Hotpoint WDL540 error lights

[Parrot Feet]

Hi. My washing machine (Hotpoint WDL540) wont start a cycle and eventually has flashing lights. I've tried several times unplugging and retrying but no luck. I've cleaned the filter and checked the hose for blockages. I've also had the panels off and checked for loose connections inside.

Now the last time I got the error lights the horizontals all flashed orange and the green end light was solid (vertical position 5). From what I've found on the hotpoint website this means nothing so I was hoping someone else could check this for me.

I'm currently trying a cotton cycle with no tumble dry to see what happens. The water pumped to the first tray, pause and then the second tray (for powder). From what I could see it didnt do the fabric softener tray. Then an unusually long pause before I heard clicking inside the machine, possibly switches trying to set the next step in motion. It's done nothing now for 15 minutes, with a click or two every so often, but no error lights yet. Perhaps it thinks it's actually doing a cycle?

Electrics is not my strong point, and I would usually call for assistance, but I can't even get through as most places are affected by Covid. The Hotpoint service line isn't even taking any calls. So I'm just trying to see if its an obvious quick fix an amateur could fix. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Parrot Feet]

I've attached a photo of the panel I took last night. The orange lights are flashing rapidly, and the green light is solid in the 'end' position. I'm now thinking this is position 1, which would indicate a motor short? I am running a cycle at the moment to see if I can get the error lights again, but it is about 1 hour in with normal lights but no spinning. I can still hear little clicks from inside as if its trying to do something.

 

[jj4091]

Select spin only programme & see what happens, if you get a fault code or the drum never turns then the first thing to check would be the motor brushes for wear or sticking in their holders. If they are ok then check the pressure switch & pipe joining it to the pump for blockage.

 

[Parrot Feet]

Thanks for that. I took the motor off and at first glance the brushes appear to be touching, however taking them off there is nothing left of them! The attached photo shows the wear. I'll get some brushes ordered and see if that fixes it.

 

[Parrot Feet]

... if you get a fault code or the drum never turns then the first thing to check would be the motor brushes for wear or sticking in their holders ...

Success! Thank you very much for the suggestion JJ, replacement brushes came and swapped them over. Did a test run and it's back up and running, currently working through the backlog of clothes! Hopefully the details in this thread will help others who have the same issue, certainly something an amateur can do. It's funny, my dad suggested checking the motor brushes but I was more convinced the light codes were trying to tell me something that I focused on that. They pointed to the motor but something different, something I was just about to call a Hotpoint engineer out for.