Hotpoint WMA32 – Smoke & Flooding!

[Greenie]

Here’s a good one for you.

When I walked up to my just-over-5-years-old Hotpoint Aquarius WMA32 at the end of the washing cycle a week ago, there was smoke coming from under the machine. Then, when I opened the door, smoke came billowing out from around my washing.

OK, “billowing” is bit of an exaggeration, but it’s a nice visual image. And I certainly don’t have to go out to late-night bars for a few weeks, because all my clothes are pre-smoked now.

On top of that, there was a small pool of brown water oozing out from underneath (there’s a brown dribble down the back of the drum). (Again, ‘flooding’ in the topic title was a colourful elaboration… 😉 )

I’ve run it since then, and it leaks a little still, but no smoke.

Because I’ve read appends about 5-yr old WMA’s, and because of the brown stained leak, I was wondering if the bearings were going. It’s not exactly noisy, but there is a bit of a rumble when you shove the drum round by hand.

I’ve also tried to work out if the heater has gone (because of the smoke). Bit tricky to tell because it seems to use the hot water feed for a lot of cycles, but it certainly doesn’t seem to be warming up a 40 degree pre-wash, and the 95 degree one seemed less than steaming.

So, what’s the damage? Looks like the heater’s broken – but that doesn’t account for the leak does it? Could that just be a seal of some sort? Or is it a heater/bearings/seal combo? (Can someone explain why they’d all go at the same time?!)

Thanks for any advice…

Chris

[Penguin45]

Re: Hotpoint WMA32 – Smoke & Flooding!

Drum bearings collapsed, front edge of drum now running against door seal – lots of smoke.

5 year parts warranty form Hotpoint, pay the £90 and get it fixed. If it’s passed the 5 year point skip it and buy something decent.

Regards,
Penguin45.

[Greenie]

Re: Hotpoint WMA32 – Smoke & Flooding!

Thanks for the advice Penguin45.

Although it’s a little over 5 years old (and hence no parts cover from Hotpoint), it’s had quite light use and I’d prefer to get it repaired if possible.

I have run it since the initial problem and haven’t had any more smoke, just the slight leak.

But, as I said, the water doesn’t heat up for a 40degree pre-wash – doesn’t that suggest the heater is broken too?

Cheers,

Chris

[Martin]

Re: Hotpoint WMA32 – Smoke & Flooding!

Greenie wrote:doesn’t that suggest the heater is broken too?

Indeed it does, very common fault as well as the faulty drum bearing system! 🙁

Pointless replacing the heater without replacing the drum bearing unit. The water leaks from the main drum shaft straight down onto the heater. 😯

I personally would take Penguin45’s last option if I were you! 😉

[Greenie]

Re: Hotpoint WMA32 – Smoke & Flooding!

Hi Martin –

Thanks for the advice – looks like Penguin45’s advice is good.

But I’ve still got some clean clothes, so before I assign the machine to the great white goods store in the sky, I’d like to get an idea of how much the parts would be to attempt a repair.

You’ve advised others that the drum shaft and support (i.e. drum spigot) would also need replacing if the bearings have gone, so I suppose I’d need bearings, seal, spigot and heater! So would it be:

WMA Bearing kit (no part number)
Seal 1603293
Drum Spigot 1604290 (*)
Heater 1602026

(*) You quoted this part number to someone in June, but I can’t see it on the shop.

(Apologies if an email to Spares would be more appropriate – I thought I’d get your advice before emailing them.)

Thanks.

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint WMA32 – Smoke & Flooding!

Don’t waste your time, that heater part is the wrong number, the heater in a WMA is set much lower than in the WM machine that uses a 1602026.
If your drum has hit the heater then just bin it, it will already have done serious damage to the outer drum as well. You will find it almost impossible to remove the old bearings, you won’t have the correct tools for replacing the new ones in the very unlikely event that you do get them out. Then you will have to try and remove the bolts holding the drum spider to the drum, cast iron certainty you will have to drill them out so you will also need new bolts, and some very hard drill bits. 😉

Bearing kit is a 1604473, list price around £21 + vat, heater is a 1603298 £26 + vat

If you purchase all these parts there is still a 75{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} chance you will be unable to complete this repair.

Life is to short, go and have a beer instead, you know it makes sense.

You have been warned. 😉 😀

Jim.

[kwatt]

Re: Hotpoint WMA32 – Smoke & Flooding!

Hi Greenie,

When three guys that between them probably have the best part of a hundred years experience (+ Martin :lol:) repairing and making a living from fixing Hotpoint machines tell you to give it up, give it up, it’s not worth the grief. 😉

K.

[Greenie]

Re: Hotpoint WMA32 – Smoke & Flooding!

OK guys, I give in! Seems like I either need a much bigger supply of clothes or I’ll just have to get a new machine. Time for that beer first, though.

Thanks for all the advice!

[Penguin45]

Re: Hotpoint WMA32 – Smoke & Flooding!

http://www.iseappliances.co.uk – lovely.

I too have imbibed after the days travails, but the machine is a cracker.

Sorry about your Hotpoint, but it was one of a deeply flawed family which almost bankrupted Hotpoint and allowed them to fall into the hands of Indesit. Which didn’t really help things much. Or at all, really…

Have a look at the Whirlpools and the Zanussis (OK 😕 ) – Bosch is a bit better – 2 year guarantee is nice, then stop messing about and get the ISE machine. Solid, simple machine, with a unique service package.

Or go mad and buy a Miele. We’ll talk again about 10 years…… 😀

Regards,
Penguin45.

[johnnyj]

Re: Hotpoint WMA32 – Smoke & Flooding!

Got to correct you Penguin the reason Hotpoint fell into the hands of Indesit, was one of the parent company’s, Marconi who owned 50{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} once the mighty GEC spent their Billions buying up telecoms companys, when the bubble burst and Marconi went to the wall they started selling of all their other assets so that they could get cash to stay afloat. Hence in came Merloni to buy 51{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} stake of Hotpoint, GE of America decided sell their stake in blocks over a few years. Hotpoint at the time was still in profit.

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint WMA32 – Smoke & Flooding!

Have to agree with jj 100{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d}, you have to admire, or perhaps not, management that turned GEC’s shares from around £12 each, to virtually worthless in less than two years. 👿 😥

Jim.

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