Washing Machine Help Forum

[Flobadob]

Hi Guys

Fingers crossed someone can help me here. My Indisit WAX120 washing machine which we have had for some time has developed a fault.

Observations

1. Setting usually on No.6 50deg wash and was set to this when fault occurred
2. Small amount of water enters the drum
3. Drum begins to spin gently then spins gently in oposite direction
4. Repeat of above
5. This cycle never ends and after an hr had not advanced onto the next cycle.
6. On moving dial by hand onto next cycle, the drum stops and a small buzzing noise is detectable. Then the drum begins to spin gently then spins gently in oposite direction as point 3 above. Then a second or so later the settings dial begins to rotate and click while the drum is rotating as above.
7. This continues until I power the m/c off
8. Leaving unit off for a while and then powering up again only brings up the same problem.

Any ideas???

Cheers

Neal

[Phidom]

Check that your hot and cold taps to the machine are turned on and that the hoses are not crushed. Make a note of any sequence of flashing lights and report back.

[iadom]

Also , if you move the dial on when machine is in operation it will click all the way round to its original setting, this is normal.

You have to turn the knob to one of the three 'reset' positions, switch off then turn to whatever programme you require then switch on again.

If you have access to a meggar or multimeter and the expertise to use it you could test the heating element for resistance/continuity. Be sure to remove the mains plug if you intend to do this.


Jim.

[Flobadob]

Cheers guys I will have a check tomorrow after work. Dont worry I am pretty handy with those electickery thingys.

[Flobadob]

Didnt get chance to rip the old girl apart last night as replacing my brake discs and pads on my car. Hopefully will attempt it today but I have a few more observations.

I followed the instructions about reseting the dial and noticed that each time I set the dial to a diffeent cycle 5,6,7 and 8 it never completed the cycle and never moved onto the next cycle. But reset and move the dial onto the rinse cycle it completed the last 4 cycles (rinse, condition, rinse and spin) in normal time. Is this because the water is not required to be heated? If so it would explain why the cycles on the temperature setting cycles 5,6,7 and 8 didnt advance because the water isnt reaching the required temp? From this I assume it to be the element thats at fault? What reading should I be looking at for a good and duff element?

I am assuming a low resistance for a good element, and a open circuit for a duff element?

Cheers

Neal

[iadom]

Resistance of heater should be around 30Ω.

No flashing light error messages will be displayed if heater is faulty, the symptoms you describe are exactly what would happen with a faulty heater.

There are two different heaters, depends on type of outer drum, metal or plastic.

If it is a plastic drum you need THIS element.

The one for the metal drum does not appear to be in the shop, it is a C00088399, an e-mail to spares@ukwhitegoods.co.uk should get things sorted for you.
Jim.

[Flobadob]

Hi Jim

No flashing lights other than when u first turn it on. On power on I see 3 normal flashes followed by I think 3 fast flashes followed by normal flashes until u select a cycle. I will check out what type she is tomorrow as kids have been in house all day due to the rain and wanted my attention all day.

Oh yeah discovered Cycle 8 will run if cold water setting is selected on the temp. Also had chance to check the water supplies and they are all ok and not blocked.

Many thanks for the links and info

Neal

[Flobadob]

Right next step done

Drum is indeed a plastic item but once I found, removed and checked the element the resistance is 30.8Ω. Though it is covered in white gloop which I beleive to be old soggy soap power mixed with a touch of limescale.

I notice there is a Indesit Washing Machine Thermistor/NTC could it be this at fault? If so how do I check if its faulty?

Cheers

Neal

[Phidom]

The NTC is attached to the heater. You could pull it out of the heater, dangle it in a pan of cold water on the cooker so just the tip is immersed and measure the resistance as you heat the water. It will start off at a few thousand ohms and the resistance should vary with temperature.

[iadom]

Faulty NTC should generate an error code, it would not give the symptoms you have.

Checking the control module for burnt tracks or connections and testing continuity from heater to module would be next step.

[Flobadob]

Checked wiring loom and connections all ok. Popped open the plastic cover to find a slight charring on the inside cover. Checked over the PCB to find a charred dry joint on the underside of the PCB which connects relay RL1 to power connector. My intention today is to clean up the pad and resolder it. Lob it back in and test her out.

If all fails then its either a new PCB as a charred pcb could indicate more than one problem which could of knocked out a number of devices. Or look for a replacement washing machine.

Just in case my soldering fails does anyone know where I can get hold of a PCB for the WAX120 and how much it would cost?

Data on PCB WR@P 0020.5 LB2000 UNI-ST

Cheers

Neal

[Phidom]

Best to try the solder repair before troubling others for more help

[Flobadob]

Me again

Soldered the PCB, put it all back together, ran it on a cycle only to watch water pee out all over the floor from the element and NTC.

So do I need some sealent of some sort to stop it from leaking? will general bathroom sealent do or is there some secret stuff I need to know about?

Cheers

Neal

[Penguin45]

Have you tightened the centre nut to re-compress the rubber seal?

Penguin45.

[Phidom]

My advice for others reading this thread is to only remove a heater if you know it is faulty or damaged. For resistance checks leave it in situ and if you suspect earth leakage due to damage of the outer sheath, pour some water into the drum and check resistance between a terminal and the outer casing. Both resistance checks are done with the wires disconnected from the heater. Washing machine heaters are not easy to re-fit and the consequences of doing it wrong can be easily imagined.