The washing machine does not work

A washing machine can stop working for completely different reasons. Any repairman will immediately tell you several hundred possible reasons, so in order to determine the nature of the breakdown, you need to collect as much information as possible about it. We will talk about why the washing machine does not work and its typical breakdowns in this article.

Symptoms of failure

If your washing machine suddenly stops working completely or stops working correctly, do not rush to call the service center and call a technician. We are not necessarily talking about a breakdown that you cannot fix with your own hands. First of all, observe the car and its behaviour.

• If the washing machine does not turn on at all, no matter how much you press the on/off button, then there is either a problem with the power supply or with the electrical system of the machine itself.
• If the washing machine turns on, but you cannot set any program or function, then the problem is in the electronics.
• If the washing machine washes, but at the same time makes very strong extraneous sounds: knocking, metallic grinding, ringing, the problem is in the moving mechanism of the drum.
• If the washing machine washes but does not drain the water, freezing at this stage, then the problem may lie in the drain pump.

You can continue the thought for a very long time, because there can be hundreds, and maybe even thousands of these “ifs”. The main thing is that you understand the meaning, start thinking logically and be attentive to your home assistant.

In addition to externally studying the symptoms of a washing machine failure, it is also necessary to study the self-diagnosis system of a specific washing machine model. The fact is that the control module of any modern automatic washing machine is designed to recognize many typical faults. If the machine detects such a malfunction, it will stop working and display a specific error code on the display. Your task will be to decipher this code, after which you will understand what is broken.

Let's give an example. Error code E20 on an Electrolux washing machine means that the machine cannot drain waste water. A system error doesn't tell you exactly what's wrong, but it does greatly limit the range of problems that could potentially occur. In this case, either the pump, or the water level sensor, or the control module triac is broken.

Doesn't turn on at all

If the washing machine does not turn on, the first thing to do is check the power supply. You need to start with the simplest reasons that can be checked without disassembling the washing machine.

• Check to see if there is a power outage and if the machine is plugged in.
• Unplug the machine's power cord from the socket and plug the plug from another electrical appliance into the socket. Perhaps the socket or wiring is simply faulty.
• Try connecting the washing machine to a different outlet, pilot or uninterruptible power supply.

These measures sound like some kind of stupidity, but in fact the most common reasons for the so-called failure of a washing machine is the inattention of users. More serious reasons follow:

• The on/off button does not work,
• The power cord, plug or power filter is broken;,
• The control module element or the control module itself is faulty,
• The wiring or wire connections in the machine body are faulty.

To check the car and eliminate the above causes of the problem, you will have to disassemble the technician and test it with a multimeter, and this requires certain skills. At this stage, it is better to contact a qualified technician.

Program or function cannot be selected

It may happen that you are trying to select a washing program or function, but it is not selected. Some programs or functions may not work. For example, you want to turn on quick wash, but this program does not turn on, but you can activate the “cotton quickly” program. The problem should be repeated time after time after turning on the washing machine; if the problem is resolved by restarting the washing machine, it is too early to sound the alarm.

This or a similar problem is most likely caused by either the control module or the switch. The switch cannot be repaired and must be replaced. The control module is also complicated. Perhaps the problem is a burnt triac, and then repair is possible, but it may be serious, and then the control board will need to be replaced. No one can tell you for sure offhand, you need to open it and look. It’s better not to do this yourself, so as not to break something.

Erases incorrectly

Why can the washing machine not work correctly, because it seems to start and start washing? In this case, the reasons are “a carriage and a small cart.” If the washing machine does not display any system errors, you need to monitor it very carefully and determine what deviations from the norm are taking place.

Quite a lot of faults can be determined by ear. Each stage of the washing program is accompanied by a special sound. If the sound is abnormal, this is already a reason to think about it. What breakdowns can lead to improper washing?

The driving mechanism of the washing machine drum (belt, bearings, bushing, crosspiece) is broken.

• The water level sensor has failed.
• The pump is broken.
• The heating element has failed.
• The temperature sensor does not work.
• The control module is broken.
• The filling valve operates intermittently.

These are just the most basic reasons why a machine may not work properly. You can study the full list if you read hundreds of thematic publications posted on our website. You can't tell about it in a few words.

Shuts down suddenly

Why does the washing machine suddenly turn off, what is the cause of this “illness”? Well, firstly, you need to understand what is meant by the phrase “suddenly turns off”, and secondly, determine the moment when this happens. If the washing machine is de-energized at the moment of maximum load on the network, namely at the moment of heating water or during intensive operation of the engine, we are talking about an overload of the circuit. You need to immediately turn off the power to the equipment and check the wiring and socket.

If the washing machine suddenly turns off and an error with a certain code appears on the display, this means that the self-diagnosis system has worked normally, you need to decipher the error and eliminate the malfunction that caused it. In rare cases, the control module may be the culprit for a sudden shutdown, if one of the tracks on the board is broken or one of the semiconductor elements is poorly soldered. Ultimately, a specialist will figure this out; it’s better not to go into electronics yourself.

To summarize, let us note why the washing machine may not work? The answer to this question is worthy of an entire book. It is impossible to answer this in detail within the framework of one article. The main weapon in troubleshooting a washing machine is your head, but you will always have time to call the service center, try to be reasonable!