pipe work, so presumably is not part of the water in / start sequence, so again I am left thinking it's the inlet valve, or does it have something to do with the machine thinking it's still full of water so won't allow it to over fill?

Is there a way to by-pass or trick the inlet valve solenoid into operation so as to confirm it's where the problem lies.

I have found both parts on Ebay for roughly a tenner each plus P&P so don't mind giving it a shot for the sake of another 30 quid, but would just like to confirm exactly what the fault is before shelling out again and probably doing without a washing machine for another 10 days + waiting on parts.

I sent you a pm, for things to try.
Check you've got continuity across the valve, if not, the top solenoid section is bolloxed, some types of solenoid can be levered off, and just the solenoid replaced.
The valve section could be blocked with sh1t, in which case, new valve.