F01 error code on most Hotpoint washing machines means, “motor triac short”. The advice in the technical manual is to, “check motor and module connections”. This is not the type of error code that is helpful to most people. If a triac has shorted out, what’s the point of checking connections? However, maybe wires could have shorted out and damaged the motor triac? If you have this error code, you should probably book an appliance engineer to look at it.
What is a motor triac?
The triac is an electronic component in the control module (PCB) or other printed circuit board. The suggested action of also checking connections implies that it isn’t necessarily a triac short. Clearly there’s an issue with it, but it could have shorted out or have a connection fault somewhere. The problem with this type of fault is that you need to understand electronics to be able to test and repair it. Even domestic appliance engineers don’t understand electronics because it is not part of the job. Engineers are never taught to repair printed circuit boards, only to replace them. However, if you were to replace the main PCB because you had this error, I would say that is a pretty big gamble, that I wouldn’t advise taking.
This error is likely to need an appliance engineer, and maybe a replacement pcb. A determined DIYer may want to check all connections as suggested. Check the motor for continuity and carefully check the connections on the motor connector, and where those wires connect to the main PCB. Electrical components shorting out (if that is what’s happened) could have external causes, like low insulation on another component, which also requires diagnosing.
Get the PCB tested and repaired
A company called QER Electronic Repairs used to be able to repair the PCB, or at least test it if you are prepared to have a go at fixing it yourself. However, they seem hard to get hold of and several times I have linked to them but their website has changed. Note that in the comments below, someone has posted that they tracked down their F01 error code to poor connections in the motor plug. So it’s always worth checking connections first, and it’s a reminder that washing machine error codes can’t always be trusted to be accurate — error codes are they useful or not?
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Thanks for sharing that Mitchell. It goes to show that you cannot rely hundred percent on reported error codes and their listed causes. There’s always the possibility that error codes are triggered erroneously by an unusual fault or connection.
Another visit with the dreaded F01 error code 18 months later and guess what, another broken cable on the motor connector plug. Is this a common problem? Does the vibration gradually make the cables snap? Reconnected and all fine again. For another 18 months?
Hi Mitchell. It can be, but it shouldn’t be, and isn’t for most people. If designed and made well enough it shouldn’t happen. Once it’s happened though, if you’ve had to connect 2 wires together it’s now even weaker than before.
We had the f01 problem, seemed to only pop on washes, but could do the rinse/spin programme, so when its “washing” it was and issue, but did the reccomended unplug minimum 2 min, and plug it back in, and wait 30 sek before starting a programme. but no help there..
Just a shame to get a F01 error on a machine that is barely 4 mo old. so i’ll call engineer from hotpoint and claim warranty. just enoying could probably had a fix at it myself but better to not mess with waranty
For My aqaltis washer dryer f01 error code was broken heater
Thanks Drenovac. For someone else it was a connection fault on the motor plug. Error codes can never be trusted and rarely tell you exactly what is wrong.