Hotpoint WF430 will not stop cold filling (but no hot fill)

[CalCulater]

Help please!
The symptoms are:

Symptom 1) When cold filling, once the water level is about right, the water flow noise in the solenoid valve changes discernably, but the valve does not shut off completely and the machine continues to fill (perhaps more slowly, but difficult to tell). If the mains cold water tap is then switched off and then back on, the fill still continues.

So I first suspect the solenoid valve. However:-
Symptom 2) If the machine is switched off at the mains while cold filling, the solenoid valve DOES shut off completely. If I switch the mains on/off/on/off etc the flow starts and shuts off multiple times as expected. Always. This seems to indicate to me that the cold fill solenoid valve is OK. Confusing eh?

So I next suspect the pressure switch or a blocked pressure switch tube. I have taken off the bottom hose completely, cleaned it out and cleaned out the white tubular plastic chamber that leads from it to the pressure switch tube (it wasn’t that badly gunged up anyway). I have confirmed that the pressure switch tube is not blocked. Blowing gently on the bottom end of the pressure switch tube results in an audible click from the pressure switch so it’s diaphragm is OK. Although I have not yet checked it with a meter to see if it is actually switching, I believe that the pressure switch is OK.

Symptom 3) Even when set on program A or B with the temperature control set to 95 degC, the machine does not hot fill; the hot fill solenoid valve does not open. Note that I am not bothered whether the hot fill works or not, I have merely stated it as possible additional evidence of the problem.

Question 1:- I assume that the solenoid valves are normally closed by a spring and/or water pressure and need a signal to open them. Is it possible that there is a fault such that the programmer (which appears to be electronic rather than mechanical on this model) is somehow leaving “half” a signal on the cold water solenoid when it should be off, and providing no signal to the hot water solenoid when it should be on?

Question 2:- What should I change in what sequence? – (cold water solenoid valve, pressure switch, or control board).

Question 3:- Or is there something else I could or should check first?

Thanks in anticipation

[karv]

Re: Hotpoint WF430 will not stop cold filling (but no hot fi

normally if a valve leaks i would say replaced the valve but with what u saying my guess would be module.
move hot and cold wires around to see if hot valve works and is hot water turn on.
im guessing u got no meters so try pluging in to a diffrent socket incase u have a faulty socket

[CalCulater]

Re: Hotpoint WF430 will not stop cold filling (but no hot fi

karv wrote:normally if a valve leaks i would say replaced the valve but with what u saying my guess would be module.

Hope not!

karv wrote:move hot and cold wires around to see if hot valve works and is hot water turn on.

Seems like a good idea. Yes, the hot water is on. I might be able to get it to cold fill through the hot valve by switching the wires and pipes I suppose.

karv wrote:im guessing u got no meters so try pluging in to a diffrent socket incase u have a faulty socket

The machine is my mother-in-law’s 50 miles away. I didn’t have my meter with me the first time I looked at the machine, but will be taking it next time I’m up there (if for no other reason than to check that the pressure switch is actually switching)

Cheers

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint WF430 will not stop cold filling (but no hot fi

The hot fill is only used as a top up after the initial fill on these machines with Indesit electronics.

The pressure switch may be faulty but the PCB’s on these are about the worst on the market so the chances are that the module is faulty.

Does it fill if set to a spin cycle?

I would not advise swopping wires from valve to valve. As you have already surmised, if it stops filling when you cut the power the valve is OK.

Its about 25{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} the pressure switch and 75{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} the board.

There is an outside chance of a tiny hole chafed into the clear plastic pressure tube, blowing up the tube would trip the switch but if the hole is very small it could still overfill.

[CalCulater]

Re: Hotpoint WF430 will not stop cold filling (but no hot fi

iadom wrote:The hot fill is only used as a top up after the initial fill on these machines with Indesit electronics.

That’s the sort of useful info you can only get on this forum. Thanks. Maybe my hot fill is working (not that it would be much use – isn’t Italian design wonderful?)

iadom wrote:The pressure switch may be faulty but the PCB’s on these are about the worst on the market so the chances are that the module is faulty.

Oh well, at least I know how bad they are now.

iadom wrote:Does it fill if set to a spin cycle?

It fills (and overfills) if set to “Rinse and Spin”. I don’t know whether it fills on “Fast Spin” or “Slow Spin” or not. Wouldn’t expect it to, but will check next time I’m up there. Good thought.

iadom wrote:I would not advise swopping wires from valve to valve. As you have already surmised, if it stops filling when you cut the power the valve is OK.

Thanks for confirming that.

iadom wrote:Its about 25{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} the pressure switch and 75{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} the board.

There is an outside chance of a tiny hole chafed into the clear plastic pressure tube, blowing up the tube would trip the switch but if the hole is very small it could still overfill.
I might risk a pressure switch at ~£12 and will certainly take another piece of tube next time I go up there just to rule out your excellent suggestion.

I don’t think I’m willing to invest in a control module though.

Many thanks

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint WF430 will not stop cold filling (but no hot fi

Try it on a spin only cycle first. If it starts to fill on that the board is goosed. 😉

The boards can be repaired by people like EMW & QER. A new board is not really viable as you would also need a £12 smart card and a £90 card reader to programme the £90 board. :rolls:

[CalCulater]

Re: Hotpoint WF430 will not stop cold filling (but no hot fi

iadom wrote:There is an outside chance of a tiny hole chafed into the clear plastic pressure tube, blowing up the tube would trip the switch but if the hole is very small it could still overfill.

💡 I suppose there also could be a pinhole in the pressure switch diaphragm?

Think I’ll take an extra tube and a T-piece up there so that I can put a water-filled manometer on the pressure tube. Then I can fill the machine, switch it off at the mains to stop it overfilling and then watch for pressure decay.

[CalCulater]

Re: Hotpoint WF430 will not stop cold filling (but no hot fi

iadom wrote:Try it on a spin only cycle first. If it starts to fill on that the board is goosed.

Will do.

iadom wrote:The boards can be repaired by people like EMW & QER.

You’ve got me wondering how much (-ish) is a board repair and how long (-ish) is the turnround.
You don’t happen to know the part no. of the board by any chance so that I can look this up/phone them? (It’s a bit difficult being 50 miles from the machine ❗ ). The serial no of the machine I do know, it’s 31179297.

Cheers

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint WF430 will not stop cold filling (but no hot fi

Turnaround is not bad at all. If you do suspect the board then the best thing to do is send it to them with the full model number of the machine.

EMW will actually test the board and return it if there is no fault found for around a five or six pounds.

[CalCulater]

Re: Hotpoint WF430 will not stop cold filling (but no hot fi

8) Thanks iadom and karv,

My plan of action is now formed. I will report back in a few days with the results.

[CalCulater]

Re: Hotpoint WF430 will not stop cold filling (but no hot fi

Update as promised:

Wall socket was OK.
Pressure switch was OK, it and its pressure tube tested with a home-made manometer as described.
Took the board out and it’s obviously goosed, to the extent that I wouldn’t have any faith that a repair to the several overheated tracks, even if successful initially, would be reliable in future.
Did consider a Hotpoint fixed-price repair at £115 with a 90 day warranty, or even £165 with a 1 yr warranty, but on account of the machine’s apparent reputation mentioned above decided that we would probably just be pouring good money after bad.

Although it’s a shame to bow to this disposable society that we now seem to live in, we decided to shell out for a new Bosch Classixx WAE24164GB instead. They seem v good value at M&S appliances at the moment and have a 2 yr parts/labour warranty. It was delivered in the 4hr time slot promised and seems v smooth and quiet after the Hotpoint. Also it has 4 adjustable feet so it can be properly levelled.

Fingers crossed that we’ve made the right call.

Cheers anyway everyone for all the advice received and hope others find this thread useful in future.

Cal

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