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Hi,
The door lock on our washing machione is temperamental. Even with the door properly shut, the keyhole light flashes and the washer bleeps and will not start until you push the door in slightly. Does this mean that a door sensor is loose? Can it be tightened or replaced?
Thanks
Re: hotpoint wma63 door lock
Stephen99 wrote:Can it be tightened or replaced?
Replace it ASAP before the lock fails and blows the main board up with it. Check HERE for a local engineer to sort it for you. It’s not a costly procedure if you act now. 😉
Re: hotpoint wma63 door lock
It could be a broken spring in the door handle. At that age changing the door interlock as well may not be a bad idea as Martin suggests, prevention is better and all that. 🙂
Re: hotpoint wma63 door lock
Martin wrote:
Stephen99 wrote:
Can it be tightened or replaced?Replace it ASAP before the lock fails and blows the main board up with it. Check HERE for a local engineer to sort it for you. It’s not a costly procedure if you act now. 😉
Is it something that needs a professional or could I DIY? Thanks.
Re: hotpoint wma63 door lock
iadom wrote:It could be a broken spring in the door handle. At that age changing the door interlock as well may not be a bad idea as Martin suggests, prevention is better and all that. 🙂
Thanks, how do I identify if it is the spring at fault?
Re: hotpoint wma63 door lock
We have no idea of your capabilities, if you are not sure then don’t risk it, one wire wrong on the doorlock will cause expensive damage.
If you open the door and flex the door latch it should be quite stiff, if it feels ‘weak’ then the spring in the door handle will have failed. The door has to be split to replace this.
A bit of a fiddle to change the spring, part number 1603332, but not that difficult, and it doesn’t involve any wires. 🙂
Re: hotpoint wma63 door lock
Thanks. I will check the spring tonight and report back. Why does a broken lock destroy the machine? Is it a design fault? It sounds like one! At that point is it cheaper to buy a new machine? I don’t want that to happen.
If it is just a matter of unscrewing the old one and fitting a new one in its place. I should be able to do it. What is access like? Do you have to remove half of the machine to get to it?
Thanks.
Re: hotpoint wma63 door lock
Sadly blown or short circuited door locks, motors, pumps, wiring etc often take out the main PCB on many makes of modern machines.
Years ago the circuit boards on Hotpoint machines were protected by a small fast blow fuse but nor any more.
As long as you unplug from the mains first, the door lock can be changed by releasing the front lip of the door seal to access. There are two types of door lock and the plug fits the opposite way in each of them, get it wrong and the board will be toast.
Re: hotpoint wma63 door lock
iadom wrote:Years ago the circuit boards on Hotpoint machines were protected by a small fast blow fuse but nor any more.
I guess that’s them trying to save money by not paying for fuses?
iadom wrote:As long as you unplug from the mains first, the door lock can be changed by releasing the front lip of the door seal to access. There are two types of door lock and the plug fits the opposite way in each of them, get it wrong and the board will be toast.
Don’t worry, I would unplug it before doing anything. If I was very careful to put the wires back exactly where I found them I should be all right, shouldn’t I? I’ll just have to check and double check.
I wasn’t sure what you were saying about the door seal. Are you saying that I don’t need to take the whole machine apart and can work through a gap in the door seal? That sounds too good to be true. Or are you saying that after I have taken it apart, then I move the seal to gain access?
Thanks.
Re: hotpoint wma63 door lock
iadom wrote:If you open the door and flex the door latch it should be quite stiff, if it feels ‘weak’ then the spring in the door handle will have failed.
Well, I have tried the handle and it is hard to say. I suppose it is because I don’t have another door to compare it to. I guess when you do this for a living you feel hundreds of handles and learn what feels normal.
It does not seem stiff to me but perhaps I am just heavy handed? The machine had a new drum a few years ago when the bearings wore out but I don’t remember the door ever being looked at so may be it is just the age of the spring?
On the other hand, if I look at the inside of the door as I do this, when I pull the handle the latch moves completely. So there is full movement, it is not as if the spring is not moving it all the way across.
When I shut the door, it’s obviously watertight, but the door is not flush to the machine, it is a good few mm out, so I can push it in further (only for it top pop out when I let go again). Should there be this much play? Perhaps thsi is normal because otherwise I suppose it would be leaking.
Thanks.
Re: hotpoint wma63 door lock
It is true that I would be able to tell if the spring had failed by pressing the door latch.
The three wires to the door interlock are in a single plug, the interlock was changed and in the later type you have to reverse the plug. Both types of door lock are still sold, the earlier one often as a pattern or non gen spare.
Access is easy once the front lip of the door seal is released.
If you are determined to go ahead and attempt this repair then if you order the parts direct from Hotpoint, C00085194 door lock & C00097647 spring you will get the later type of door lock with instructions on reversing the connector plug.
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