Lg Wm-16331Fd Drain Problems
Hi,
I've searched the forum and checked the troubleshooting section, but cant find an answer.
The washing machine come up with a drain fault code in the wash cycle and does not complete the cycle.
I've checked the filter,
Checked the large drain hose from the drum
Checked the recirc pump (it was easier to get to the recirc than the drain, I was checking on sludge build up) and it was clean.
Sometimes the machine drains and sometimes it doesn't, the pump seems to be working as it hums and occasionally does drain the machine completing the cycle or if it shows a fault code if you pause and restart it can carry on as normal, but more often than not it fails again.
So I'm a bit lost, the pipes seem clear as it does drain sometimes and you can blow/suck water through from the waste pipe.
In terms of blockages the only thing I can think is that there is something between the drums, which occasionally blocks the large drain pipe? Is that possible? Or could it be a faulty sensor?
I can feel the pump impeller and its got all the blades and is clean and free to spin.
We've run a hot wash on it to clean out any gunge and the waste water is fairly clean.
Any ideas or suggestions?
Solution Summary
AI-generated from this discussion
This thread was marked as solved. Here's a summary of the problem and the fix, generated from the discussion below.
LG WM-16331FD intermittent drain fault traced to pump
- The problem
- LG WM-16331FD was stopping during the wash cycle with a drain fault and not completing the programme. Draining was intermittent: sometimes it emptied and finished, other times it failed, although pausing and restarting could occasionally let it continue.
- Likely cause
- Intermittent failure of the drain pump was confirmed by the original poster after replacement. Before repair, contributors also considered a partial blockage in the drain path, sump hose ball or waste spigot, but this was not confirmed.
- What fixed it
- The original poster replaced both pumps and reported that the washing machine then worked fine. Earlier advice was to check for partial blockages in the waste spigot/u-bend connection and sump hose area, including anything intermittently obstructing flow.
- Checks to try
- Filter checked
- Large drain/sump hose from the drum checked
- Recirculation pump checked and found clean
- Hot wash run to clear gunge
- Waste pipe flow checked by blowing/sucking water through
- U-bend reported clear
- Pump impeller checked; blades present, clean and free to spin
- Parts or tools mentioned
- Replacement pumps
Safety: Further diagnosis should be carried out by a suitably qualified appliance engineer.
6 Answers
It sounds like a possible faulty pump cutting out intermittently or partial blockage somewhere (have you checked the u-bend connection spigot?). It's unlikely something would cover up the large sump hose hole but it's possible a sock or similar, or even gunge could partially or intermittently interfere with the flow of water. There's usually a plastic ball in the top of the sump hose which can get gunged up and stick.
I wrote an article especially for this situation - Can’t Find a Blockage But Washing Machine Still Not Draining
Need Professional Help or Spare Parts?
Hi,
Many thanks for your reply, I've read through the article and tried / checked the things you mention...apart from calling an engineer out.
The U-bend is clear (so long as its the one I'm thinking of, near the top at the back of the machine, opaque plastic U with a small vent pipe coming off the top and the main drain pipe flowing in and out?).
If it has a ball would it sit in the sump hose or in the connector to the drum? When I took the hose off, the one thing I didn't do was feel inside to short joiner pipe where it connects to the drum but the sump hose itself was clear, a few small stones in the grooves of the flex but nothing major.
Many thanks
The drain hose is usually pushed onto a plastic spigot, which in turn screws onto the u-bend. stuff (even small buttons) can get jammed inside the spigot, which is tapered to fit inside the drain hose but which restricts the diameter available for water to flow through. Also where the spigot screws to the u-bend you can sometimes get obstructions too.
Need Professional Help or Spare Parts?
Thank you, I'll check but I can pass water through and blow through the drain hose without much difficulty.
How does the machine know if it has drained or not, is there a sensor or is it just on a syphon system?
I've seen small buttons act as a butterfly valve swinging open and shut intermittently. Check this out for how washing machine controls water levels
Need Professional Help or Spare Parts?
Hi, Just to let you know that it was a fault with the pump, I've changed both of them and it works fine now.
Thanks for your help and suggestions.
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