Ariston AWD12S UK Fault Code 3

[Jacko100]

Hi all ! – Great site – I have searched the forums for Ariston AWD12S fault code 3 (3 flashes from led) – and have found references to the A1635 with fault code 3 which appears to be temperature control problems…

Firstly is that the same machine as the AWD12S ? Would it be the same error message ?

I noted that some people found just poor connections to thermistor… others talk of having new thermistor (about £7 ?) and others talk of a new NTC (temperature controller ?) about £80 ?!?!!

I have the AWD12S and it intermittently stops (knob spinning) but always seems to show 3 blinks…

Someone said the thermistor should have resistance up in the Kohms… I can check that…
I noted that I can hear the heater working (low hissing like quiet kettle) – but what should its resistance be ?

I would like to check everything I can before I consider getting new NTC or new machine ! 🙁

Any suggestions and resistances / things to check etc would be greatfully accepted… I am a qualified electrician so have no problems with continuity and resistance checks etc.

The 5 year parts warranty is great…. – apart from the £90 fixed repair fee !!! I can fit new heaters, thermistors, temperature sensor etc all before I get anywhere NEAR the fixed repair fee !

[iadom]

Re: Ariston AWD12S UK Fault Code 3

The thermistor is the NTC. The main PCB is the £80/£90 part that controls the whole machine.

The machine uses two different NTC’s one is a small disc type inserted in a round rubber grommet in the back of the drum, the other is a small push in tube type fitted directly into the heater mounting plate.

I have changed several of the disc type for this fault but few if any of the later type.

Resistance of NTC should be around 20kΩ at 20°C. Even if you get this reading you can still find the NTC is at fault. It is a very cheap, easily fitted component so if all other checks are OK then it is well worth trying a new one.

Generally the poor connections are on the later heater mounted NTC and the connections on the main PCB.

Jim.

[Jacko100]

Re: Ariston AWD12S UK Fault Code 3

Thats great – thanks for the help – I will check the reistance of the NTC – although I think I did read in one of the forums that they cost about £7 or £8 – so is worth while trying that part first !

The machine is now consistently failing with error code 3 – and now, instead of being at the transistion to the spin cycle, its at the beginning of any program just after the water has gone in…. so certainly looks like something to do with the heating process – I noticed heaters are only about £20 – so could be worth investing in too ?

One thing I do not understand with this machine is that as soon as it fails, it opens the water valve and starts the drain pump ! – which I thought a bit weird… because if it did that whilst I was not there watching it, it would waste gallons of water !

Anyway thanks again – will certainly be looking at the NTCs and heaters – I saw on the website that the heater is about 1700Watt – so would that have a resistance of approx 34 ohms ? (P=IxV) (V=IxR) etc ?

[iadom]

Re: Ariston AWD12S UK Fault Code 3

When the machine goes into error mode it switches on the pump to drain out, it should not be filling with anymore water.

As you could hear the heater I would suggest that it is OK.

TBH the Indesit electronics in these machines fail if the wind changes so anything is possible. 😥

Jim.

[Jacko100]

Re: Ariston AWD12S UK Fault Code 3

EXCELLENT ! – the new NTC arrived – I quickly fitted it, and put a plastic freezer bag around the pcb whilst I was in there… also checked / cleaned a few connections etc…

Have tested the old NTC and found it to be open-circuit (even after heating with hot water !) – thing is I forgot to check the new one (but its fitted now and the machine appears to be working ok !)

I found that a lot of the connections seemed blackened as though they were burning – but I suspect its the black debris from the drive belt – but it just seems to be attracted to where the cables terminate onto terminals etc (particularly around the connections to the motor on top – is that something to do with the condensor ?) – bit weird !

ANyways you guys are the dogs cahoonas ! Saved me forking out over £90 to pay some guy to come out and tell me that I need a new machine !
Cheers !

By the way, whilst I am here…. I find that if I select the IRON, WARDROBE or that other symbol on the DRYING option, it just seems to dry FOREVER ! and dries everything to a crisp ! So I now use the times (30,60, 90 etc) – any reasons why the wardrobe / iron symbols etc dont seem to work ?
(not a big issue – just thought I’d ask !)
THANKS AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING !! Nice one !

Steve

[Penguin45]

Re: Ariston AWD12S UK Fault Code 3

Well done.

Bear in mind that a proportion of that black dust is carbon from the drive motor brush gear – it conducts.

Penguin45.

[hotpnt]

Re: Ariston AWD12S UK Fault Code 3

as for the drying issue, washer dryers are not the best at any drying cycle, sensor drying is even worse!, a slight bit of fluff build up (which is not a diy clearence) will cause chaos with the thermistor/sensor, if it is ok on timed drying the best advice is leave it to that, even on a machine that is working fine and in tip top condition i always recommend using timed dry,

[Jacko100]

Re: Ariston AWD12S UK Fault Code 3

THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP !

I can hear my cheap and nasty Ariston going “churnachurnachurnachurnachurna” in the background right now as I type this – doing a drain cycle (well its hardly in the “background” !! – can hear it all over the house !)

I will certainly be pointing friends in the direction of whitegoods.co.uk for any whitegoods issues !

Thanks again…

Now…. I’ve got this problem with my VW car CD player… when I press eject….. 😉

Cheers !

Steve

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