Washing machine buzzing but not starting
Discussion
Our washing machine appers go have gone on the blink this morning. It starts buzzing when I press the 'start' button and then continues buzzing for several minutes before the 'end' light illuminates, like it's finished, but it hasn't done anything.
It's an old-ish Bendix machine which we inherited from the OH's family. Typical front-loading type with a round window in the door.
Any ideas?
It's an old-ish Bendix machine which we inherited from the OH's family. Typical front-loading type with a round window in the door.
Any ideas?
Our Hotpoint had a bit of a Benny a few months ago and behaved a bit like you describe. In our case it was the motherboard that had a problem, but in other cases it's the water fill valve.
First thing I was told to check was for blockage in the water fill, either a kink in the pipe or a build up of crud at the filter before the valve.
First thing I was told to check was for blockage in the water fill, either a kink in the pipe or a build up of crud at the filter before the valve.
threadlock said:
Our Hotpoint had a bit of a Benny a few months ago and behaved a bit like you describe. In our case it was the motherboard that had a problem, but in other cases it's the water fill valve.
First thing I was told to check was for blockage in the water fill, either a kink in the pipe or a build up of crud at the filter before the valve.
There's no kink in the pipe. Where will I find the filter?First thing I was told to check was for blockage in the water fill, either a kink in the pipe or a build up of crud at the filter before the valve.
Morningside said:
Can you hear the inrush of water?
No, it never gets that far. We're thinking just get a new one as we could spend a lot of money having the fault diagnosed and then still have to fork out for a new one. Me being me I'd prefer to fix it, but the OH is starting to get irritable.jeff m2 said:
if it's a humm more than a buzz it could be the motor.
Stick "Front load Bendix" in youtube
Or the start capacitor - which are only a couple of quid of ebay.Stick "Front load Bendix" in youtube
Take the back of and carefully try to put a hand (or long screwdriver) on the motor to see if it's trying to turn.
The capacitor is a round tin can like thing on the side with a couple wires going to it.
eliot said:
jeff m2 said:
if it's a humm more than a buzz it could be the motor.
Stick "Front load Bendix" in youtube
Or the start capacitor - which are only a couple of quid of ebay.Stick "Front load Bendix" in youtube
Take the back of and carefully try to put a hand (or long screwdriver) on the motor to see if it's trying to turn.
The capacitor is a round tin can like thing on the side with a couple wires going to it.
Not familiar with this machine but sounds a bit like a Hall Effect sensor failure.
Edited by dickymint on Sunday 27th December 10:16
Buzzing sounds like an electric motor that is stalling. I'd have thought the most likely candidate is the one that pumps water out of the machine. If the filter is blocked it might stop the impellor spinning, or the motor itself might be knackered. Clearing the filter should be really easy. There'll be a little hatch somewhere on the machine hiding its cover. The pump motor is usually pretty easy to replace as they are one of the more likely components to fail. Goggle your machine's model number and you'll almost certainly find some help.
P.s. an awful lot of machines from a lot of brands all share the same controller board and other internals. Pretty sure this includes Bendix. Even if the system looks fairly primitive ... i.e. clicky rotor switch control and just a few LEDs on the front ... they still have a fairly useful self-test that you can trigger at start up. Again, some googling will help.
P.s. an awful lot of machines from a lot of brands all share the same controller board and other internals. Pretty sure this includes Bendix. Even if the system looks fairly primitive ... i.e. clicky rotor switch control and just a few LEDs on the front ... they still have a fairly useful self-test that you can trigger at start up. Again, some googling will help.
Edited by ATG on Sunday 27th December 09:48
Several things you can try here to reach a diagnosis.
Put it on a rinse cycle.
Does the water flow in?
Put it on a pure spin cycle.
Does it spin.
If it doesn't do anything on either then the drainage pump is the most likely candidate as all programmes will start by running that pump for a couple of minutes.
Always worth checking the door lock is working as well.
Put it on a rinse cycle.
Does the water flow in?
Put it on a pure spin cycle.
Does it spin.
If it doesn't do anything on either then the drainage pump is the most likely candidate as all programmes will start by running that pump for a couple of minutes.
Always worth checking the door lock is working as well.
The filter accessed via the flap on the front of the machine is fine. Are there any more?
For clarity - the noise is makes is a humming/buzzing like an electric motor that's being prevented from turning when a current is applied. There is no sound of water starting to enter the machine.
For clarity - the noise is makes is a humming/buzzing like an electric motor that's being prevented from turning when a current is applied. There is no sound of water starting to enter the machine.
This is exactly what our AEG did when the drain pump failed; the wash program won't start because the machine detects water present and tries to empty first.
I don't know how advanced a machine it is - Is there any error code showing or can you find a service manual on the net to see whether it has test modes?
I don't know how advanced a machine it is - Is there any error code showing or can you find a service manual on the net to see whether it has test modes?
322 said:
The first thing your machine will do is prime the pump, if this is jammed then it will make a humming noise, definitely check your filter before doing anything else.
I already checked the filter - if you mean the thing behind the little flap on the front of the machine. No problems there. Are there any other filters? Could something else be blocked?We just tried it on 'spin' and that worked fine, so we can rule out the motor or the belt.
MitchT said:
I already checked the filter - if you mean the thing behind the little flap on the front of the machine. No problems there. Are there any other filters? Could something else be blocked?
We just tried it on 'spin' and that worked fine, so we can rule out the motor or the belt.
Small coins and wire from bras can get through the filter (at least on mine) - you need to make sure that the pump impeller can turn freely. We just tried it on 'spin' and that worked fine, so we can rule out the motor or the belt.
This may not be possible to do through the filter housing. You might need to turn the machine on its side and remove the rubber pipe from the pump. Usually only a jubilee clip or similar. Much easier than it sounds 5 min job..
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