Bosch WFL2000uk/01 - possible to repair?
Hello,
I've a 22 year-old washing machine that just suddenly decided it didn't want to play any more. It doesn't appear to be fatally broken - lights still come on, various things click, it still fills and drains...
I thought perhaps that the interlock switch might be playing up, and that was preventing it starting a cycle, but I'm not sure that's the case any more. I've ordered some carbon brushes - in the hope that that will fix its apparent inability to spin. Do you think that will do it?
It is an old machine, so I don't want to spend lots and lots trying to fix it if it's terminal, but I would prefer to fix than ditch and buy new, if possible.
When I press 'start' - it clicks as though it's about to do something, but then unclicks (almost same sort of sound as when the door lock releases after a wash - hence wondering if it was a dodgy connection in the interlock).
If the brushes/interlock don't fix it, do you have any other bright ideas? The drum does move if you rotate it with your hand, so it's not obstructed..
Thanks for any help! Much appreciated.
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.
Bosch WFL2000uk/01 fills and drains but will not start drum movement
- The problem
- A 22-year-old Bosch WFL2000uk/01 washing machine suddenly stopped running a wash properly. The control lights still come on, it clicks when Start is pressed, and it still fills and drains. The drum turns freely by hand, but the machine appears unable to spin or run the motor.
- Likely cause
- Worn motor carbon brushes were identified as a definite possibility, but this was not confirmed. The accepted reply also noted other possible causes including a faulty door lock, relay, main PCB fault, or connection/power supply issue. Exact cause was not proven.
- What fixed it
- Recommended action was to avoid guessing parts and remove the motor to inspect the carbon brushes to confirm whether they are worn before replacing anything. The reply also advised that, given the machine's age, it may not be worth further expense unless the fault is something straightforward. The exact repair was not confirmed.
- Checks to try
- Machine lights come on
- Machine clicks when Start is pressed
- Machine fills and drains
- Drum rotates freely by hand
- Carbon brushes were suggested for inspection by removing the motor
- Parts or tools mentioned
- Carbon brushes
- Motor
Safety: Further diagnosis should be carried out by a suitably qualified appliance engineer.
2 Answers
At that age, there is a chance that the carbon brushes could have completely worn out. However, it's a bad idea to guess at parts. You need to take off the motor, and inspect the carbon brushes to see if they are actually worn. This article gives a good idea on what to look for - Washing machine carbon brushes
On a modern washing machine, if the motor was not running, that would be detected, and the wash cycle would be aborted followed by the washing machine displaying some error code. But on a washer machine as old as that, it's unlikely to have any error codes system.
So on an old washing machine with worn out carbon brushes it would fill up with water, and just sit there for 20 minutes or so doing nothing other than heating up the water. When the water has reached the correct temperature, it should pump out the wash water and go through a cycle of filling with cold water, sitting there for 4 minutes or so, and then pumping out the water. In other words, it would go through all of the wash and rinse cycle, but the drum would just never turn.
Although worn carbon brushes is definitely a possibility, if the motor is failing to run, it could be caused by at least half a dozen other things too - Drum not turning during the wash cycle
Having said all that, it's perfectly possible that the fault has nothing to do with the motor at all, and the motor isn't running simply because the washing machine is not running the wash cycle properly due to a totally different fault. There's always the possibility that the door lock is faulty, but on an old washing machine, when the door lock is faulty I would expect nothing to work at all other than the control panel. The door lock is there to prevent the washing machine operating unless the door is securely and safely closed. It's always possible that for some reason your washing machine is designed to allow the washing machine to fill and drain with the door open, but just wouldn't let the motor run. I can't think why they would do that though.
Loud clicking noises could be something to do with a faulty relay, or faulty components inside the main PCB, or even connection or power supply problems. Basically at 22 years old, unless it is something very straightforward, I genuinely don't think it's worth spending time and money on. Even though modern washing machines are rubbish in comparison, at the end of the day it doesn't matter how well something is made, they only last so long.
Need Professional Help or Spare Parts?
Thanks so much.
I did a bit of reading around and hoped that it might be something that was a simple fix. If it isn't then I'll have to bite the bullet and get a new machine, but if there is a way to fix this myself it would be a) very satisfying and b) a lot cheaper!
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