Hotpoint WMA34 Not Spinning – RESOLVED

[Hodge4ever]

Hi all,
As above, I have a WMA34 which isn’t spinning though the drum rotates fine by hand. A quick search of the forum has pointed at the carbon brushes. So I’ve taken the motor out to have a look at them and just need some advice on whether they need replacing or the problem might lie somewhere else.

Sorry about the size of them! 😳

The belt looks in excellent condition by the way, so don’t think its that.

Thanks in advance 🙂

Picture edited by iadom to reduce the size. 😉

[Turbo]

Re: Hotpoint WMA34 Not Spinning

The brushes are not the problem. It could be the motor, power module or broken wire.
Graham.

[Hodge4ever]

Re: Hotpoint WMA34 Not Spinning

Hi Graham,
Thanks for your input, I couldn’t see any broken wires, is there any way of testing the motor? and where is the power module (is this easily replaceable)?

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint WMA34 Not Spinning

There is only one PCB in this machine, its the one at the top behind the facia.

I would still suspect a wiring fault if the motor does not run at all.

Sometimes the wiring chafes through close to the large lower concrete balance weight. The wiring can also break close to the motor plug, give all of the wires going into the plug a tug to see if they are intact.

A complete PCB to motor/doorlock wiring harness is less than a tenner, a new PCB will cost you over £95.00.

Part number for the wiring harness is C00201352.

BTW, As you appear to have used PaintShopPro to upload your images to Imageshack you should resize them from within PaintShop Pro before uploading. In the menu options along the top you should click on ‘Images’ then select ‘Resize’. a bit of experimenting to get it down to the right size is required. Aim to get the size down below 50kb for forum postings. The one I have edited in your first post is only 31.8kb but is perfectly adequate, much better than the original that would have filled the screen on my 42 inch Panny TV. 😀

Then when you save the file select ‘Save as’ and using the drop down menu ‘Save as type’ save it as a jpeg and not a PaintShopPro file. 😉

If you used a different image editing program it should still have resizing functions to allow you to reduce large images for uploading, Imageshack also has resizing options available.

[Hodge4ever]

Re: Hotpoint WMA34 Not Spinning

iadom wrote:There is only one PCB in this machine, its the one at the top behind the facia.

I would still suspect a wiring fault if the motor does not run at all.

Sometimes the wiring chafes through close to the large lower concrete balance weight. The wiring can also break close to the motor plug, give all of the wires going into the plug a tug to see if they are intact.

A complete PCB to motor/doorlock wiring harness is less than a tenner, a new PCB will cost you over £95.00.

Part number for the wiring harness is C00201352.
Not 100{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} whether the motor runs, though if it does, it certainly doesn’t turn the drum. Is there an easy way to check just the motor?

I’ll certainly check all of the wires, inc close to the lower balance weight as you suggested.

iadom wrote:BTW, As you appear to have used PaintShopPro to upload your images to Imageshack you should resize them from within PaintShop Pro before uploading. In the menu options along the top you should click on ‘Images’ then select ‘Resize’. a bit of experimenting to get it down to the right size is required. Aim to get the size down below 50kb for forum postings. The one I have edited in your first post is only 31.8kb but is perfectly adequate, much better than the original that would have filled the screen on my 42 inch Panny TV. 😀

Then when you save the file select ‘Save as’ and using the drop down menu ‘Save as type’ save it as a jpeg and not a PaintShopPro file. 😉

If you used a different image editing program it should still have resizing functions to allow you to reduce large images for uploading, Imageshack also has resizing options available.
Thanks for that, I didn’t use any editing software, just downloaded straight from the camera (as jpeg’s) and uploaded. Usually (because I’m inheritantly lazy) I’d just use HTMLBB resize code function(s) (but I think they are disabled on this forum?!?) I only kept them that size as I thought people might a massive picture to acurately diagnose whether they were too worn or not. 😀

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint WMA34 Not Spinning

That motor is a German made FHP motor, one of the better motors on the market. Looking at your brushes, including the other ‘end on’ picture I would say that it is 99{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} certain that your motor is fine. It is possible to test the individual circuits through the motor but TBH I wouldn’t bother until you have totally eliminated any wiring faults.

A bit OT but if you are a lazy image resizer, 😀 then I have just the thing for you.

Powertoys resizer

A small Microsoft utility that you can install. If you open any images within an Explorer or Windows imaging window and right click you will then find ‘Picture Resize’ as one of the options. It really is brilliant, you can resize multiple images at one go, ideal for uploading full albums to Facebook and any other websites. It gives you a few different size options and also saves the original copy unchanged.

[Hodge4ever]

Re: Hotpoint WMA34 Not Spinning

iadom wrote:I would still suspect a wiring fault if the motor does not run at all.

Spot on diagnosis!

iadom wrote:That motor is a German made FHP motor, one of the better motors on the market. Looking at your brushes, including the other ‘end on’ picture I would say that it is 99{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} certain that your motor is fine. It is possible to test the individual circuits through the motor but TBH I wouldn’t bother until you have totally eliminated any wiring faults.

You were quite right, I wouldn’t have spotted it unless I was looking, but one of the wires that goes in the big white block (technical or what! 😆 ) on the back of the motor had snapped off at the blue butt crimp. Cut the crimp off, stripped the wires and and got a new crimp. Could only find them locally in a pack of 100 🙁 , oh well £3.23 for a working washing machine is a small price to pay in the long run I suppose.

The belt was a pain to get back on but got there in the end.

It’s now spinning away merrily again, many thanks for your help, saving me;
a)Having to scrap the washing machine
b)Calling someone out to look at it
c)Not having to unecessarily buy some new carbon brushes

Very happy indeed! 😀

iadom wrote:A bit OT but if you are a lazy image resizer, 😀 then I have just the thing for you.

Powertoys resizer

A small Microsoft utility that you can install. If you open any images within an Explorer or Windows imaging window and right click you will then find ‘Picture Resize’ as one of the options. It really is brilliant, you can resize multiple images at one go, ideal for uploading full albums to Facebook and any other websites. It gives you a few different size options and also saves the original copy unchanged.
Looks like a handy bit of kit, I’ll definately be using that! 🙂

[iadom]

Re: Hotpoint WMA34 Not Spinning

There is a simple trick to get the belt back on, involves a large plastic bag tie, takes seconds without any loss of skin from your knuckles. 😉

Glad you sorted it. 8)

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