Is this the end of the line?

[jonthetourist]

Hi all, just discovered this site and it’s great. Already switched from liquid back to powder in thw washing machine.

We have an elderly (10 years) built in Zanussi ZD604 dishwasher. It was recently moved as we extended the kitchen. We tend only to use it if we have company for dinner, so it can go a fortnight or two without use.

Since the move it tends to stick twice in the cycle. Once after filling for a few minutes, and later when a rinse is indicated. Nothing happens, no noise. Move the rotary knob round a notch and the cycle continues, and dishes was successfully. (although it has never been that successful on pots).

So my question is, is this a straightforward fix, or has technology moved on and a modern dishwasher would be far better anyway?

Thanks in advance.

Jon

PS we bought a Miele “cat and dog” vacuum cleaner with the extension and that is just terrific, which is why i suspect maybe 10 years is long enough.

[Penguin45]

Re: Is this the end of the line?

First part of this article may well be relevant:
http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/modules.p … ge&pid=104

Other standard fault with this range was breaking wiring in the door.

Power off before touching anything.

Regards,
Penguin45.

[jonthetourist]

Re: Is this the end of the line?

Thanks for that. The good news is that mine is the “blue tube” version.

The less good news is that after removing the three tubes , scrubbing the outsides and blowing through the insides (which seemed clean) the machine now doesn’t fill at all.

Sounds like an engineer is required, which takes me to part two of my original question – is this worth repairing, or has technology moved on? If it’s still a case of squirting hot water through spinnign arms then repair sounds sensible. If new machines are miles better, then maybe we should have a new one.

All feedback gratefully received.

Jon

PS The blue tubes are back in position. The black tube is open one end, with two small holes the other and fits either way up, but I have tried it both ways without success.

[aqualectric]

Re: Is this the end of the line?

These older style Zanussi machines were reliable and well built – the blue syphons mentioned are only a part of the fill metering system. The blockage could be in the ‘U’ shaped link pipe underneath the machine, or a wiring fault in the door (as P45 has mentioned).
When I revamped my kitchen 19 months ago, I scrapped my Zanussi Z30 dishwasher (it was 22 years old and still working perfectly) and replaced it with an integrated Whirlpool dishwasher. (which incidentally has already cost me a new motor and an NTC probe – and I’m in the trade and able to fix it myself!!).
The Z30 is the machine that your Z604 was derived from and is very similar in design. Now, I can’t say yours will last 22 years, but if you bought a new and relatively basic dishwasher today, the Z604 would easily outlast it. (even at 10 years old).
Only Neff/Bosch and Miele would compare today. And they’re a lot more expensive than a repair….. 😉

Hope that helps,

Steve.

[Trilobite]

Re: Is this the end of the line?

You really should use your dishwasher more often, because machine-washed dishes are physically cleaner, it saves yourself time and effort, and in most cases, a machine will use less water than a person washing by hand.

Using the machine daily, will also keep the machine in a cleaner condition, prevent seals drying out, avoid mould and mildew build up, and stop bad smells developing in the drainage system.

[jonthetourist]

Re: Is this the end of the line?

That’s great feedback – thank you both.

Iironically, reorganising the kitchen included putting the dishwasher higher so that we could use it more easily, and therefore more often, but the fill problem means that hasn’t happened. I shall look underneath and see if i can spot anything, and failing that call an engineer via this site.

(Unless we have any volunteers for the Gloucester / tewkesbury area?)

Jon

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