Bosch wff 2000 sometimes failing to pump

[BarryJ]

(Apologies if this is a duplicate. I thought I’d posted it this morning
but it has not appeared)

Bosch wff 2000 sometimes failing to pump out water?

Bosh WFF 2000. 10 Years old. Usage around 3 to 4 times per week.

The machine SOMETIMES gets stuck when pumping out the water. I checked for blockages, kinks in pipes etc., but found nothing, so changed the pump. This made no difference.

When it gets stuck I can hear the pump working and water being propelled out, but it then goes on pumping until the prewash light starts to flash and the machine advances to the end of the program. If I intercept the cycle when it is stuck by advancing it on one click of the “Time Selector” dial, then the cycle continues OK. It may get stuck later when it next tries to pump out, but often it doesn’t.

I’m guessing there is a sensor of some sort that monitors the water level that is faulty. Might this be the cause ? If so where and what ? Or what else might it be.

Thanks for any help and advice.

[gegsy]

Re: Bosch wff 2000 sometimes failing to pump

Hi
You will need to supply full model number and also, please count the number of times the lamp is flashing. Lamp will flash for x amount of times with a 2 second off period.

Cheers

Greg

[BarryJ]

Re: Bosch wff 2000 sometimes failing to pump

Greg, thanks for helping. Here are the details you requested:

WFF2000 GB/12 FD 7701 10448
Flash sequence 3.

Yesterday it worked fine completing the full cycle once, but failed another time. When it failed it got stuck after it had emptied the main wash and then again after it emptied the final rinse. After each time it had failed I rotated the timer dial onto the point of failure (after it had advanced it to the end) and then on one click, and the cycle continued with no problem. The end result were washed and spun laundry as usual. So I have a semi-automatic washing machine now !!

Interestingly, Bosch sent me a chart describing the meaning of the flashes, but 3 was not listed. Unfortunately I can’t cut and paste it here.

“7. Fault Display
A fault is displayed when internal checks have been made. The fault is displayed via the prewash LED. The LED is off for 2 seconds and then flahes ‘N’ times. ‘N’ indicated the fault number.”

It then lists 7 fault numbers in 7 rows, with a fault description and then two columns for the result, of which 3 is not listed.

Thanks again for any help. It is much appreciated.

[gegsy]

Re: Bosch wff 2000 sometimes failing to pump

Hi
3 flashes indicates a fault in the pumping/drain system, where the module detects that the tank is taking longer to empty than expected.
Look for blockages where the drain hose goes to spigot under sink (if that is your config) or the drain hose too far down the upright drain pipe (only needs to go a quarter of th way down)
If they all check out then ift maybe an internal blockage, ie in filter of pump etc or indeed a weak or tired drain pump.
Unplug appliance if you are to investigate internally :plug:

HTH

Greg

[Kentish]

Re: Bosch wff 2000 sometimes failing to pump

Sounds like a possible blocked drain tube box. The drain hose connects to it on the back, but it has to be removed to clear. It,s not a hard job as such, just bloody awkward with those sprung plastic clips (at least thats how I find the job…)

[BarryJ]

Today the machine has failed once then completed three further cycles OK. Maybe it was the pump I changed two days ago, after all. But why the failure, this morning. Anyway I’m crossing fingers that it is now fixed.
If not I’ll check as advised above. Thanks all for your help.
By the way have you come across: http://www.washerhelp.co.uk ?
I had a reply from this great site with suggestion that the “pressure system” may be at fault. There’s much advice there in case others are similarly troubled !!

[nomadPaul]

Re: Bosch wff 2000 sometimes failing to pump

There is another possible reason for this intermittent fault – It may be draining fine but the pressure chamber for the water level switch may be clogged causing the machine to think that it hasn’t drained , even when it has. There is a chamber on the rear of drum with a small black pipe leading up to a pressure switch . ‘Sludging up’ of this chamber could cause your prob. Power off before you check 8)

[BarryJ]

Re: Bosch wff 2000 sometimes failing to pump

Thanks Paul, that may well be it. I’ll not be able to look at it tomorrow, but I’ll investigate on Monday and report back.

[BarryJ]

Re: Bosch wff 2000 sometimes failing to pump

Thanks all for your help. Here’s an update:

I concentrated on the outlet/waste system. The pipes were all clear, but there was a a bad rotting smell from a “grey box” positioned before the waste water leaves the machine (some kind of trap ??). I could not easily get into it, so I took a radical approach and poured a strong bleach solution down into the outlet pipe. Waited for 30 minutes and then ran an empty wash. Bingo ! Along with the new pump I installed, the machine now drains very quickly and efficiently – like new.

I think I’ll put my muddy running gear in before my wife’s best outfit …

Thanks again

[Kentish]

Re: Bosch wff 2000 sometimes failing to pump

The the box I was referring too. You have to unclip it to remove it, which can be quite a job..especially the first time you do it.

[iadom]

BarryJ wrote:
By the way have you come across: http://www.washerhelp.co.uk ?
I had a reply from this great site with suggestion that the “pressure system” may be at fault. There’s much advice there in case others are similarly troubled !!

The webmaster there, Andy Art Trigg is a longstanding member of ukwhitegoods and posts quite often on here.:wink:

Jim.

[Casualty]

Re: Bosch wff 2000 sometimes failing to pump

nomadPaul wrote:There is another possible reason for this intermittent fault – It may be draining fine but the pressure chamber for the water level switch may be clogged causing the machine to think that it hasn’t drained , even when it has. There is a chamber on the rear of drum with a small black pipe leading up to a pressure switch . ‘Sludging up’ of this chamber could cause your prob. Power off before you check 8)

Sorry to drag this old thread up, but I just wanted to thank nomadPaul for this helpful post that’s helped me fix my washing machine today 😀
Merry Christmas!

[SillyBilly]

Re: Bosch wff 2000 sometimes failing to pump

Well I am going to do the same!
I had almost identical problems with my WFF2000GB/01 7603.
I couldn’t find why it cycled round the program dial without doing anything, stopped after a wash without doing the rinse and spin, sometimes at the start it took in the water and soap and then pumped it straight out again, other times when turned to spin it would work and pump. It often stopped with the pre-wash light blinking though we never use the pre-wash. The manual said if the prewash light blinks it may be a blockage in the pump or pump pipework, but as the pump worked I discounted that. I saw a post which said it might be the pressure sensor: I blew down the pipe and it seemed clear.
I did notice that the blinking occured in threes followed by a very short pause so short that I didn’t see it! Emailed bosch who sent a garbled list of 7 faults but with no mention of a blinking light. Fault 3 mentioned the pump. The posts in this thread led me to check things again!
1
The ‘filter’ box just before the pipe outlet had a lot of gunge in it which I part flushed out before soaking it in hot soda. It is a pig to get it off the machine – I found it best to remove the back and to work from the bottom pair of the four plastic clips. Even removing the hot and cold inlet valves arent obvious first time!
2
Removing the clear plastic pressure box I found that the opening to the space below the drum was nearly ‘blocked’ by ‘soap’ residue as was half of the 1″ opening into the box. Gave it a good clean out. It comes off easily being held on by two clips below the drum.
3
I removed the pump to give it a good clean – there was some soft residue but not much. Pity Bosch pop-rivett the cover over the base opening!
4
For good measure I also cleaned out the drain pipe.
A mole grip on all the steel pipeclips works well!

All together again and everything working as new. Saved £200+ for a new, inferior build quality Bosch probably with a plastic rather than stainless steel drum and no hot water fill!!

[duffymj49]

Re: Bosch wff 2000 sometimes failing to pump

Thanks to all who have contributed here, although it was some time ago now. My WFF2000 had the problems mentioned and reading through the posts I was able to remove and test the pump, which proved to be OK, and also realise that the waste filter and the pressure chamber needed to be removed and cleaned out. Having done all the above, and verifying that the pump does acivate now it’s back in the machine, it still won’t drain. The pump does activate I am sure when the water is in there. Could the pump be worn out and ineffective even though it does spin? I can’t see what else could be the fault now. Any help will be appreciated.

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