Servis Washing Machine M330 (Gem 1000)

Greetings All,

My Gem 1000 washing machine did something spectacular during the night 🙁 . I discovered this by the strange odour that greeted me when I woke the next morning . I traced it to the washing machine. I saw that it had stopped mid-cycle through the hot wash programme :eeek: (which I do occasionally). The power light was out and basically the machine had stopped 😮 . Drained and emptied the machine. I removed the top panel and noted immediately that the wiring to a component next to the transformer had become disconnected :conf: . I also saw a sticky residue, flakes of silver foil in places and a long strip on floor beneath the machine 😯 . The part I think is a capacitor which seems to have – for want of a word – exploded ❗ ❗ ❗

My first port of call for answers is this forum 🙂 to seek words of wisdom from its many oracles 😀 (which I always recommend to my friends). So I pose my questions in hope of answers from the wise here assembled:

1. What does this part do? Looking at some other forum posts it seems to be a power booster for an induction motor.
2. Why did the part explode? Perhaps just due to the components age. I know capacitors can leak or become dry over time.
3. What other components could have been damaged as a result of this event?
4. Is this part replaceable and at what cost? I can do some basic electrical work provided it is plug and play, with a little soldering if required.

I have not noted anything amiss in the behaviour of the washing machine mostly because I run it overnight on E7. However, on occasions when I have been still up an about during that time, I have noted a couple of things:
– the rotation of the drum during the wash cycle seemed fast, the laundry inside did not tumble as I have seen in other washing machines, laundry tended to hug the sides of the drum with the water sloshing over the clothing. I paid no heed to this since it did not affect the resulting cleanliness of the wash. Just took this to be normal.
– it does sound as if it is taking off when it enters a spin cycle, but I put this down to an unbalanced load which I found can happen when washing a load of towels
– the drum and its bearings appear to be in good condition, I can rotate the drum easily and there is no grating sound, and no play when I lift the drum at the front
– all in all, the machine’s mechanical components appear sound.

I know many would say just buy a new one but I am loathe to dispose of something that is basically sound. I accept there would be a case if the cost of repair is not justified. Your thoughts are welcomed.

Regards.

CFAM.