Many modern washing machines display error codes if they detect a fault, but they don’t all display a readable error code – or one you might understand. The more basic ones don’t have an electronic display so they may indicate an error code by flashing, or lighting up specific lights.
If your washing machine stops working and you can see some of the lights flashing, or one or more option lights have lit up, then make a note of which lights are flashing and which option lights are lit so you can report it when booking an engineer or researching the fault. However, most flashing light error codes are listed in the technical books as LED1, LED 2 etc and not by name
If the washing machine is flashing a single light, count the number of flashes. For example, the door locked indicator may flash 7 times, pause, and flash another 7 times in a constant cycle which would indicate error code 7. If it is just flashing continuously, with no pause, then it isn’t indicating an error code. It may still have a problem, but it isn’t giving any clues.
If there is no cycle of flashes as described above, but one or more option lights have lit up then this may be the machine’s way of showing an error code. Note: The error code lists engineers have access to only show option lights by number, and not by name. Therefore you need to report the lights as LED 1 and 3, or 2 and 4 etc. and not “delay timer” and “extra rinse”. Count the lights from the left (or from the top if in a column) and report as “led 1 and 3” etc.
Forbes specialise in renting Bosch appliances so they know them inside out. They also rent other brands and many other products – more details
This information is vital, and needs mentioning when reporting a fault. I have an appliance error code section which gives further insight into why error codes aren’t readily available to the public as well as explaining why many aren’t much use to you anyway. Some of the more common and simple error codes are listed though – Washing machine error codes
Emma says
My indesit washing machine won’t spin. It just stops and then the delay timer light plus the lock light continuously flash. This started happening last night after my partner had to put the bolts that go where the motor is back on as the belt kept slipping off. The belt is now ok but the lights keep flashing and my washer won’t spin. It fills up with water, goes round a bit, drains but doesn’t complete the cycle.
Andy Trigg says
Hello Emma, as my article explains you need to report which number LEDs are flashing and not the name of them.
Keith Jones says
My Indesit WIDL126 has 4 green vertical Leds on the left, and 4 buttons with green Leds horizontally at the top, as well as a red Led lock/reset light between the reset and start buttons. Whenever I turn on at the mains switch, Led 4 (bottom left) flashes 3 times a second, and so do the horizontal button Leds, and the red lock light. What ever I do with dials or buttons makes no difference, even with the door open or closed. All this happens with a load in the drum or empty. Nothing changes – power on, flashing. Power off, after 3 seconds, the Leds all fade out. It was all working one day, and then it wasn’t. Any ideas!!
Andy Trigg says
Hi Keith, the Indesit WIDL error codes are supposed to be displayed via the option buttons. If all 4 option buttons are flashing it is presumably showing F15 which is “Drying Relay – check heater relay”. This refers to the dryer section. The heater relay may be inside the main PCB. I would get an engineer to deal with it or assume it’s not going to be cheap. Note that if the machine doesn’t have a good earth either in the plug or socket they can generate false errors.
Robin Clark says
Hi
I have a hotpoint washing machine that has stopped working.
After a while of being left on, all the lights flash quickly.
Here is a short youtube clip of it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGKS8QjFh-M
What do these lights mean?
Andy Trigg says
Basically all errors are supposed to be trapped and cause an error code so the all lights flashing issue is not a proper error code. It’s not really supposed to do it. It could be a problem with one of the boards or lack of communication between them.
Gary Jones says
Hi There, i have a Hotpoint/Indesit WDL540 which keeps stopping during a wash. I noticed every time it does this it clicks the door lock solenoid six times. It did it a couple of times about 6 months ago then was fine again, but it now does it nearly every wash. When it fails, the lights from the bottom up 1: start/pause button pulses 2: after 6 click/flashes then stays off and the top but one stays on, all others off. Looking at other comments, there seems to be a consensus that the brushes are going. I have the lid off and assume the motor is placed underneath the drum or it is direct drive. The door catch looks and fine and got a strong return spring effect. Can anyone please help.
I understand there is a serial port on the back of this machine, Is it RS232 because i could interrogate the unit via my laptop.
Andy Trigg says
I would have thought you’d need special software to be able to do anything with the serial port Gary. Engineers have a physical device (not a laptop) that they plug in which then displays the last error code. They don’t interact with the pcb, just read the code although they may have advanced since I last used one.
If one light is flashing continuously in a pattern with a 1 second pause before repeating then reporting the number of flashes in a cycle gives the error code. If it’s not doing that and using option lights instead you need to count them from left to right or top to bottom and report which ones are lit up such as LED1 & 4
Susan Atkinson says
Lights continuously flashing “Wash Enhance & Mini load” model WF541 Aquarius. How can this be fixed?
Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp) says
Hi Susan, you have to read the article above, which describes how the name of flashing lights is no use.