Hoover Nextra error 7 (as with all Nextra error codes) is shown by flashing two lights in a 15 second cycle, usually the start and pause, or start and delay-start leds. If you count how many times the lights flash before pausing and repeating the sequence and it amounts to 7 flashes then this page explains the meaning.
Nextra error code 7 means –
“Motor jammed / Drum shaft jammed / Tacho generator fault”
Remember error codes are specific to one make or even one range of washing machines. An error 7 on an AEG for example will mean something different. These three explanations all refer to a specific fault where the washing machine knows it’s supplying power to the motor and that the power is running all the way through the motor and back to the main pcb. Therefore it knows the motor should be running – but it cannot detect that the motor is actually running.
Motor jammed
The first possible fault could be if the motor is trying to turn but the motor is physically jammed. This is likely to be rare. It’s easily tested by opening the door on the washing machine and spinning the drum by hand. If it moves normally and freely it’s clearly not jammed and this is not the fault. If it is jammed or very stiff then making sure the machine is disconnected from the mains supply you can just take off the drive belt. You can then see if it’s the motor or the drum that is jammed. If the motor is jammed it’s likely to need replacing but it’s rare for one to jam.
Drum shaft jammed
This would cause the exact same problem in that the motor is trying to turn but because the drum was jammed it couldn’t. Again, easily tested by turning the drum by hand – if it’s free then it isn’t the fault. If it’s jammed or very stiff, removing the belt will let you determine whether it’s the motor or the drum that’s jammed.
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Generator fault
The way a washing machine detects the speed of the motor is via the tacho coil, which is the last potential fault listed. The tacho coil is on the motor under the motor plug cover. It’s at the end opposite to the drive belt with 2 thin wires running from it. It’s a small coil that surrounds the shaft of the main armature where a small round magnet is attached. As the armature turns, the magnet on the end of the shaft turns inside the coil. It’s then easy for the pcb to count each revolution of the small magnet and work out how many revolutions per minute it is turning.
Tacho magnet off or broken
If the small magnet mentioned in the last paragraph has broken, or come loose and dropped off, then the tacho coil won’t be able to pick up any signal from it and won’t detect that the motor is turning. This can also cause the error 7. It’s a relatively common cause in fact. The pcb knows it’s sending power to the motor and that it hasn’t detected any other fault on the motor – but it can’t detect that it’s running.
In the photo above you can see at the top of the motor a typical tacho coil set up.
[Related general advice: Washing machine stops with an error code]
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Washerhelp says
You can’t take the back off many modern washing machines sharon, many just have a small inspection hatch from the drum pulley.
I used to access the motor by laying the machine on its back but DIY jobs are potentially fraught with problems if you don’t know what you are doing. Even laying it down can cause problems if you haven’t disconnected all the hoses, and of course it must be disconnected from the mains supply too.
The tacho coil coming off has been a fairly common problem, but without the proper clip to fix it back in place (which isn’t available as a spare part in most cases) you can only either fit a new motor (which is ridiculously expensive) or use ingenuity to fix in on in a way that won’t cause any side effects. If the old clip is still there it may be possible to refit it but obviously it could come off again. If the tacho coil is still in place it must be something else.
sharon says
hi, thankyou for the reply.
my washer is under insurance, so i will contact them and get them to send someone out to fix it, hopefully they can, because i dont want to have to get a new machine.
as far as you know, if it is the tacho, which to me it seems like it could well be, would it affect all washes?, because my daily 44” min wash still works, but all my main washes on the opposite side of the dial, and any other washes don’t.
they wash, then it flips out when it gets to emptying before the spin to re-fill for rinsing, this then sends it into error 7
Washerhelp says
In my experience if the tacho coil comes off then the control module loses all control of the motor, and every time it sends power to the motor it only spins. If it wasn’t for the machine refusing to work and showing an error code the motor could spin uncontrollably and with a heavy load inside that can damage the machine. If the motor turns the drum at normal speed on wash then as far as I can see the tacho coil must still be attached because the machine can’t control the motor without feedback from the tacho coil.
Error codes sometimes have different causes to those listed in the error code list. Maybe there’s a problem with the control module or connections somewhere.
sharon says
well, i am at a total loss as to what it could be then.
daily 44min wash is fine, any other washes, it goes a bit odd after washing, and goes into hyper spin before the 1st rinse, and then error codes..number 7
could it be the electronics? sending the wrong info on certain washes to the motor etc…?
Ida says
I got an error 7 after using the dryer on my Hoover Washer Dryer. The power was turned off in the middle of the program, but when the power came back it seemed to work fine. But after finishing the program (apparently nothing was wrong), I got the error 7. Could it be the power loss causing this error? Should I try using it, or should I contact repair service?
DBe123 says
Thank you Mike the Gasman!! Was loathe to call anyone out to have a look at my washer/dryer, have followed your simple steps and it works a treat. Easy and straightforward, and saved us a good few quid. Lovely stuff, wife will be delighted :)
On a different note, the dryer function doesn’t work – turns but doesn’t heat up. Its a Hoover Nextra 8 washer/dryer – any ideas????
Anonymous says
When you take the tachometer of there is two cage type things should they be fixed together?
Washerhelp says
Anonymous: The tachometer is a coil within a metal housing. It’s all one piece.
anyonymous dublin says
Hi, I have the same problem as Mike the gasman but his solution doesn’t fix it. Basically, my machine (Hoover Nextra Washer Dryer) spins and begins to fill up with water and then I get Error 7. Same happens on dry cycle (without the water obviously). I have repaired the machine myself before, I opened it up, checked the brushes and tacho coil. The drum is spinning and the motor working but it sounds like it’s out of control. I found this German site http://www.dennis-knake.de/2007/02/25/kleiner-ring-grose-wirkung-waschmaschine-mit-schleudertrauma/ You can translate it pretty well on google translate, but you don’t need to to answer my query. If you look at his pictures, the third last picture showing the tacho coil cap – this is what mine looks like. But in the next picture he says that he found a retainer clip after he’d put it back together and that this sits on top of the tacho coil cap and holds it in place. So, does anyone who has opened their Hoover Nextra machine know if there is one of these clips sitting on top of their tacho coil cap? This would save me from going mad! I don’t think you can by these as spares just in case anyone else is missing theirs.
To anonymous #17, yes there are two cage things on the inside of the tacho coil cap when you take it off. They should interlock but you will know when you have it on right as there is only one right way to get the cap to fit over the white part with the two wires (im sure that’s the technical term for it!)
Washerhelp says
Thanks anonymous dublin: Photos 9 and 10 give a good view of the clip that holds the tacho coil in place. These clips are rarely available as spares unfortunately. If you can’t cleverly improvise no repair can be done.
Another cause related to this fault is if the tacho coil is still in place, but the small magnet that runs inside the coil has come unscrewed off the end of the armature shaft, which will equally prevent the electronics from counting the revolutions of the armature via the tacho coil and could give error code 7.