Hotpoint SDW60P heating element blown

[markling]

Hello. Could anyone advise what perils lie ahead on this road I’ve found myself on with a blown Hotpoint SDW60P?

The dishwasher stopped pumping waste water. I didn’t try and run it through a cycle again, which might have been a good idea. But I checked the waste pipe, and that was clear.

I alo upended it and opened the bottom. And found this electrical fault on the heating element:

I would hope from this picture that I could just replace the cables. I would expect that I would have to replace the heating element. But I don’t see what difference that would make to the waste pump anyway, unless the heating short made the whole thing to kaput?

And what might have caused the problem?

I might have suspected the length of my waste pipe. I had extended it the length of a washing machine, because the dishasher is the other side of the washing machine from the sink. But if that put it under strain, I don’t see what difference it would have made to the heating element.

[repman]

Re: Hotpoint SDW60P heating element blown

Sort out the heater first ( you may find it’s just the wires/plug if you are lucky)
Machine may work after that
Poor connections and vibration causes that

Jim

[markling]

Re: Hotpoint SDW60P heating element blown

Cheers, Jim. Looks to me like it might be a bit of a write-off?

The wires and plug are burnt through. Taking a close look at the picture, the plastic housing on the heating element is burnt through too. So I’ll assume I’ve got to fork out for a new one of those.

But am I right about the wiring too? The wires go right back to a ball of spaghetti that then goes off in different directions including a trunk up the front of the machine. Looks like I would have to replace the whole lot?

[markling]

Re: Hotpoint SDW60P heating element blown

Update.

I emailed the sales people on this website direct. They suggested a repair might be possible and sold me a replacement heating element.

The repair is however not simple.

Anyone thinking of doing their own repair should be aware of three further complications:

The heating element is fitted with Oetiker clips. I have yet to source these. They seem to be a very particular sort that may be hard to source and relatively costly.

It is not possible to get to the heating element without first removing another component that is in the way. But this is attached using a proprietary Torx Tamper Resistant screw. That can be undone only with a special Torx TR screwdrdiver. These are also expensive.

And the spade terminal that connects the electrical cables to the element also appears to be a particular kind that is hard to source. My local electrical store didn’t have any, for example.

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint SDW60P heating element blown

I use new clips to refit but a lot of engineers reuse the existing ones, they use side cutters to refit. You don’t need to remove the drain pump but if you do want to then it is secured by a single, small Phillips type screw then twists off, no need to touch the Torx screws at all. If the component that is in your way is the blue thing (drain pump) in your first picture then the pump assembly is held together by perfectly normal Torx screws anyway. The damaged cable connectors can be replaced with easily obtained AMP tag connectors one of which should be insulated by some means.

[markling]

Re: Hotpoint SDW60P heating element blown

Cheers, iadom.

> I use new clips but a lot of engineers reuse existing ones

I’ve had one off and had to mash it with the plyers. So new clips in order.

So what clips will do as replacements? Your advice here is much appreciated: spares-help/safe-alternative-adjustable-oetiker-clamps-t80766.html

> You don’t need to remove the drain pump but if you do want to

I had removed the drain pump in order to get at the heating element. Was simple philips screw, as you say.

> no need to touch the Torx screws at all.

Au contraire, mon amie.

See this pic.

I’ve taken the pump on the left out already.

But that small white electrical thing on the right has to come out as well. It’s blocking access to where the heating element is attached to what I think, offhand, is the cold water inlet.

I can’t get the element off without moving the white electrical thing. And I certainly won’t be able to clip the inlet on the new component with that in the way.

That thing is attached with a security Torex screw to the back of the unit, thus:

> The damaged cable connectors can be replaced with easily obtained AMP tag connectors one of which should be insulated by some means.

Cheers for this. I couldn’t see anything about AMP connecters. But am looking into it.

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint SDW60P heating element blown

Can’t really see that well on that picture, its a bit small. not sure what that doofer is, doesn’t show up on the parts list, could be a later type mains filter, not seen one of those TBH. Looking at the second picture it could well be the mains filter, does the mains cable from outside connect to it?

Heating element is attached to the main circulation pump at one end and the top spray arm at the other.

PS: on the rating plate stuck to the side of the inner door, does it give the model number as SDW60P or SDW60PC?

[Author]

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