Hotpoint DWF40 will not start cycle – lights flashing

[driven_mad]

Hi everyone

I would be grateful for assistance with the following problem. I have looked at other threads on this forum and cannot see this problem elsewhere.

I have a Hotpoint DWF40. It will not start any of the washing cycles. When I switch it on, the “Salt Refill” light flashes intermittently and the “Drying” light (light number 4 from left) flashes intermittently; nothing else happens.

I have switched it off at the mains and switched it on/off many times.

I have refilled the salt container (about 1.75 kg of salt). The dishwasher has always been used in a soft water area and the salt ‘arrow’ is at the middle position. The water filters below the bottom tray are clean.

I have pulled it out and taken off the bottom panel. It was ‘bone dry’ and the water-level polystyrene float was in place. There was nothing obviously loose.

I have dropped down the front control panel. There were no loose wires and the soldering and components on the PCB looked normal – nothing burned or blackened.

Can anyone assist, please?

Thank you.

John

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint DWF40 will not start cycle – lights flashing

Light 4 flashing indicatea a heater timeout. Both the heater and the PCB are common causes of this fault on this Indesit made machine.
Unplug from mains and meggar the heater would be the first step.

[driven_mad]

iadom
Thank you for the prompt reply.
John

[mrspapalaz]

Re: Hotpoint DWF40 will not start cycle – lights flashing

Im not an engineer but the handbook for this model states that the drying light flashing can indicate end of cycle. You’ve probably tried this but have you turned the knob to reset before selecting a new cycle? Also, on some models the salt light will flash for a few cycles as a reminder so not usually cause for concern.

[driven_mad]

Hi mrspaplaz

Thank you for the reply. This is very helpful.

I had previously printed off a manual from the Hotpoint website. I then turned the knob to “Reset” many times and also tried many combinations of switching it on/off and at the mains as well.

Yes, you are correct about the “Salt Refill” light as it had been flashing for a few cycles and the salt container was empty; I should have filled it sooner. I do not know if there was a connection to the flashing “Drying” light.

Late yesterday, for no apparent reason, light 4 “Drying” stopped flashing and it was able to go through a wash cycle for the first time for several days. The “Salt Refill” light was ‘off’ during the wash cycle.

I think that there is an intermittent fault here. I will consider my options of repair v replacement as it appears quite old and was left by the previous owners of my home.

Iadom has pointed out that this Hotpoint Aquarius is an Indesit design; I think that this was manufactured by General Domestic Appliances in Peterborough which is part of Merloni, which owns, amongst others, Indesit.

Thank you again.

John

[driven_mad]

Hi everyone

The latest situation is that the dishwasher is being temperamental but with a bit of switching on/off, etc, it will eventually start.

The instruction manual says “The salt container should be filled up when the low salt indicator light flashes. The dishwasher will remind you to do so for three consecutive wash cycles.”

The instruction manual does not say what happens if the salt container has not been refilled after “three consecutive wash cycles”. I am wondering if this is somehow connected to the initial problem described in my first email.

Thank you once again to iadom and mrspaplaz for their replies. The forum has been extremely helpful. 😀

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