AEG L81400 (rebadged Vestel) – wash cycle stops

[Peter James]

In Canada, I have an AEG L81400 manufactured in 2015 which is identical / very similar to Montpellier MW8410P / SMEG LBW812ES / Servis W814F4W – and undoubtedly several others! I’m fairly confident on this – I’ve found _identical_ instruction manuals, identical (somewhat uncommon) control panels, and identical part numbers.

* Wash cycle stops after 15 – 30 minutes with first “batch” of wash water still in machine, does not transition to rinse cycle. Displays “End”, then pumps out. Occurs on all programmes. To the extent that it proceeds, the wash cycle is “normal” – it agitates in both directions, etc.
* Rinse cycle stops after 5 or 6 minutes with first “batch” of rinse water still in machine, omits subsequent batches of rinse water, does not transition to spin cycle. Displays “End”, then pumps out. To the extent that it proceeds, the rinse cycle is “normal”.
* Spin cycle works fine.
* Heater not working.

Reading through other posts, I note that heater problems can cause the machine to stall. Generally, the time before it stalls increases for a higher temperature and a longer programme.
After writing the above, I thought I’d try running it with a “no-temperature” setting – maybe that would omit the apparent “check” on the temperature? But it also stalled.

Appreciate any suggestions. Thank you.

[electrofix]

one of the heater problems that can affect the machine is earth faults

check the heater resistance to earth

Dave

[Peter James]

Thank you.
I’ve now confirmed that the heater has failed (open circuit, and tested after removal) and that the thermistor works (resistance drops with temperature). I have the part number, I’ll order a heater.

Just wondering whether it is to be expected the machine also wouldn’t work on a “no temperature” setting (when I cycle through the temperature, there’s a blank line, EG _ _ _ , after the lowest temperature available for that programme).
I also tried filling the machine with hot water at about 40°C, and running a 30° or 20° programme – but it still failed at the same point ….

And – is it to be expected that the rinse cycle would fail in the circumstance of an open-circuit heater?

[electrofix]

its looking for the resistance

you could connect a 40w lamp to the heater wires and see what happens. any lamp should work as long as its not led

Dave

[Peter James]

Got it. Neat.
We’re a little short of 240V light bulbs over here, so I’ll have to kludge 2 together in series!
Thank you.
Peter

[Peter James]

The lamps come on after 5 to 10 minutes into a programme (longer waits on longer programmes). Typically they go on and off a few times, until I guess the system realises that there isn’t any heat, and the programme stops.
But not consistently. Sometimes a programme will stop before the heater is activated. Sometimes a programme that got to, say, 30 minutes on a previous try, will only make it to 3 minutes the next try.
The 12-minute rapid programme (30°C) activated the heater twice, and it evaded the temperature checks, and it completed. But only once. That’s the only attempt that has ever completed.
I tried to fool it by using hot water (40°C into a 20°C or 30°C programme). That didn’t work.
I also tried a “no-temperature” setting a couple times. No luck.

Our incoming cold water is probably only 5°C (our water comes from the river, under the ice …). Any chance the system doesn’t like really cold water? But there must be other places this machine is sold where the water is cold?

The problem of incomplete rinses continues. Only once, of at least 20 attempts, did I get a full rinse cycle. And only one made it to the second rinse.

I ordered a heater from you guys over the weekend, but it hasn’t shipped yet. Maybe having a working heater will help …

[electrofix]

hope it works

Dave

[Peter James]

Shipping of heater was delayed by that cyber-attack on the Post Office :(. Fortunately a family member was able to bring it here last week. Thank you for re-directing my shipment :).
It’s installed, and working, using only cold water.
Now, the shortest programme generally works, but not always. Other wash programmes are stalling part-way through, with random timing. The rinse programme is still stalling.
I’m wondering if the door interlock is randomly sending “door not closed” signals? It does “work” – the machine starts, the door locks, and it unlocks at the end of all programmes. Across L & N it tests around 950Ω. It’s this model: https://shop.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/3202…hine-door-lock
UPDATE – I bridged across L & C, to eliminate any potential fault in the PCB reading the status of the latch. Again, the machine stalled. But could there be an intermittent discontinuity associated with the circuit from L to N through the bi-metallic strip?

Or are there any other potential causes for this behaviour?

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