Hotpoint LFT04 error code

[bedfordwheelnuts]

Hi All,
I have a Hotpoint LFT04 Dishwasher less than two years old. I understand that this is identical to the Indesit DIF04 dishwasher.
I have LED’s 1 and 3 flashing along with the on/off switch. I have searched this forum , and found the appropriate posting detailing the LED meanings. I apparently have “filters blocked”.
OK, so where are the filters it is going on about? As far as I can see there is no muck in the salt container and flow valve, the waste pump is clean and working, there is a pipe that looks like a “Y” shape coming into the heater and main pump, and that is clean too.
So where are they!!???

Any help gratefully received.
Jeff

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint LFT04 error code

The clue is in the Indesit bit, not very good machines to say the least. :rolls:

1&3 can be mesh plate, filter or microfilter, pressure switch,
circulation pump.

The main circulation pumps are very prone to failure on these ( along with the heater, pcb etc)

Will it start a wash action, if so is there any water spraying out of the spray arms?

[bedfordwheelnuts]

Re: Hotpoint LFT04 error code

Hi Iadom,
When I switch the machine on, it does pump the residue water out. Then after a fashion, it opens the inlet valve to let water in. As soon as the water has finished filling, then the lights flash. There is some sort of pump grinding away, and it’s not the waste pump. I can open the door, there is no water in the machine, so no water is being sprayed around by either of the arms. This will continue until I switch the machine off.
Regards
Jeff

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint LFT04 error code

Sounds like a very common main circulation pump failure. the phrase ‘Mussolini’s revenge’ comes to mind. :rolls:

[bedfordwheelnuts]

Re: Hotpoint LFT04 error code

Hi Iadom,
This would be the pump that sits rght at the bottom, housing the heating element, and costs about a hundred quid?
Starting to become uneconomical!
Regards
Jeff

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint LFT04 error code

Thats the one. 🙁

[bedfordwheelnuts]

Re: Hotpoint LFT04 error code

Hi Iadom,
Thank you for your help.
I will take the offending nasty out and see if I can get a replacement from my local Hotpoint / Hoover spares place.
I will post if the fix is sucessful.
Once again, thanks for your help.
Jeff

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint LFT04 error code

Part number is C00256525, around £85.00.

Due to the youngish age of these machines and the fact that this pump is known to fail, I doubt you will find a second hand one in any sort of reasonable condition.

In fact one of the best online prices can be found Right here 😉

[bedfordwheelnuts]

Re: Hotpoint LFT04 error code

Ahhh, the place I was going to sells new stuff not second hand. I do expect to pay the 80 -90 quid price I have seen online. I am amazed that a simple asynchronous induction motor could fail so easily. If this is a common fault I feel a seriously strong letter to Hotpoint / Indesit coming on. Have they not heard of HALT testing? (HALT Highly Accelerated Life Testing) If they did then they could offer a three year guarantee, have happy customers and a forum that did not slag them off for poor quality products.
Regards
Jeff

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint LFT04 error code

Sadly customer relations is not one of the Indesit Companies strong points. :rolls:

They sell millions of appliances and even allowing for the dubious qualities of their products the failure rates don’t keep them awake at nights.

They do give a five year warranty on the parts, its the £105.00 labour charge that give people a shock.

They know that large numbers of the general public will buy another of their products under a different brand name without realising they have purchased exactly the same machine that has already let them down.

It is not in the interests of most ‘mainstream’ high volume manufacturers to make appliances that last for 20 years and the likes of Comet and Currys are only too happy to sell you the budget end with a service plan tacked on top.

If you are prepared to pay a proper price you can find better quality products that do have a five or even 10 year warranty. 😉

If you think you can buy an item for less than it cost 25 years ago and still expect the same quality then you are very much mistaken.

[bedfordwheelnuts]

Re: Hotpoint LFT04 error code

Hi Iadom,
This is really irritating me now. I appreciate very much your helping me with this pile of unreliable rubbish. I could not understand why a simple induction motor would fail. So I have taken the circulation pump and heating element apart and although the pump was a bit dirty with soap residue, after it was cleaned up I tried it on the bench and it works fine. I tested the heating element and there are no shorts or opens before or after the thermal switch. All the spray arms are clear of any blockages. I can only assume now it’s the control PCB.
What bothers me is that I have to buy not only the PCB but the programmer and smart card, if I want to fix this fault.
Am I right in this assumption, because I am at the point of cutting my losses and going and buying a decent machine.
any thoughts comments appreciated.
Kind regards
Jeff

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint LFT04 error code

You do need a smart card and card reader for the PCB.

Even though the pump runs on the bench it may still fail in the machine when subjected to longer use and the heat of the water.

It is not unknown for the pumps to seize intermittently.

[bedfordwheelnuts]

Re: Hotpoint LFT04 error code

Hi Iadom,
Fair comment on the pump, but it does run in the machine also. I purposely filled the bottom of the machine with water before setting the program, and the pump does pump the water out.
Like you said before the lights flashing are only a guide to where the fault lies. Trouble is it’s a very expensive way to find the right failing part if you get it wrong!!
Kind regards
Jeff

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint LFT04 error code

bedfordwheelnuts wrote: and the pump does pump the water out.

This bit has me confused, the main circulation pump doesn’t ‘pump the water out’ thats done by the smaller drain pump. 😕

[bedfordwheelnuts]

Re: Hotpoint LFT04 error code

Hi Iadom,
First apologies for not coming back on the forum. But you will pleased to know, that you were right all along. although the circulation pump worked on the bench initially, any sort of load (i.e. water) stopped it working.
New circulation pump later we are back in business.
Thank you for your help, and as I say you were right all along.

Kind regards
Jeff

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