Hotpoint Aquarius DWF30 – not starting

[Ynot]

Hi. Had a search but as yet can’t find a similar symptom…

The DWF30 has power, but does not start the cycle when the on button is depressed. The type of cycle light (quick wash, regular etc) does light up when each button is pressed, but it’s just not starting up.

Any ideas what this might be?

Thanks

[Martin]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius DWF30 – not starting

Have you tried to ‘reset’ the cycle?

[Ynot]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius DWF30 – not starting

Not sure how to reset the cycle, but further inspection (probably should have looked closer first!) under the bottom tray (currently full of crocs) is rather full of water.
Investigated the filter – all looks reasonably clear apart from a few small bits of detritus. Disconnected the waste pipe and after cleaning it up, can blow back through the system and get decent air bubbles coming back into the machine.
Opened the larger ‘hatch’ in the base and retrieved what should, I assume, be a cylindrical larger filter, but which is in fact no longer a cylinder – that can’t help… 🙁
Had a firtle around inside the water there and can’t feel anything obvious blocking things up.

Tried tipping the machine with the waste pipe low down and outside, but no flow through gravity it seems.

So – apart from the filter which clearly needs replacement, how can I drain the machine…?

[Martin]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius DWF30 – not starting

Ynot wrote:Not sure how to reset the cycle……….how can I drain the machine…?

How about you :rtm: then all will be revealed including the programme ‘reset’ process. (Google DWF30 user manual)

Emergency drain covered in that manual……

[Ynot]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius DWF30 – not starting

Hmmm… Well that was almost helpful but not quite.
The manual does refer to the reset option (finally found that reference) as holding the 1st and 3rd button in for 3 secs, but that doesn’t seem to do a great deal that’s obvious.
However, unless I’ve missed it, there is no actual instruction there which tells of an emergency drain.

What would be really useful would be an actual statement of help, (rather than just RTFM, because manuals aren’t always the most helpful documents) or at the least a finger pointing at the actual words in an actual manual online that tells me what I need to know.

That did sound a little petulant, I guess, but isn’t it just as easy to help directly rather than point at a book?

[Martin]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius DWF30 – not starting

There is no “emergency drain” on any dishwasher. But the user instruction booklet clearly shows how access to the drain pump can be achieved as well as how to reset the cycle.

You will have to scoop out the dirty water with a cup or similar vessel first and sponge out the remainder mind you. Once done that the rest is shown clearly in that manual I referred to. I do hope that helps you? 😀

[Ynot]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius DWF30 – not starting

Hmm… So when you referred to ‘Emergency Drain’ in your earlier post….??

No problem – will scoop and sponge away to see if that helps.

[Martin]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius DWF30 – not starting

Ynot wrote:Hmm… So when you referred to ‘Emergency Drain’ in your earlier post….??

Hmm…..you’re getting the idea…..go for it!

[Ynot]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius DWF30 – not starting

Hmmm…
Well.
After clearing out the sump of water and the odd bit of small debris, and tried starting a program…
Which sort of worked – to a point.
The machine seems to chunter for a few minutes, then goes very quiet with just the program light lit. After a while, opened it to find about the same level of water in the bottom again.

Repeated the process and tried a different program – same result.

So my layman’s guess is there could be a pump problem – how do I check/prove this? Is there a micro switch/level switch somewhere which isn’t cutting in to drain the water before progressing with the next step? What is the normal operating pattern so that I can maybe listen for something that might not be there when it should be…?

[Martin]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius DWF30 – not starting

Now is the time to operate the reset procedure and see if it drains out OK? Report back at your convenience.:D

[Ynot]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius DWF30 – not starting

Er, that will be a no. It doesn’t.
The cylindrical filter that goes into the sump is not in at the moment – is there any reason not having that in place would affect operations? It’s not in place because it’s no longer a cylinder – the plastic frame has disintegrated and partially broken up. I’ve tried it without that part, and without the baskets as I couldn’t see any reason why their absence would affect – but who knows…

[Ynot]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius DWF30 – not starting

Incidentally, Martin – I’m assuming you are a service engineer, which is great that you’re taking the time to respond. BUT with the greatest of respect, as yet you’re only being moderately helpful and the tone of your replies does strike me as a little condescending. I’ve asked specific questions, many of which will not be in the user manual, but all you’re giving are vague comments about this and that. Not really helping me at all.

Don’t get me wrong – I do appreciate someone trying to assist, but if more forums actually encouraged real ‘conversations’ rather than ‘RTFM’ or cryptic suggestions then everyone might just get along a little easier.
Whilst I am not a white goods service engineer, I am an engineer in a different field, so not without some modicum of common sense at my ripe old age of, well, I won’t see 49 again… 🙂 So once we get the basics out of the way – which we seem to have done so far – it would be nice to pick up some ideas of just what might be wrong with this darned machine which I’m trying to look at in between the day job.

[Martin]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius DWF30 – not starting

Yes I’m a dyed in the wool engineer. (How can you tell ha! ha!)

But seriously, remove the pump cover now ( undo the Torx screw holding it in place) and remove the crud blocking the pump impellor ( watch out for broken glass fragments in case that wine glass you broke last week is still lurking) 😉

Fear not my new found friend, together we can do this !!!!! 😀

[Ynot]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius DWF30 – not starting

OK – will have a crack at that later – though funny you should mention glass – there was a chunk in the bottom, though definitely not a wine glass.

[Ynot]

Re: Hotpoint Aquarius DWF30 – not starting

Oh – and assuming I get the thing running again, what is the filter called? There are several on the online shops, but many don’t have pictures to match up…

[Author]

Posts