Two Types of Light-Based Fault Indication

There are two distinct methods a machine may use, and they work differently. Identifying which type you are dealing with changes how you read the code.

Repeating Flash Sequences
A single light flashes a set number of times, pauses, then repeats. The number of flashes is the error code. Count one complete cycle carefully before noting the number.

Illuminated Option Lights
One or more of the programme or option buttons are lit up rather than flashing. The combination of which lights are lit is the error code. Count their positions from the left or from the top.

How to Read a Repeating Flash Sequence

When a single indicator light is flashing in a repeating pattern, count the flashes in one complete cycle. For example, if the door lock light flashes seven times, pauses, then flashes seven times again in a continuous repeating loop, the error code is 7.

Watch the full sequence at least twice to confirm the count before noting it down. It is easy to miscount on first observation.

Continuous flashing without a pause is not an error code

If a light is flashing constantly without any pause or repeating pattern, it is not indicating a specific error code – it may simply mean the machine is active or waiting. Look for a clear group of flashes followed by a definite pause before the sequence repeats.

How to Read Illuminated Option Lights

Some machines indicate fault codes by illuminating one or more of the programme selection or option buttons rather than flashing a single light. The combination of which lights are on is the code.

The critical point here is how to describe what you see. Engineers’ technical manuals list option lights by number – LED 1, LED 2, LED 3 – not by their printed labels. A light labelled “Extra Rinse” or “Delay Timer” on the fascia will be LED 3 or LED 5 in the fault code list, depending on its position.

1. Count the option lights from left to right across the panel, or top to bottom if arranged in a column.
2. Note which numbered positions are illuminated.
3. Report the fault as “LED 1 and 3 are lit” or “LED 2 and 4 are on” – not by their label names.

This information is essential when booking an engineer or looking up the fault code in a brand-specific guide. An engineer who is told “the extra rinse and delay timer lights are on” may not be able to help – an engineer told “LED 2 and 4 are lit” can cross-reference the fault code table immediately.

Before Booking an Engineer: What to Note Down

• 
  Which light is flashing – its position on the panel, counting from the left or top
• 
  How many times it flashes before pausing – watch at least two full cycles to confirm
• 
  Which option lights are lit – report as LED numbers, not label names
• 
  Where in the cycle the fault occurred – filling, washing, rinsing, or spinning

For more context on how error codes work and their limitations, see our guides on appliance error codes – friend or foe? and the full washing machine error codes guide.

Brand-Specific Flashing Light Guides

Hotpoint Aquarius Lights Flashing
Specific flashing light error codes for Hotpoint Aquarius washing machine models.


Hoover Nextra Lights Flashing
Flashing light fault codes for the Hoover Nextra range of washing machines.


Indesit Washer Dryer Light Flashing 13 Times
What the 13-flash error sequence means on Indesit washer dryer models.


Selector Dial Clicking Round Continuously
Another fault-indication method used on older machines – what it means and how to diagnose it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Does Demo Mode Activate Accidentally?

On many Hotpoint models, the Start and Cancel buttons are positioned immediately next to each other. The button combination that activates demo mode requires both to be pressed at the same time – which means something as routine as leaning against the machine or brushing against the control panel can trigger it without the owner realising. The machine then appears to be running normally but ignores any programme selection.

Check the model number before trying these methods

The exact button combination to exit demo mode varies between Hotpoint models and software versions. If none of the methods below work, call Hotpoint customer support with the model number and serial number from the label inside the door – they can confirm the correct procedure for your specific machine.

How to Turn Off Demo Mode

Try each method in turn. Success is confirmed when d_OFF appears in the display.

1. Switch the machine on. Press and hold the centre point between the Start and Cancel buttons so both are pressed simultaneously. Hold until d_OFF appears.
2. Switch the machine on. Hold Start and Cancel together until all LEDs light up. Release, then press Start/Cancel and On/Off in sequence.
3. Switch off at the mains socket. Press and hold both On/Off and Start/Cancel. While holding, switch the mains back on. Continue holding until d_OFF appears in the display.
4. Press the Cancel button alone. On some models this is sufficient to deactivate the test programme without any other combination.
5. Press On/Off and Start/Cancel together with the top-left option button simultaneously until d_OFF appears.
6. Allow the machine to complete the test cycle (approximately 3 minutes) until “End” appears in the display. Then press On/Off and Start/Cancel together until d_OFF appears.

If None of the Methods Work

Related Guides

Hotpoint Aquarius Lights Flashing
Flashing light error codes on Hotpoint Aquarius models and what each pattern indicates.


Hotpoint Aqualtis Error Code F02
Motor and tacho fault diagnosis for the Hotpoint Aqualtis range.


Hotpoint Error Code F01
What F01 means on a Hotpoint washing machine and how to diagnose it.


Washing Machine Lights Flashing
How to read flashing light error codes on any washing machine without a digital display.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Error F11 Means on a Dyson CR01

Dyson’s official explanation for F11 is “no motor action.” In practice this means one of two things: either the motor is genuinely not running, or it is running but the PCB is not receiving the signal that it is (typically from the tacho coil that monitors motor speed).

F11 is a good example of an error code that identifies a symptom rather than a cause. The fact that the drum is not turning is observable without any error code – looking through the door glass during a cycle would reveal the same thing. What the error does not tell you is which component in the drive chain has failed. That requires proper diagnosis.

Do not replace parts speculatively

F11 covers a wide range of possible causes from a simple connection to an expensive motor or PCB. Buying and fitting a new motor because the error says “no motor action” is very likely to be unnecessary and expensive. Work through the accessible checks first – belt, brushes, wiring – before considering costly components.

Related Guides

Washing Machine Drum Not Turning
Full diagnostic guide for a drum that does not rotate – belt, motor, brushes, and wiring faults.


Do I Need to Replace the Carbon Brushes?
How to confirm whether worn carbon brushes are actually causing a motor fault before replacing them.


Drive Belt Keeps Coming Off
Why a drive belt comes off and what underlying fault to check before simply refitting it.


Appliance Error Codes Explained
Why error codes often identify symptoms rather than causes – and how to use them effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Samsung Error 5E Means

Error 5E is a water drain error. The machine has tried to empty for 10 minutes and the water level sensor has not confirmed that the water has dropped below the required level. This can mean one of two quite different things – which is why the first step in diagnosis is observation.

Scenario A: Water is clearly still inside
You can see water through the door glass, the drum sounds heavy, and little or no water was heard leaving the machine. The machine genuinely failed to drain. Start with the pump filter – a blockage here is the most common cause. See our guide on the washing machine pump filter.

Scenario B: Water appears to have drained
You could hear the pump running, the drum sounds lighter, but the error still appeared. The machine drained correctly but the pressure system did not register that the water had gone – the PCB still thinks water is present. This is a pressure system fault. See our guide on pressure system faults.

Diagnosing the Cause

1. Observe what happened during the drain cycle.

   Could you hear the pump running? Did water leave the machine? Is there still water visible inside the drum? The answers to these questions determine which scenario applies and which checks to carry out first.

2. If water is still inside: check the pump filter.

   The pump filter on most Samsung machines is behind a small cover at the front bottom of the machine. A blocked filter is the most common cause of a genuine drain failure. Clean it thoroughly and check for any foreign objects – coins, hair grips, and small items of clothing are frequently found here. See our full guide on washing machine not draining water for step-by-step diagnosis including pump checks.

3. If water drained but error still appeared: check the pressure system.

   The pressure system uses a pressure switch and a small hose to detect the water level inside the machine. If the hose is blocked, kinked, or the switch is faulty, the machine does not register that the water has gone. The PCB then times out and triggers 5E even though the machine has drained correctly. See our guide on pressure system faults.

4. Reset the error and test.

   Press the Start/Pause button to reset the 5E error and run a short drain or rinse cycle to confirm whether the fault is resolved. If the error returns, the underlying cause has not been fixed and further investigation is needed.

Related Guides

Washing Machine Won’t Drain Water
Full diagnosis guide for a machine that will not empty – pump filter, pump, and drain hose checks.


Washing Machine Pump Filter
How to locate, remove, and clean the pump filter – the first check for any drain fault.


Pressure System Faults
How the pressure system works and what happens when it fails to register the correct water level.


No Blockage But Still Not Draining
What to check when the filter and drain hose are clear but the machine still will not empty.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does Whirlpool Error FP Mean?

FP is a drain failure code. The machine attempted to drain and did not detect the water level falling to the expected point within the allowed time. Like most drain error codes, FP can mean one of two quite different things – which determines which fault to investigate.

Scenario A: Water is still in the drum
The drum is clearly heavy with water, the door glass shows water inside, or you can hear water sloshing. The machine genuinely failed to drain. The fault is in the pump, pump filter, or drain hose. Start with the pump filter.

Scenario B: Water appears to have drained
You could hear the pump running and the drum sounds lighter, but the FP error still appeared. The machine drained correctly but the pressure system is not registering it – the machine still thinks water is present. The fault is in the pressure switch or pressure hose.

Diagnosing Which Fault You Have

1. Check the drum for water.

   Look through the door glass. Is there clearly water inside? Is the drum heavy? Could you hear water being pumped out during the cycle, or was the pump silent? These observations tell you which scenario applies.

2. If you can see some water but are unsure – test without laundry.

   A small amount of water visible after the cycle may simply be residual water that has not been centrifuged out by the spin rather than a drain failure. Remove the wash load and run a drain or rinse programme with an empty drum. With no laundry inside, all water should pump away fully. If it does not, the machine has a genuine pumping fault. If it does drain cleanly on an empty drum, the original water may have been normal residual moisture.

3. If it is a genuine pumping fault – check the pump filter first.

   The pump filter is the most common cause of a washing machine failing to drain. On most Whirlpool machines it is behind a small cover at the front bottom of the machine. Clean the filter thoroughly and check for any foreign objects. See our full guide on washing machine not draining water for further diagnosis including pump checks.

4. If the machine drained but FP still appeared – check the pressure system.

   The pressure switch monitors water level via a small hose connected to the outer drum. A blocked or kinked pressure hose, or a failed pressure switch, can cause the machine to believe water is still present when the drum is empty. See our guide on pressure system faults.

Related Guides

Washing Machine Won’t Drain Water
Full diagnosis guide for a machine that will not empty – pump filter, pump, and drain hose checks in order.


Pressure System Faults
How the pressure system works and what happens when the switch or hose fails to register the correct water level.


Washing Machine Pump Filter
How to locate, access, and clean the pump filter – the first check for any washing machine drain fault.


Samsung Error Code 5E
Samsung’s drain failure error code – same diagnostic approach applies across brands.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Error F08 / 8 Flashing LEDs Means

F08 is a heater relay fault. The heater relay is a component on the main PCB (control board) that switches the heating element on and off during the wash cycle. The error indicates one of two conditions:

• Heater relay cannot be activated – the PCB is sending the signal to switch the heater on but the relay is not responding
• Heater relay stuck – the relay has become stuck in the on or off position and is not switching correctly

On Hotpoint and Indesit machines, the heater relay is integrated into the main PCB rather than being a separate, replaceable component. This makes it significantly harder to address than a simple relay swap, as replacing just the relay requires soldering skills – most repairs at this level involve replacing the entire PCB.

Can It Be Fixed Easily?

Related Guides

Washing Machine Not Heating Up Water
Full guide to heating faults – element, thermostat, and wiring causes explained.


Washing Machine Lights Flashing
How to read flashing LED error codes on Hotpoint, Indesit, and similar machines.


Hotpoint Aqualtis Error Code F02
Motor fault error code on Hotpoint Aqualtis washing machines – causes and diagnosis.


Hotpoint Error Code F05
Drain fault error on Hotpoint and Indesit machines – causes and diagnosis.

Frequently Asked Questions