Basic malfunctions of the Electrolux top-loading washing machine, do-it-yourself repairs

Among washing machines, Electrolux is one of the most popular brands. It is of good quality, and you should expect the best results from such a washing machine. However, sooner or later, every washing machine may have breakdowns and malfunctions, and this is quite normal. Then a person can contact a specialist. And it happens that he repairs the Electrolux washing machine himself.

Making repairs yourself is not so difficult, it’s like replacing a faucet in the kitchen. When there is a malfunction in the dial or the door breaks, something needs to be done urgently. Many people call a professional without figuring out the problem themselves. First, you need to look and make sure that you won’t be able to carry out the repairs alone. Only then can you invite a professional in this matter.

Causes of breakdown and repair

Electrolux washing machines are able to decipher errors that appear on the display. Let's say that if the gasket wears out, then it will not be possible to understand until a leak occurs. If you notice that the Electrolux washing machine is not working properly, then you need to find the cause of the breakdown and fix it. If there is even a small problem, it can lead to bad consequences. The malfunction is displayed on the display of the Electrolux washing machine in the form of the following codes:

• E11, EC1, EF4 – incorrect operation of the filling valves or their blocking. Perhaps something is preventing water from pouring inside; there may also be a little pressure. Electrical wiring fault or damage to the flow sensor. E13 rupture of various hoses or violation of the integrity of the units through which water flows.
• E21, EF1 the hose from which the drain is being drained is clogged, or the electronic controller is not working properly.
• E23 some part burned out.
• E24 breakdown on ED.
• E85 malfunction of the unit or pump; it must be replaced or repaired.
• EF2 a large amount of poured powder.
• EF3 There is a water leak somewhere, or there is no current supply to the drain pump.

Such errors can also occur in other washing machines. But it may take a lot of time to solve the problem and make a diagnosis. It is important to have good nerves, as well as knowledge and experience. Repairing Electrolux washing machines is not so easy to do. Therefore, if a person is not confident in himself and his abilities, it is better to call a good master.

Unscrewing the pulley bolt

washing machine pulley bolt The drum needs to be dismantled not only if a foreign object gets in, but also to replace the bearings. Different car models may have different tanks, but the algorithm for disassembling is approximately the same. First you will need to remove the pulley.

The pulley is attached to the drum shaft with a special bolt or nut right in the middle. The pulley twists in a counterclockwise motion, and it is better to place some object, for example, a block of wood, to avoid twisting.

Unscrewing the washing machine pulley bolt

Unscrewing a bolt is a rather difficult task, because it is reinforced with a compound specially poured into the hole that prevents it from unwinding during vibration. What to do if you can’t unscrew the bolt the first time? You can use a gas burner to heat it up. The metal will heat up, move, and require less effort to remove. Before using a gas burner, be sure to read the safety instructions, because working with it requires certain skills.

Electrolux washing machine does not turn on

The most common reason in this case is a lack of electricity. There are various reasons, most often the machine is knocked out due to a short circuit. In some cases, a protective shutdown is triggered. Most often this happens due to bad wiring. There may be no power if the outlet is faulty.

It also happens that the cause of breakdown of the Electrolux machine is the surge protector. You should check your washing machine and connect it directly to the outlet. It is possible that the cord itself cannot withstand constant load. If a wire break is found, you must immediately replace it with a new one, since there is no point in repairing it. It happens that the power button breaks, because in some Electrolux washing machines it is where the power goes.

Before checking, the Electrolux washing machine must be unplugged from the outlet. The operation of the button can be checked with a multimeter in buzzer mode. There may also be a breakdown due to the interference filter. To check it, you need to make a call. The most dangerous reason why the Electrolux washing machine does not turn on is a malfunction of the control module. After all, during the repair of the car, it may be necessary to replace it, which will require a lot of money. Of course, you can make such repairs yourself, but you may not be able to do it, and there will be a risk of breaking it. To repair the power button, you need to remove the powder receptacle. There will be a fastener inside on the right; you need to unscrew it. You will also need to unscrew the retaining panel. You should also unscrew all the bolts and remove the panel. If the cause is found in the contacts, you should solder them and clean them.

The cause of the failure is probably the network cable. It often happens that the wires become loose and the power to the washing machine fails. Perhaps there is no power supply or it is supplied, but intermittently. This is very dangerous and may cause a short circuit. If a breakdown is detected, then you need to look at the power cord and filter. First, you will need to remove the cover of the Electrolux machine; there is a protective gasket next to the cord; you need to disconnect it. You should carefully inspect the contacts and wires, if they are securely fastened, disconnect them and check them with a multimeter. If the cable is damaged, then replace it with the original power cord.

Most often, what happens is that the Electrolux machine turns on, but when you start the wash, the machine is knocked out and shuts down. In this case, you should seek help from a good electrician as soon as possible. The socket may be faulty or the wiring may not be able to withstand the heavy load. Therefore, if such a breakdown occurs, it is prohibited to use the washing machine, as this can lead to bad consequences.

How can I restart the machine?

When the Electrolux washing machine freezes without completing the operating cycle, shows no signs of operation and does not respond to button presses, you can return it to operation by resetting the settings and starting the machine again. To complete this task and return the device to functionality, you should hold down the Start key and keep it pressed for ten seconds. This will cancel previously scheduled processes. After this, you should enter the settings again and turn on the operating mode you have chosen.

It is quite possible that you have a machine that was produced 10-15 years ago. Then you should move the program selector to the neutral position. As soon as the program execution stops, the green indicator on the housing will flash and then go out.

If this does not happen, there is a malfunction of the device or an erroneous interruption of its operation. If the program reset is unsuccessful, you should completely reboot the device. The procedure here will be as follows:

• switch the programmer to the neutral position;
• press and do not release the Start/Stop button for at least 5 seconds;
• disconnect the washing machine from the power supply by unplugging the plug from the socket;
• After waiting about 25 minutes, connect to the power supply again and initiate the program you have chosen.

If the device does not respond to pressing buttons or switching the handle, you must immediately disconnect it from the power supply. A failure in the power supply while the machine is executing a program can damage its control unit. If the measures you have taken to restore the operation of the device do not bring results, you should contact a service center.

Water does not heat up

Modern washing machines do not depend on what kind of water is in the water supply. Washing equipment has the ability to heat water itself to a certain temperature. It becomes not very pleasant when the water in the Electrolux washing machine does not heat up. You can find the cause of the breakdown in about twenty minutes. You just need to put your hand on the glass. If it is cold, this means that the water is not heating.

Most often, the reason is that the installation and connection of the Electrolux washing machine was performed incorrectly. It is also possible that the wrong washing mode is set, since not all programs can heat the water very much, and therefore the heat is not felt when you touch the hatch cover. It is also possible that the water heater may break down, after which the washing machine does not heat the liquid. The cause is most often scale, which leads to overheating, and eventually the heating element burns out. Sometimes a malfunction occurs due to voltage fluctuations. It also happens that the temperature sensor fails, and the machine automatically stops heating the water so that the heating element does not overheat.

It is quite difficult to confuse a heating element failure with another. Making a replacement yourself is not as difficult as it seems. The most important thing is to do car repairs carefully and efficiently. Before repairing the heating element, you must first check it using a multimeter. There may be a breakdown in it entirely, or in the control board, but this happens extremely rarely. It is still worth noting that you can repair Electrolux washing machines yourself, the main thing is to have good patience and a little experience in this.

Instructions for disassembling a household appliance

The disassembly process begins with preparation, it is important:

1. Prepare your tools in advance. You will need screwdrivers, pliers, and open-end wrenches. Additionally, you should stock up on WD-40 spray or an equivalent.
2. Prepare the place. The washing machine is a large piece of equipment, and you need enough free space to disassemble it.
3. Unplug the machine from the socket.
4. Drain off any remaining liquid and remove the laundry from the drum.

The next step will be to dismantle the external components of the washing machine. You need to remove the lid, walls, detergent compartment, to do this:

1. 
   On the back you need to find and unscrew two screws and remove the panel.

2. The cuvette for household chemicals must be removed all the way and pressed on the “tab”, it is located in the rinse aid compartment.
3. Unscrew the fasteners that are under the powder box, and additionally unscrew the hatch fixing screws.
4. The hatch clamp should be slightly pryed with a screwdriver and carefully pulled off.
5. There are screws to the left of the electronic panel; you need to remove them, and then pry up the fasteners to remove the electronic module.
6. Once the module is pulled out, you will have access to the screws holding the back and front panels.

The final stage of disassembly will be the removal of the tank-drum assembly. It is better to do this with an assistant, because removing the drum yourself is quite difficult.

Instructions:

• first you need to disconnect the terminals from the power unit, then turn the pulley with one hand and tighten the belt with the other;
• you need to unscrew the screws securing the engine;
• after unscrewing, the motor needs to be moved a little and pulled out;
• Then the pump wires are disconnected, the screws are unscrewed - to move the pump it must be turned clockwise;
• removing the wiring and sensor and heating element, then unscrew the nut located in the center, pull out the heating unit using swinging movements;
• the screws of the counterweights are unscrewed, the components are dismantled;
• After this, all that remains is to remove the dispenser pipes, the filling valve wiring and the pressure switch.

The RCD is triggered when the washing machine is turned on

As a rule, an Electrolux washing machine is installed in the bathroom, so it is necessary to have protection against current leakage. A differential automatic machine is installed separately. It is also possible to install a residual current device. It happens that protection works without any obvious reason.

Often it works due to incorrect connection of the differential machine. It is also possible that the device has failed and its operation should be checked. To do this, you need to disconnect all the wires, and when the RCD is turned on, you need to press the start button. The protection should turn off, and if this did not happen, it means that the residual current device needs to be replaced with a new one. If no damage was found, then it is worth inspecting the washing machine. Often a malfunction occurs in older units, as they have damaged wiring. The parts inside may become deformed and may cause current leakage.

Perhaps the reason is faulty electrical wiring, if it was damaged by a self-tapping screw. It also happens that moisture gets into the shield. If no damage is found, it is necessary to completely replace the wiring.

Removing the “stuffing” of the case

The final stage of work will be the removal of the tank-drum assembly from the body of the Electrolux washing machine. When you reach it, you will need to call a friend, since pulling out such a large knot alone is not easy. But before that, you still need to remove quite a large number of parts.

• disconnect the terminals of the motor power wires;
• Turn the pulley with one hand and remove the belt with the other;
• unscrew the screws holding the motor;
• move the motor away from you and remove it;
• remove the wiring from the pump, unscrew its screws, turn clockwise and remove;
• remove the wiring from the heating element and temperature sensor, unscrew the central nut (between the contacts of the heating element), lubricate the sealing rubber of the heater with WD-40, grasp the contacts and remove the heating element using a rocking motion;
• dismantle the counterweights by first unscrewing the screws that hold them in place;
• remove the fasteners holding the shock absorbers, remove them, leave the springs for now;
• disconnect the dispenser pipes and the filling valve wiring;
• separate the tube from the water level sensor and remove the pressure switch.

After these manipulations, you can begin to remove the tank with the drum from the machine body. To do this, you need to hold the tank with your hands (you will need the help of a friend) and remove the upper springs. Next we take out the tank.

Most Electrolux models contain solid plastic containers, welded using a special technology. Therefore, in order to disassemble the drum, the container will have to be cut with a hacksaw, and then screwed together and glued with sealant. If you have a collapsible tank, you only need to open the latches and unscrew the screws.

If you disassemble the drum with your own hands, you will need two hammers, a chisel and a long bolt (to knock out the bearing). A specially purchased device for removing bearings (removal pullers) will make the task easier, but you can do without it, although it will not be easy.

• We unscrew the special screw, which is located in the center of the pulley.
• We use a hacksaw to saw a plastic container or unscrew it if it is collapsible.
• We remove the tank halves to the side.
• We check the condition of the cross and unscrew it.
• We knock out the old bearings from the shaft, clean the seat and press in new bearings.

The machine is assembled after repair in the reverse order, but taking into account the nuances that we will describe in a separate publication. Removing old bearings and installing new ones is not an easy task. If, after a number of attempts, you were unable to go through one or another stage of disassembling the machine on your own, it is better to enlist the help of a specialist.

Water does not fill the tank and the system does not drain

If water is not being filled into the tank of the Electrolux machine, there is no need to panic and call the technician right away. You need to try to find the cause and repair it yourself. First you need to understand whether the water supply is working properly. It happens that water flows intermittently due to low pressure.

There are times when a person forgot to open the tap that supplies liquid to the Electrolux washing machine. If no fault was found in the water supply, then the reason may be in the Electrolux washing machine. If low-quality water comes in, this happens due to a clogged inlet valve. It can also burn out if there are power outages. If the failure is in the heating element, then the wash does not start.

If the reason is that the water is not draining, it may be a clogged drain filter or drain. You can do this type of repair yourself. To eliminate this, you will have to completely clean these elements. Such methods are preventive measures and are most often carried out by the owner of the equipment. If no blockage is detected, then you need to inspect the drain pump or pump. If a problem is found, the devices are replaced. It happens that the pressure switch stops working. This is a sensor that is responsible for the water level.

Malfunction of the drain pump – from 1800 rubles*

The pump is responsible for draining water from the SMA tank. Structurally, the pump is a housing in which the impeller is located. It is driven by a motor, thanks to which the water goes into the sewer. Most often, the breakdown of the drain pump is associated with foreign objects getting into it: because of this, the impeller blades become blocked or even break down, and sometimes the motor burns out.

SIGNS

The Electrolux machine does not drain water or drains very slowly. If you hear the noise of the motor, but the water does not drain or drains for too long, the impeller is most likely damaged. When the motor burns out, there is no noise from the pump, and the water does not drain out at all. Error codes may light up on the display: E20, E21 or EF1.

HOW TO FIX

The technician disassembles the machine and diagnoses the drain pump. When clogged, it cleans it. If the impeller or motor breaks, the pump is replaced with a new one.

*Prices are only for the work of the master, the new pump is paid separately.

Electrolux washing machine creates noise and vibration

Malfunctions of Electrolux washing machines often lead to noise and vibration. Some washing machines may vibrate strongly when the laundry is spinning. There may be an uneven surface where it stands. This is why vibration occurs during washing. To eliminate the cause, you need to buy a stand for the car or make it yourself. There may also be a coin or button stuck between the tub and the drum. When something gets inside, you can hear a creak. In this case, repairs will be very simple.

You will need to remove the debris from the machine and conduct a visual inspection. The drum mounts may have become loose. Then a crackling and whistling sound begins to appear. To correct the problem, you will need to reseal the fasteners. The shock absorber and bearing may also wear out. The machine begins to shake when washing, and parts will need to be replaced during repairs. Electrolux models are equipped with a counterweight to eliminate noise and vibration. Over time, it can crumble or completely weaken. This element ceases to perform its functions and can cause unpleasant sounds.

Sudden power outage

In the event of an unplanned power outage, the device should be disconnected from the network as soon as possible. For this purpose, you need to remove the plug from the socket. This way you will protect your washing machine from sudden power surges.

When power is restored, reconnect your device. If the reboot fails, the machine will continue executing the interrupted program. A number of Electrolux models provide a special mode in which, after a power failure, the device gets rid of water and remains in the neutral position. After this, you should set the desired mode again and re-initiate the program.

When faced with a particular short-term problem, you need to find out what caused it. Problems are divided into two categories:

• mechanical;
• software.

The first type of fault means that you will need a professional repairman. He will thoroughly determine what caused the malfunction, repair it and advise how to avoid this in the future.

In the second case, the control panel of the washing machine is blocked, and pressing its buttons is useless. To restore the equipment's functionality, unplug it from the power grid for approximately 30 minutes. Then reconnect and enable the operating mode of your choice.

Interesting:

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• Error codes for AEG washing machines

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Rinsing does not occur and powder remains

About five years after the start of operation, Electrolux washing machines begin to experience the first problems with washing. It often happens that the detergent remains in the tray. It turns out that the clothes are washed without powder. When the Electrolux machine takes in water, it should flow through the cuvette where the powder mass is located.

There is a valve near the compartment where the detergent is located. It opens and washes everything out with water. It is possible that the valve itself is not suitable for operation. Maybe it's clogged with dirt and that's why it won't open. First you need to pull out the compartment where the powder is located. Also remove the top cover of the Electrolux machine and find the valve and check its condition. If it is already completely worn out, you need to purchase a new one.

It happens that the Electrolux washing machine does not rinse or spin, even when a special mode is set. This may be a sign that the control module has failed. It is difficult to carry out such repairs yourself if you do not have any skills in this matter. Then you should seek help from a professional.

What to do after?

Once the washing is finished, you must:

• unload washed laundry from the drum of the washing machine;
• Wipe the rubber cuff from moisture with a clean cloth (additionally check the seal for stuck small items of clothing);
• slightly open the detergent dispenser (if there is any undissolved powder left in the tray, it must be removed);
• open the hatch door slightly for ventilation (ventilation of the inner surface of the drum prevents the formation of an unpleasant musty odor).

Do not try to open the hatch door immediately after the sound signal for the end of the wash. The UBL keeps the door closed for another 2-3 minutes. Sudden movements or tugging can break the lock.

Breakage of the rubber seal and drum of the Electrolux machine

If severe vibration occurs and the Electrolux machine becomes disturbed, this can lead to serious consequences. The vibration is so strong that the washing machine may even fall. Also in great danger are water pipes, furniture, and parquet. The problem may be that the installation was not performed correctly. Also, an uneven floor can cause strong vibration. Or it could be that the drum bearing has become faulty.

You can repair an Electrolux car yourself, as there is nothing complicated. It is necessary to remove the old seal and install a new one in its place. It is secured with latches. It's easy to see how to install it. As a rule, the instructions contain all the necessary information to replace the seal. Almost anyone can cope with this problem. But, if you have any doubts that you won’t be able to carry out the repairs yourself, you should contact a professional. Making repairs is not as difficult as it seems. When a breakdown occurs, an error code is displayed. Using the instructions, you can find out what the reason is.

Call the master

Sometimes you can’t do everything yourself, or it’s just scary to get into the washing machine without experience in performing such work. In such cases, it is better to call a specialist.

There are several options:

The cost of services depends on the pricing policy of a particular company or master and even on the city of residence. The table shows approximate prices for replacement parts:

Other, less difficult to install components, for example, a power cord, a hatch latch, or removing a third-party object, will cost about 1000-1500 rubles including labor.

Unfortunately, there are quite a lot of scammers, because of them you can lose both money and equipment. Common schemes:

Prevention

In order for the Electrolux washing machine to serve you for a long time, you need to take careful care. The rubber seal must be wiped after each wash. There is an accumulation of moisture, hair, and animal fur. If such procedures are not carried out, an unpleasant odor may appear in the drum itself. It is also necessary to clean the pump filter regularly. Small objects often get caught in it, and this leads to poor drainage. Scale often forms and this has a bad effect on washing. Therefore, it is necessary to try to add a special anti-scale powder with each wash. You should also always check your pockets for items before washing. Always wash your bra in a bag. You should use a special powder designed for an automatic washing machine.

To avoid problems, you should handle the Electrolux machine with care. And if a breakdown occurs, you should try to find it yourself and, if possible, repair or replace the faulty part. But, if you suddenly don’t have enough strength or patience, it’s best to use the services of a specialist.

The washing machine is leaking

Water leakage is a fairly common phenomenon, which is typical not only for Electrolux washing machines, but also for equipment from other manufacturers. There are several reasons why liquid appears on the floor near the washing machine. The first is damage or insufficiently strong fastening of the drain or filling pipe; the second is wear of the hatch cuff. Third - clogged detergent dispenser; the fourth is that the water pressure in the water supply is too high and the fifth is that the drain filter is loosened.

The user can remove the blockage in the tray, tighten the filter tighter and reduce the pressure on his own. In other cases, you will have to disassemble the washing machine, so it is better to use the services of a specialized workshop.