Testing Pump with multimeter.

[thebuffnaaz]

Hi

Hope I can get some friendly pointers.

I tested the pump on my zanussi ZWF1437. Not the main pump at the front but the other one at the back.

(Having problems with failure to drain properly and E31 error – no blockages and machine fills when hose to analogic swich is removed).

I used this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKjKi50YBpI

So I tested the resistance and the figure I got is 313 ohms!

I’m I doing this right or has this pump has it’s day? (This is my first time with a multimeter).

Thanks in advance.

[helo_75]

erm, we’re all friendly in here

who told u e31 was a pump failure?

i thought e31 was incongruency between pressure switches?
i.e you analogic switch is faulty!

[helo_75]

OR, FROM THE SERVICE MANUAL

Malfunction in pressure switch circuit
(frequency of signal from pressure switch out
of limits)

the cure is preessure switch / wiring / main pcb

[thebuffnaaz]

Re: Testing Pump with multimeter.

Thanks for the reply 😀

My machine works sometimes but fails to drain. Can hear the pump when I forced it through diagnostics.

Then wondered if pressure chamber/hoses blocked but the don’t seem to be.

Just want to exhaust all options before I order a pressure switch. The machine filled when I removed the hose to pressure switch which is why I thought it might not be faulty.

I’ve checked both pumps with multimeter and resistance was between 150 and 200 ohms which I believe is ok (I misquoted as 313 earlier).

Perhaps I’m barking up all the wrong trees 🙂

[odom]

Re: Testing Pump with multimeter.

Why don’t you meter the pressure switch instead and see what resistance you get there?

Almost certainly analogic pressure switch at fault or blockage in pressure tube/chamber though.

[clivejameson]

Re: Testing Pump with multimeter.

Never forget the obvious!…your drain pump may simply be packing up, these rarely fail electrically (i can only ever recall having one!)

The resistance figures you give are about right so check that the drain pump impellor is free to rotate with a bit of ‘spring’ as you rotate them.

[thebuffnaaz]

Re: Testing Pump with multimeter.

Thanks for all the help.

@Odom, when you say meter the pressure switch, do mean the cable? I metered the cable and got 0 ohms which I believe means the cable is fine.

Is there another check I can do to test the pressure switch?

Do these switches fail? I read somewhere that they rarely do?

Could the interference from faulty pump/s be putting the pressure switch out of range?

Thanks for all your replies so far. I haven’t called an engineer out (yet) because:
The machine is in a very small room in cellar (next to old coal storage bit). It’s dim and yucky down there. I’ve a bad feeling the engineer will tell me its pcb cos s/he won’t want to get dirty and get the hell out; also because I would like to DIY this for my own personal development – I like to try and fix things (drives the OH crazy though).

[Author]

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