Replacing Hotpoint washing machine circuit board.

[peterinreading]

Hotpoint Aquarius WMAQF621 washing machine sometimes shows fault F08. I understand this is due to a faulty relay on the main circuit board. I am told that to fix it you have to replace the main circuit board, and because this will need programming for this particular washing machine model, only Hotpoint can do this, and that this typically costs more than buying a new washing machine.

Is this true? We are a landlord and have quite a few of these washing machines and would like to be able to mend them if possible. I also have an electrical and computer background and feel confident to do the configuration if it is possible, even if I have to buy special equipment to do the work.

Any ideas?

[matrixresonator]

Check the heater for continuity, then check for an earth leak on the heater, had a few of these where a small earth leaks messes with the board.

If the board needs replacing you need a programming card and the tool to program it which isn’t cheap (or worth it for 1 repair)

[peterinreading]

Thanks matrixresonat

I shall check the continuity and insulation resistance on the heater element as you suggest.

But actually we have several of these washing machines with similar problems. We buy these washing machines because they are only 45cm deep and fit more easily into small flats where space is restricted. So I would like to pursue the possibility of mending their circuit boards. So if you can give me some more clues as to what kit I would need it would be very helpful.

[matrixresonator]

Its been a few years since I’ve bothered owning one of these so things might have changed.

My parts list shows hardware key part number C00272306, plus you also need the programming card. Smart cards are specific for the exact model you have to you’d need to look it up, and these used to be one time use items don’t know if they still are.

Some models (lower end) may also need an adapter.

As I say, its been a few years since I bothered with one so might be worth getting another member to verify the current state if they still have one.

[electrofix]

seem to rememer somewhere that you could get F08 with new board and to tap relay with a screw driver. some machines test heater relay by energising it momentarily and thats when F08 pops up
but also as said above check for heater earth problems and continuity

Dave

[peterinreading]

Thanks for your suggestions. I tested the machine I am currently repairing and the heater element is fine and anyway the fault code has gone away so presumably the relay somehow reset itself.

I have researched this topic further and to replace the circuit board I need:

main circuit board C00381203 / J00387871
smart card reader C00272306 / J00238024
smart card C00385138 / J00642809

Total cost probably £250. But the smart card is not currently available.

Also I now see that the smart card is not re-usable – the programming procedure wipes the card after one use so if you have several machines of the same type to fix you have to buy a smart card for each one. This seems somewhat unreasonable – I cannot see why they shouldn’t be reusable. A even better system would be to provide a computer interface and downloadable firmware like you do for most other types of electronic equipment.

[electrofix]

not used one but there must be a way of cloning the card so it erases a copy

also am sure some of the engineers on here are able to take software of old boards to programme the new ones but cant be 100{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d}

Dave

[Gokhk]

I’m sure you can use a chip reader (ali express) and dump the hex contents (firmware) then reflash , you might have to just check to match individual machine serial if that’s in file but bar that can’t see too many other variables.

it’s a real specific use case so might be a bit tricky , good luck mate will require some micro soldering and firmware edits

[Author]

Posts