Hoover Nextra HNF 3157 – Error Code 4

[gcams]

Our 2 year old Hoover Nextra 3157 has recently started miss-behaving. At the end of the wash cycle, the machine goes into an error state, with the Start and Pre Wash Lights flashing 4 times (then a pause of 5 seconds or so, then the 4 flashes again and so on).

From reading other posts on these great forums, it sounds like this is an Error Code 4, but I’m not sure what this indicates? The door also remains locked and the only way to clear the error is to turn the program control to OFF.

The machine is still working OK for the time being, however I have noticed a “warm electrical smell” that accompanies the error state above if left for more than a few minutes. There is also a humming sound that is difficult to pin point from outside the machine when the error is showing.

Any thoughts on this error state would be most appreciated as I’m sure it will only be a question of time before whatever is failing really gives up the ghost!

Cheers,
Graham

[Simon46]

Re: Hoover Nextra HNF 3157 – Error Code 4

Does it stop with water in the drum?

Regards
Simon

[gcams]

Hi Simon,

No, the drum seems to empty OK (as far as I can tell) which is the weird thing. The water is pumped out of the drum as normal during the final spin at the end of the cycle and then the error condition starts.

The first thing I did was check the filter (which was fine) and then I pulled the hose off the under-sink outlet and let it drain into the sink so I could be sure the water was pumping out of the machine OK. There seemed to be a reasonable flow out the water outlet as the machine emptied.

[gcams]

Re: Hoover Nextra HNF 3157 – Error Code 4

I’m starting to wonder if the machine *thinks* there is still water left in the drum when it is in fact empty?

The reason I have started to suspect this is because I have noticed that when the program dial is turned from OFF to a program (before the start button is pressed), the machine locks the door and starts to try and pump water out (nothing comes out because the drum appears to be empty). Before this problem started, the machine would do nothing when a program was selected and not lock the door until the start button was pressed. It is almost like it is sensing there is still water there when there is not.

Does this sound feasible and if so, what is the mechanism that tells the machine it is empty of water?

Thanks again for any ideas!!!!

[Martin]

Re: Hoover Nextra HNF 3157 – Error Code 4

Error Code 4 is indeed a water level control problem. Likely as not the air bottle and small air hose attached to the back of the drum are either blocked or the hose punctured? 😉

[gcams]

Re: Hoover Nextra HNF 3157 – Error Code 4

Thanks Martin, very much appreciated!

At least I know what area to look into now. Last time I had a look in the machine, I recall seeing a clear plastic hose which appeared to run from near the rear of the drum, across the front of the machine to some sort of sensor behind the control panel. Is that likely to be the water level sensing system you refer to?

[Martin]

Re: Hoover Nextra HNF 3157 – Error Code 4

gcams wrote:Is that likely to be the water level sensing system you refer to?

:tup:

[gcams]

Re: Hoover Nextra HNF 3157 – Error Code 4

Thanks Martin, that’s been a huge help! Looks like I’ve got my work cut out for me over the weekend now. 😀 😀

Cheers,
Graham

[gcams]

Re: Hoover Nextra HNF 3157 – Error Code 4

I’ve had time to do a bit more diagnosing now. The water level system is working fine unfortunately. I’ve even tested continuity of the pressure switch itself and that is responding 100{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} as expected. (It’s got two, normally open contacts, one for two different levels of water.. both are correctly closing at the designated water level in the drum).

Having put a multimeter across the drain pump, it looks like it’s getting a stray control voltage across it shortly before the machine goes into the error state (which explains the humming sound as it tries to turn on 80v, which appears to be the control voltage level). It looks to me like there is something screwy going on with the control board.

I’m not sure if I can narrow this fault down any further, without starting to replace things. My first bet would be the control board itself, but if it’s possible to try and narrow this fault down (perhaps there are some voltage readings I can take elsewhere?), any thoughts would be very much appreciated!!

Thanks again for any ideas/thoughts!!!

[Martin]

Re: Hoover Nextra HNF 3157 – Error Code 4

gcams wrote:It looks to me like there is something screwy going on with the control board.

Yes I agree, likely as not a triac failure on the board, a new board the only solution in that case. 😥

[gcams]

Re: Hoover Nextra HNF 3157 – Error Code 4

Thanks again for your thoughts and help Martin!

It looks like the price of a new control board is still going to be less than the call-out fee of the “authorised” Hoover repair agent (even though I would get the part under the 5 year warranty), so I guess I’m still a little way ahead. 🙂

[gcams]

I would just like to say a big thanks to Martin and the great gang behind the UK Whitegoods spares shop. Thanks to these very helpful folk, my washing machine is now back up and running thanks to a new control board.

Despite most other spares websites quoting around 10 days for delivery of this part, the UK Whitegoods spares shop managed to get it to me on the third day (at a competitive price)!

Many thanks for the fast service and helpful advice in these forums!!

Cheers,
Graham

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