Indesit W161 lamp flash codes

[cookm]

Hi,

Is there a kind Indesit service engineer out there who can pass on a bit of very useful info to those of us who are frustrated with today’s modern washing machines? I know my machine is trying to tell me what’s wrong with it (in lamp flash code language!) but I can’t understand what it is saying. My local Domestic Appliance spares shop tried to be as helpful as they could but even they weren’t privy to such information!

If my PC goes faulty there is something called BIOS beep codes which can be used for diagnostics. This information is freely available in the public domain, but alas not Indesit fault codes…

Can anyone offer any help?

Cheers,

Martin

[Dave_Conway]

Re: Indesit W161 lamp flash codes

Martin,

Unfortunately Merloni Elettrodomestici, who own Indesit among others will not release that information to anyone except their own employed engineers and agents.

I know some of the guys on here do have some of that information though, so if you could post up the exact fault code(s) displayed it may be that someone will know what it means.

Ultimately though, even the codes do appear to be somewhat inaccurate so a proper diagnosis is normally required, i.e. checking all the components and not relying on the displayed code.

Interesting point about the BIOS beep codes being in the public domain though 😉

Dave.

[cookm]

Re: Indesit W161 lamp flash codes

Thanks for that, Dave. I thought as much…

The flash code my W161 mains lamp is giving is 10 flashes, then off for about 5 seconds, then 10 flashes, etc, etc. If anyone can possibly advise as to what has gone faulty I would be most grateful. I have checked the pump but that is draining water out OK, and in fact the machine completes a final spin cycle perfectly normally (so motor must be OK too). For a short while today I managed to get it to do most of a programme (60 deg whites) until it started reverting to code 10 and timer turning round and round whilst pump drains water out. So that must mean the heating element and pressure switch are OK too. I can tell when it’s about to go wrong cos a fraction of a second after the drum starts rotating it then stops, waits a few seconds, starts rotating again, stops abruptly again, then puts out the fault indication, sigh…

Cheers,

Martin

[Martin]

Re: Indesit W161 lamp flash codes

Possibly one of two faults likely here, but with theses machines it’s a bit poke and hope I’m afraid.

Firstly, the error code suggests a water level fault (Pressure Switch, crud in the water level system etc)

Secondly, a duff Module Circuit Board (heater circuit).
The latter can be confirmed simply by putting on a ‘Rinse & Spin only’ cycle. If it does that OK the Module may well be the guilty party?

After that it’s just guesswork really!

Martin

[cookm]

Re: Indesit W161 lamp flash codes

Thanks for that, Martin. It at least gives me a clue as to what to look for.

I’ve tried a rinse & spin but that doesn’t work either so (hopefully!) that means the fault is NOT the control board (which I know is expensive!). It could well be a problem with the water level sensor cos for a few weeks now we’ve been having a build up of crud in the pump filter (which is why I thought that was the problem at first but it’s not). So I know there could be gunge elsewhere in the system. Is the water sensor connected with that funny ‘appendage’ which branches off from the drum drain tube?

Cheers again for your help!

Martin

[Martin]

Re: Indesit W161 lamp flash codes

cookm wrote: Is the water sensor connected with that funny ‘appendage’ which branches off from the drum drain tube?

Yes it is, and sometimes foreign bodies such as coins, collar stiffners and even credit cards!! can block the pipe leading to the water level chamber!

Martin

[cookm]

Re: Indesit W161 lamp flash codes

Oh I see..and while we’re on the subject, what on earth is that tennis ball-sized sphere doing inside the drain tube? (I assume it is meant to be there and hasn’t come through the drum!!).

Cheers,

Martin

[Martin]

Re: Indesit W161 lamp flash codes

cookm wrote:Oh I see..and while we’re on the subject, what on earth is that tennis ball-sized sphere doing inside the drain tube? (I assume it is meant to be there and hasn’t come through the drum!!).

No Martin it is meant to be there, acts as a valve to prevent detergent wastage etc. Give it a good clean and put it back though!

Martin

[admin]

W161 flash code for 8 flashes ?

hi there all

I need some help with the same machine.

My problem is intermittent.

I put it on my usual machine programme – ‘none fast coloured’ (programme 4). The machine starts for a few seconds, it takes in water and then starts to turn and then it halts, drains out the water then selector dial just clicks round and round. I note the flashes red lamp/light emits. It flashes eight times, then pauses, then flashes 8 times again pauses and so on.

Anyone of you good people on here know what this error code indicates.

Your help will be most appreciated.

thanks

eddie

[cookm]

Re: Indesit W161 lamp flash codes

Stop press…

Today I bought a new pressure switch (the guy in the shop said ‘they hardly ever fail’ but I gritted my teeth and bought it anyway – £14.85) and fitted it tonight. Set a full wash cycle going and, hey presto! 2 hours later it competed the programme without a hitch! To say I’m relieved would be an understatement…if it had been a control board fault it would cost over £80 WITHOUT the Eprom! Anyway, out of curiosity (and being an engineer!) I took the old pressure switch to pieces and found that there was quite a lot of burning evident on two contact faces of the 2-way device. I assume this may have caused a high resistance contact which probably explains the malfunction.

Anyway, enough rambling for now, suffice to say a big “thank you” to you trade guys who are so willing to help out a poor member of the public groping about in the dark!

Thanks again,

Martin

[cookm]

Re: Indesit W161 lamp flash codes

Hey,

I’ve just discovered what “2 flashes” means as a fault code…there was a sock stuck between the drum and the door seal which caused the drum to bind up with great reluctance to turn, even by hand. This obviously was not liked one bit by the machine so it promptly stopped working and displayed the 2 flashes!

Hope this helps someone else before they pull the machine to bits like I nearly did!! 😀

Martin

[picturevalve]

Re: Indesit W161 lamp flash codes

Hi,
My friend has a similar problem with this machine, W161. It starts correctly with the water fill then stops and the pump empties the drum and the control dial rotates with an accompanying 8 flash sequence repeating. Anyone have any idea what the 8 flash code refers to?
Thanks for any help.

[picturevalve]

Re: Indesit W161 lamp flash codes

picturevalve wrote:Hi,
My friend has a similar problem with this machine, W161. It starts correctly with the water fill then stops and the pump empties the drum and the control dial rotates with an accompanying 8 flash sequence repeating. Anyone have any idea what the 8 flash code refers to?
Thanks for any help.

Edit : Just found an answer elsewhere that suggests that the motor brushes are worn out. Anyone confirm? Can’t find it on this site. Thanks.

[helo_75]

nope
8 flashes is the heater relay on the pcb

where did that very bad snippet of info come from?

[picturevalve]

Re: Indesit W161 lamp flash codes

http://www.howtomendit.com/answers.php?id=13230

The info came from the above post. I checked all the relays and they all operate correctly with 9v on the coil and the relay contacts are good on nc and no contacts. Does this suggest the drive to the relay is faulty instead?
I found out today that it wasn’t the brushes as the motor does turn in spin mode, but never gets up to full speed as it enters the 8 flash ritual after about 30 secs or so.
Thanks for the info, by the way. Just have to look further into this.

[Author]

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