Bloody Washing Machine!

[virtual-angel]

Thanks for your comments everyone.

Ive been told that the comet clearance center was in glasgow but im not sure exactly where, if you can give me the address aliferste, il pop in and have a look.

Ok here goes, my washing machine is a Zanussi Z917. It leaks water from the tray where you put the powder (ive cleaned it out and theres no blockage as far as i can see) and from the small door on the front. Theres an awful rattling sound when the machine spins clothes and whenever i wash a load of whites or light coloured clothes i find small orange stains in strange places which i suspect might be rust!? if thats possible..

Also handyman, jonboy, lord nikon and iadom, how are you with tumble dryers? I have an electra 459 that still works but doesnt produce any heat?! It was with the house when we bought it and i dont think the people ever cleaned out the filters cos they were all clogged with fluff! ive cleaned it all out but i think the motor might be burnt out as theres still no heat.

Thanks again everyone, your help is very much appreciated!

Tracy

[iadom]

Originally Posted by virtual-angel

Thanks for your comments everyone.

Ive been told that the comet clearance center was in glasgow but im not sure exactly where, if you can give me the address aliferste, il pop in and have a look.

Ok here goes, my washing machine is a Zanussi Z917. It leaks water from the tray where you put the powder (ive cleaned it out and theres no blockage as far as i can see) and from the small door on the front. Theres an awful rattling sound when the machine spins clothes and whenever i wash a load of whites or light coloured clothes i find small orange stains in strange places which i suspect might be rust!? if thats possible..

Also handyman, jonboy, lord nikon and iadom, how are you with tumble dryers? I have an electra 459 that still works but doesnt produce any heat?! It was with the house when we bought it and i dont think the people ever cleaned out the filters cos they were all clogged with fluff! ive cleaned it all out but i think the motor might be burnt out as theres still no heat.

Thanks again everyone, your help is very much appreciated!

Tracy

If the drawer leaks whilst filling then your water pressure is to high. The Zanussi machines from years back where prone to this and all machines can suffer in the same way. If you have a combi boiler then your hot water will be filling at a much higher pressure than a normal gravity fed supply. Try to reduce the flow of water by adjusting the hot & cold taps connected to the washer, you should get a steady flow but not a loud gushing noise. If it leaks from the drawer during spin then you have a partial blockage somewhere. It is essential on most imported machines to keep the filter at the bottom clean. Another possibe cause is that the machine is overfilling due to soap build up in the pressure chamber, this would cause the water level to be far to high in the drum. Does it appear to be filling higher than normal?
Only an examination will determine the exact cause of any noise but coins and bra wires in the drum can be a factor. If you rotate the drum by hand does it seem smooth and not over loose? If it rotates smoothly and quietly by hand then it would suggest that this machine is well worth repairing.
Regarding the rust marks on the clothes, this is either the aforementioned bra wires in the drum or due to Iron deposits in your water supply. If the inside of your soap dispenser shows signs of rust or reddish stains in the rinse or cold fill side of the drawer then you have iron in your water and other than moving there is little that can be done to prevent the occasional staining. Most dry cleaners can remove these stains.

Re the tumble dryer, again the model and make would help but if it has had a blocked outlet then the most likely cause of no heat is safety thermostat failure. These are usually fairly inexpensive to replace. Hoover/ Creda early models approx £5 to £8. Later Hotpoint/Creda models have two stats that cost between £8 and £12.

EDIT, you have given the dryer model, missed that sorry. The Electra appliances can be anything. They where produced for the Electricity boards by many different manufacturers but the principals are the same, at worst a faulty heater but more likely the stats, both inexpensive to repair.

If you look on the back of the dryer you can sometimes find a small label or plate that will identify the manufacturer.

[Jonboy]

Hmm an fellow X hotpont eng in these forums
dont tell me you hate creda bearing changes

[iadom]

Originally Posted by Jonboy

Hmm an fellow X hotpont eng in these forums
dont tell me you hate creda bearing changes

The old Creda manufactured bearings could be a pain. I worked for Hotpoint in the 60/70s and have had my own business for over 23 years, did you ever have to change drum bearings on the old English Electric manufactured Liberators, now that was a bearing change

Have to go now, another 7 calls to do after dinner.

[handyman]

Originally Posted by Jonboy

Hmm an fellow X hotpont eng in these forums
dont tell me you hate creda bearing changes

I always used to hate doing zanussi bearings. The one where you have to remove the drum and split it remove 20 odd screws. Then I found myself with no assistance to hang a drum once and hit upon a fool proof way that some of my mates in the business still use. you just get a old drive belt thread it through the chassis onto the spring pop the other end on your shoulder and stand up, the spring then hangs straight in place with little effort.

[Jonboy]

i worked for indesit for ten years then moved to creda/hotpoint for another ten years i had to retire 5 yr ago due to ill health and even tho used to get loads of agro from joe public i miss it like mad i think field service engineers are a breed on their own not many jobs do you find all these requirements 1 driver 2 map reader 3 storeman 4 accountant 5 electrical and 6 mechanical sound 7 diplomat 8 able to make on the spot dicisions
and above all thick skined the list goes on

[Jonboy]

just a NOTE if you are going to have a go yourself
first thing you do is UNPLUG THE MAINS SUPPLY AND IF ITS ON A FUSED SPUR REMOVE THE FUSE AND EVEN THEN SWITCH OFF THE MAINS SUPPLY TO THAT SPUR

[iadom]

Originally Posted by Jonboy

i worked for indesit for ten years then moved to creda/hotpoint for another ten years i had to retire 5 yr ago due to ill health and even tho used to get loads of agro from joe public i miss it like mad i think field service engineers are a breed on their own not many jobs do you find all these requirements 1 driver 2 map reader 3 storeman 4 accountant 5 electrical and 6 mechanical sound 7 diplomat 8 able to make on the spot dicisions
and above all thick skined the list goes on

Plus remedial plumber, fitted kitchen dismantler.

My biggest headache each day is caused by fitted kitchens. Only one in ten seem to have been fitted by someone who has more than one brain cell. It should be simple common sense, that the reason the outlet and fill pipes and mains cable are the length they are, is to allow the machine to be removed from under the units without having to disconnect them. How can you water test or trace an intermittant fault if you have to disconnect the feed to the machine.
I could write a book about gormless plumbers and kitchen fitters, plumbing a cold fill tap to the gas pipe, installing a washer then tiling accross the front with thick quarry tiles that had to be chiselled out to access the appliance, sink wastes draining into the washing machine the list is endless.

[jcmchugh]

Hey, was just reading this forum as i've got a prob with my washer / dryer and wondered if anyone could advise on what to do:

Washer / Dryer: Integrated Zanussi Washer-Dryer ZJD1219
Cost: Approx £400
Age: Approx 2 years

Prob: Water fills and empties constantly when on, and doesnt perform any of its normal functions. When you try and change the program (to try and stop it constantly filling / emptying - it flashes E40 (Which is the door open warning).

Action Taken:
>I've cleaned the filer at the bottom.
>I've disconnected from the drain to make sure no blockages
Now, i've seen that the warning is E40 (Door open), i dont know what else to try.

Zanussi Approved service centre in Glasgow want to charge:
£75 (inc VAT / inc Call-out / inc Labour) = Does not include any charges for Parts.

Can anyone advise on what to do? I'm skint and really need this machine to work : (

Thanks all. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Regs

John

[handyman]

I'm sure if your patient there will be someone with recent zanussi experience be able to help. we have a couple of washer engineers on this site.

[Lord Nikon]

Try unplugging and reconnecting the ribbon cable from the power card to the facia, several zanussi models have been plagued with a loose connection.

BTW Way to ressurect a thread lol, 3 yrs since last post in here

[Jules]

I wonder if they got a new washer? That "baby on the way" must be nearly 3 now

[Lord Nikon]

Probably has his / her own account on here then by now lol

[jcmchugh]

Thanks Chaps - i'll give that a shot, and keep you posted on outcome.

Regards

John

: )

[Ravensighsxox]

Originally Posted by Lord Nikon

Probably has his / her own account on here then by now lol

I had to just create one..wondering if you can help..I have a Hotpoint, I love my Hotpoint..thing is, I managed to replace the brushes by myself (go me!!..ok, I got step by step help over the fone from a friend), but..I now cant get the door to open without reaching down inside and opening it from the inside, same thing happened when I moved it from a different house...any suggestions..?

Thanks LOTS in advance...

Jo xx