Hi all,
I have a 5-yr old Hotpoint FDW80 which has until today provided near faultless service (apart from a split hose a couple of years ago).
I came back to it after it had completed a wash cycle to find it making what at first sounded like electrical arcing , but later deduced the noise to be either a solenoid clicking or something rattling (actually sounds like it's tapping out rapid morse code ).
It was also showing an AL code but unfortunately I did not take note of this because my instant reaction was to turn the damn thing off quick! but I think it could have been AL05.
Turning it back on cleared the AL code, but the solenoid is still clicking randomly and I can hear a pump going. This is with the machine "off cycle", i.e. I can cycle through the programs on the display. However it only happens with the door closed.
The noise seems to be coming from, or under (above if the machine was right way up), the black part as marked up in photo 1 below. The short stub on the side is also rotating slowly and constantly, except it stutters when the clicking happens (see vid).
Also there is definitely a motor running because I can hear it. I didn't get to putting a meter on anything yet but if I hold a magnetised screwdriver to the drain pump the screwdriver vibrates so I reckon that it could be the drain pump I can hear.
After taking the pics below and put the cover back on and the machine back upright, the noise is still there but the display is now dead. Update: it was switched off, doh! Although it shows that the clicking/rattling noise happens regardless whether the machine is On or Off via the front panel.
I'm hoping with the above description someone can help me diagnose the problem, or ask me the right questions to lead me to it.
Also if water could have got onto the circuit board(s) how can I access these without destroying the machine? - I assume the electronics must be held within the door (?).
Click HERE and HERE for video clips with audio.
I have a 5-yr old Hotpoint FDW80 which has until today provided near faultless service (apart from a split hose a couple of years ago).
I came back to it after it had completed a wash cycle to find it making what at first sounded like electrical arcing , but later deduced the noise to be either a solenoid clicking or something rattling (actually sounds like it's tapping out rapid morse code ).
It was also showing an AL code but unfortunately I did not take note of this because my instant reaction was to turn the damn thing off quick! but I think it could have been AL05.
Turning it back on cleared the AL code, but the solenoid is still clicking randomly and I can hear a pump going. This is with the machine "off cycle", i.e. I can cycle through the programs on the display. However it only happens with the door closed.
The noise seems to be coming from, or under (above if the machine was right way up), the black part as marked up in photo 1 below. The short stub on the side is also rotating slowly and constantly, except it stutters when the clicking happens (see vid).
Also there is definitely a motor running because I can hear it. I didn't get to putting a meter on anything yet but if I hold a magnetised screwdriver to the drain pump the screwdriver vibrates so I reckon that it could be the drain pump I can hear.
After taking the pics below and put the cover back on and the machine back upright, the noise is still there but the display is now dead. Update: it was switched off, doh! Although it shows that the clicking/rattling noise happens regardless whether the machine is On or Off via the front panel.
I'm hoping with the above description someone can help me diagnose the problem, or ask me the right questions to lead me to it.
Also if water could have got onto the circuit board(s) how can I access these without destroying the machine? - I assume the electronics must be held within the door (?).
Click HERE and HERE for video clips with audio.