Last updated on February 7th, 2017
F01 error code on Hotpoint washing machine means “motor triac short – check motor and module connections”. This isn’t the type of error code helpful to most people so you may well be better getting an engineer in to look at it.
The triac is an electronic component usually in the control module (PCB) or other printed circuit board. I don’t know why the suggested action is to check connections if the fault is that the triac has shorted. This error is likely to need an engineer and maybe a replacement pcb but a determined DIYer may decide to check all connections as suggested. Electrical components shorting out (if that is indeed what’s happened) very often have external causes such as low insulation on another component, which also need diagnosing.
A company called QER may be able to repair the pcb or at least test it if you are prepared to have a go at fixing it yourself QER Module / pcb repairs – non trade
Appliance repairs – Book washing machine (or other appliance) repair
hotpoint WMF740 16 minutes F-05 error code
remove pump clean out put back together
now showing error code F-01
ANY IDEAS?
derek: I can only assume some motor or pcb connection may have been disturbed or even some water could have got onto something and shorted out a component.
Hotpoint Aquarius 7Kg washing machine – suddenly F-01 error code this morning. Couldn’t cancel or turn off so switched off at fuse board. Back to machine, set it washing and away it went. It completed cycle but because of my wife’s skin condition and the fact that the rinsing is so poor we have to rinse everything twice I set it to do a rinse cycle. Same error code so off at isolator again, no joy. Did this a couple of times and it’s 30 mins into it’s 45 minute rinse cycle at the moment and going strong!! Any ideas anyone other than “Short circuit motor triac”?
Sorry Mike, all my thoughts on the F01 error are in the article. It’s possible there is a connection problem with it being intermittent but all you can do is look for something obvious in the motor and module connectors. If you can’t see anything you need an engineer.
While the error code says S/C Triac in motor – Electronically it is impossible to comeback from that without replacing the Triac!!
I would suggest this fault is computed from power being applied to the motor and there being no response from the feedback device on the motor to say it is turning. (trust me when I say when a Triac goes S/C there is a bang :) ) and it doesn’t start working again..!!!!
Dry joint on PCB module, Poor connection on a multiconnector at the module PCB, check motor brushes if they have them. Check any normally closed thermal protectors/cutouts. Check connectors on any ancillary boards (front panel etc)
A fault that starts out as coming and going is often something listed above, since it implies it is not permanent in nature.
A triac is an electrically operated solid state switch that can turn on high current and a/c voltage with a low trigger voltage from a digital circuit, failure usually leads to the devices physical destruction and occurs when it connects a load that exceeds its design tolerance. I have seen quite a few white goods appliance PCB with the most horrendous power supply circuits, when you check the actual specifications of some components they come down to WILL DEFINATELY FAIL in less than 6yrs and often within 3yrs.
An A/C capacitor a resistor and a smoothing capacitor for a 12V AND 5V supply (Are they kidding) A/C cap always fails and to cap it off they use a type that gives no outward sign of malfunction hahaha.
I started out as a white goods engineer many years ago, mechanical timers then and mechanical thermostats in fridges. Now I am a senior Engineer for a company that runs very large cnc and laser equipment and I maintain and repair them, when my own whites goods fail from time to time I fix them. In doing so I see immediately why its happened, how and omg they design failures into them after certain time frames!!!
Be methodical, write everything down, check each component and its soldering on the mainboard, check all connections and remember fault comes and goes – its going to be something pretty straight forward to the right eye!!
Thanks for that Michael. I agree that the quality of many PCBs in white goods is pathetic. I remember the good old days when the washing machines were controlled by mechanical timers with cogs and small motors. They were generally very reliable. The PCB (or module as we called them) where small, and concerned only with controlling the motors. They were very reliable too.
When they got rid of the timer they said they were moving to PCB controls because they were more reliable. That was only true in theory. No moving parts should make them hardly ever fail. But they just made them poorly and they are now less reliable than the old timers.
As I said in my article though I’m puzzled as to why the manual says check connections when they claim the fault code is caused by the triac shorting. If it’s shorted it should blow.