Neff S5443X1GB not starting/filling

[ColH]

Our 10+ yr old washer has stopped working. Poking around in the ‘sump’ under the filters, I can rotate the impellors on both sides.
I’m not sure what this procedure does, but I’m trying to do a reset (press two buttons till the two leds flash) each time, for consistency: switch off with pushbutton switch, switch on and press two buttons so that two leds flash, then switch off.
Then switch on, select rinse cycle, and close door:

The drain pump runs for 15-20secs, and does indeed drain any water that is present inside;
Then for a further 20secs I can feel slight vibration in the aquastop, and hear water bubbling in [the lower spray arm is removed];
Then something – I think probably the main pump – can be heard running, albeit rather noisily (more noise than I remember it making before);
After ~40secs the vibration in the aquastop stops;
The ‘main pump’ then keeps going, apparently ‘for ever’

If I whip the door open while the aquastop is vibrating, I see water coming up through the hole where the [removed] lower spray arm fits. Quite a slow flow though – not a geyser.
Poking in through the front on the machine, where the pumps are visible, I can feel a few mm of water in the base of the machine.

I was initially suspecting the aquastop, but given the £100 price tag I’d like to get a firmer idea of what’s causing this first.
Maybe it’s due to the water in the base; or just a clogged filter on the aquastop inlet (I haven’t checked this yet, but don’t see why it would ‘suddenly’ get clogged – unless it has a water pressure threshold)

I’d be grateful for any advice of a logical checklist which will help pinpoint it.

[ColH]

Re: Neff S5443X1GB not starting/filling

If it is perhaps due to the water then (putting aside ‘why’….) would I be able to reach the float and/or switch from the front and temporarily stop it cutting in?
I think I can feel the float at the front left corner – if anyone knows where it is on this model? (Oh, and I fished out remains of something like a mouse from that corner….. some fur and a tiny skull…..!)
[further edit]: it does feel like the float switch is just tripping out – think I’ll try overriding it first, then dig into draining and finding the leak :S]

[electrofix]

Re: Neff S5443X1GB not starting/filling

little bit of loss what you are saying but

aqua stop valve do fail but normally slow fill and unit times out

common fault is, on the left hand side there is a float assembly and a chamber. There is also a float in the base. from this chamber there is a hose that connects to the sump og the machine. its common for this hose to get gunked up. when it does it makes the valve turn on and off rapidly say every 1 to 2 secs or so
if it is this then a good clean and it will be fine

Dave

[ColH]

Re: Neff S5443X1GB not starting/filling

I’ve dried out the water from the base, and though the float switch is no longer close to tripping, the overall behaviour seems the same.
I don’t hear anything turning on and off repeatedly.
When the cycle starts there isn’t a whole lot of water entering the inside. Could that be a aquastop problem? Or perhaps the main pump – even if it’s still turning, I’m sure it’s louder than it used to be (will have to check with the wife!). Can gunk/bits get into this and jam it up slightly?

[electrofix]

Re: Neff S5443X1GB not starting/filling

the main pump does not change the amount of water in the machine. The aqua stop valve is just a standard water solenoid mounted on the end of the fill hose. it is fed 240v ac from the machine and turns the water on till this voltage is switched off by the timer. if this valve is energised but no water is entering the machine then its faulty
there is a water filter in the end of it (tap end) have you checked its not blocked ?

Dave

Dave

[ColH]

Re: Neff S5443X1GB not starting/filling

Thanks Dave.
I’ve not yet checked the inlet filter – that’s the next thing I’ll do.

So the aquastop purely switched on/off on a timer? How much water is it aiming to let in? As I say, there’s some water being let in before it looks to be shutting off – just enough to fill the bottom of the machine (i.e. any more and it would be above the front lip), though maybe that makes sense!
I just wondered if it was basically running, but the main pump was partially failed/blocked and hence the water is only trickling out of the spray arms.
Hopefully the filter is the problem – just interested to understand about how the machine’s ‘logic’ works.

[electrofix]

Re: Neff S5443X1GB not starting/filling

with your machine if its purely a fill faulty you can pour water in through the door to fill it up and it should start washing

unit fills until the pressure switch on the left says I am full. Then motor starts and unit will keep filling on a timed fill stage for a bit longer

Dave

Dave

[ColH]

Re: Neff S5443X1GB not starting/filling

It did look like the water was getting in ok. I’ve stripped it down and the main pump motor is definitely tight (which would explain the noise).
Priced up the necessary spares, and it looks like £250-300 to overhaul that area. Bugs the hell of me to not be able to ‘make do and mend’, but that’s just not sensible especially on a 10+yr old machine 😥

[electrofix]

Re: Neff S5443X1GB not starting/filling

depends on what has failed. looking one up at random I looked up

S5443x1gb/07
you can buy an impellor kit
https://shop.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/165813- … r-seal-kit

as long as the motor bearings are ok then this will probably cure it

as this is an older machine it may well be possible to change the motor bearing if the motor can be dismantled

Dave

[Author]

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