Are there any washing machine engineers out there?

[islasmum]

I have a Hotpoint Aquarius washing machine that's about 4 years old, and yesterday and today it has not been finishing the cycles - it's usually on a 40 degree wash (no. 4) and instead of finishing the cycle it starts the power button flashing and the rinse hold and another light flashing, and the door will not undo, presumably as there's water still in it. I've tried thje pump out cycle, but that doesn't seem to help. I tried to have a look at a filter yesterday - behind the kick board at the front of the machine - the instructions said that that might be blocked up, but I could only turn it slightly anti-clockwise, enough to let a drop of water come out, but unable to actually unscrew it. At present I really haven't got the money to call an engineer out, so would like to try and fix it myself it I can. Thanks for any help.

[RATTER15]

Chuck, when he is about.

[ummmm]

Have you checked the pipe at the back?

I think Chuck used to repair washing machines.

[islasmum]

I'll check the pipe, and hope for Chuck to pass this way. Thanks

[tommy-h]

persevere in trying to remove filter,it only needs a half turn then a pull.sounds like it may be being obstructed by a hanky or sock.use a bit of muscle but prpare to get your feet wet as remaining water in machine will gush out once obstruction is removed.if necessary use pliers to get a better grip good luck im

[AlBags]

You don't necessarily need a wm engineer to fix many faults ..
What model is it .. and exactly which lights are flashing? That means something!

You need to get that filter out at the bottom .. as this could be the reason for warning lights (no pressure sense) If that's no good ..
You need to check machine with power OFF and top removed. Check pressure pipe down to base of drum outer (round pressure switch) Check cable connected to it ok.
Then if no good .. check there is no water contam/corrosion on the connector to the control board .. that's probably underneath somewhere.
That covers most .. but check exactly what lights you have flashing first.

[AlBags]

These codes are on many Aquarius ..
Numbered top to bottom ..

f01 light 4, motor triac
f02 light 3 motor, jammed/ tacho
f03 lights 3&4 Ntc fault
f04 light 2. pressure sw stuck on empty
f05 lights 2&4, pressure sw stuck on full
f06 lights 2&3, N/A?
f07 lights 2&3&4 heater relay
f08 light 1. heater relay
f09 lights 1&4 eprom/setup error
f10 lights 1&3, pressure switch not sensing
f11 lights 1&3&4, pump/draining error
f12 lights 1&2, communication error
f13 lights 1&2&4, dryer ntc/ fan motor
f14 lights 1&2&3, dryer heater
f15 lights 1&2&3&4, dryer heater relay
f16 N/A
f17 light 4, door lock
f18 light 3 comms error (3 phase motor) power boar

[ChuckFickens]

Agree with above....I think the obvious answer is to try again (and harder) to get that filter out!

That very fact that it's hard to remove kinda indicates there is a problem there.

As Tommy says above, when you do remove that filter any water left in the machine is going to come out over the floor!, you can try dropping the end of the drain pipe to floor level (preferably out a back door!) and if it's only something jamming the pump most the water will drain out that way, if not you'll just have to deal with a wet floor.

[old-wos-is-name]

Remove the discharge hose from its upstand pipe at the back. get a bowl, put it on the floor and put the discharge hose into it. it will probably gravitiate some water. if it flows full belt, lift the hose to above the the top of the machine, empty the bowl, do it again.then when no water comes out of the hose then try to get the filter out. it does sound like a blocked filter, but of course the pump could be naff, or the programmer may have failed.

[islasmum]

Thank you all for your very helpful suggestions - I think that it is more than likely a sock is jammed in it - I tried to undo the filter, but I tried to unscrew it, rather than pull it! My OH will lend a helpig hand tomorrow, unfortunately he has one hand in plaster after an operation on it last week, but I'm sure that we can get the filter out between us ( otherwise, I could ask the fit young builder who lives next door to help!) I shall print out those codes, Al-bags, as they look very useful to have to hand. Thanks all again.

[AlBags]

Ah .. there you are.
Yes .. I think the filter is twist and pull .. I expect the O-ring seal is tight tho.
It's usually the smalls that cause a problem!

[islasmum]

After much heaving and swearing, I managed to remove the filter, and it was absolutely chock-a-block full of dog hair! So now it has a nice clean filter, so hopefully all is well. Thank you all.

[tommy-h]

usually is a simple answer glad to help

[ChuckFickens]

And 9/10 with problems like this it's the filter or a blockage in the pump.

If it works now remove that filter every month or so and give it a clean.

(I got a new record last week, £12.90 in change and £900+ of jewellery from one filter!.... all returned to owner who wondered why it wasn't spinning properly.)

[islasmum]

Maybe he/she was money-laundering?!