Miele W970 Washing Machine – check inlet warning problem

[smarterchick]

Hi, first post so here we go:

We had smells coming from our miele W970 washing machine which is all of 10 yrs old now. Decided to clean all the tubes out as the washing powder tray kept going black from I presume either the washing powder or the softener, probably the softener as we’d switch to putting liquid detergent and tables into the drum with the wash.

We had had the red warning light come on occasionally telling us to ‘Check Inlet’ but it was intermittent and the machine ran okay most of the time.

I stripped out all the rubber hose tubes across the machine and cleaned them. Full of rotten deposits (gunge) from the detergents and softeners. Replaced the lot all clean and sparkling.

Put it all back together and now the red warning light comes on about 20 seconds into the drum filling with water.

Having picked up other posts on here saying it could be the brushes I bought new brushes and have put those in too but the old brushes were only half way worn and I’ve seen far worse on motors in cars still working, these still had at least 1″ to an inch and a half still to go.

But still the red light is coming on.

So, can any of you good people who understand Miele Washing machines have any idea quite what might be wrong with this?

I couldn’t strip any of the 3 motors up at the top inlet junction because they are all sealed units, but having flushed everything right through and I mean everything, I really can’t see what is wrong.

Any ideas folks? Thank you.

[glynskipper]

Re: Miele W970 Washing Machine – check inlet warning problem

hi drop the bottom hose of the drum and check there is nothink in the hose witch is letting the water run out as it fills

[smarterchick]

Re: Miele W970 Washing Machine – check inlet warning problem

Hi thanks, glynskipper.

Funny you should say that. We’ve had a couple of instances where that red light has come on in the past, but it seemed to clear and then work okay. I have removed all hoses including that bottom one, but there was something in my mind I felt uneasy about when I was putting it back.

Between the drum base and the bend in that bottom tube there is a large white ball. Between the ball and the top of the Tube is a large plastic washer with a hole in it’s centre which also has some kind of plastic hood which directs the water I guess. The rubber which the ball sets into when it reaches that hole appears a little frayed, just a little rough through usage and I suppose a small amount of water may get through when the ball should be stopping it flowing – would that make a difference significant enough to cause this light to engage?

Also speaking of that ‘hood’ as I call it built into this large washer – does it matter which way the opening in the hood is facing? Left or Right? I can’t see any obvious reason, but these machines are finely balanced I am told it could make a difference.

Finally, if you know this particular machine (Meile W970 Novotronic) can you identify what this part may be?

It is a small slither of polished metal 4 cm long and looks like the top of a pair of glasses frame with 2 curves separated by a bridge: It seems to have come loose from somewhere in the machine, but I cannot for the life of me see where, somewhere near the inside of the door I think.

[Galway]

Re: Miele W970 Washing Machine – check inlet warning problem

hi
the piece you are trying to identify sounds like the element holder/guide.

[smarterchick]

Re: Miele W970 Washing Machine – check inlet warning problem

Hi folks, a result!

Having replaced the Inlet valve and the motor brushes with absolutely no effect on the silly check Inlet light. The thing still lit, I decided to spend out on a professional.

In he came, opened the front, looked inside and saw a thin rubber tube running down the r/hand side of the machine floating around. This tube is some kind of a vacuum tube which is fitted to the sensor light I have been trying to turn off. It had come adrift when I was fiddling about and what it was doing was informing the machine there was a problem filling the machine. 5 seconds later he had it reconnected by just pushing it on the lug and hey presto the machine fired up again as it should.

The moral in this story is despite what experience you have, if it’s not on washing machines get professional help, especially on the higher spec machines. :clown:

However, I was smarting at the cost of the call out, but this fellow did a diagnostic on the machine by placing some kind of light sensor sticky connector straight onto the facia plate covering the said light (where it says PC). He downloaded an energy efficient update and gave me a whole load of activities the machine has performed since new. Gobsmacking stuff for a washing machine – (had a hotpoint before and that was a tin box by comparison)

So, problem resolved. Thanks for all the contributions and finally, the little spring clip strip of metal I wondered about is actually a tensioner sitting under the lip of the facia panel. Meile sent me a diagram.

Now to get on with the ironing, but the Mrs is happy!

Thanks folks.

[berabiz]

Re: Miele W970 Washing Machine – check inlet warning problem

I have had similar problem on 16 year old Miele washing machine.Fitted new motor brushes as had rinse light flashing.Sent PCB AE200 to be repaired.Now have the check inlet light flashing.Just like SmarterChick,check the inlet valves working well.Still can not complete a wash cycle,so in desperation call in Miele trained engineer,He feels around inside right side of door and its the dreaded thin black rubber pipe which has not been pushed back onto the sensor at the back of the PCB board the other end goes to the chamber at bottom of drum.All this took less than 5 minutes,,result it working again and he said good for another few years.
So as you have already said if you are not a trained engineer.Or if Miele wont send you a diagram of where the tube goes.Just pay up!

[Author]

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