Washing machine - all the pretty flashing lights!

jodenice

Arrrgh. My washing machine has stopped working. All the lights are displaying. I am a technical numpty with all of this but I've been patiently trying to work out whats wrong via youtube.

It stopped mid spin yesterday. It wouldn't spin again and the doors wouldn't open. I had to break it open to get my daughters school clothes out.

Its an indesit IWDC6143. So far I've managed to take the filter bit off and £2 pound coins and a plastic toy came out along with a lot of disgusting black water.

After I did this, it will now spin. BUT if you switch the dial to 'drain' all the lights come on again. So I'm presuming its the drainage, because I'm a genius. I don't know where else to look for a blockage. The washing machine is miles away from the outside pipe, running from the hallway to the kitchen via a long pipe.

Can anyone help please? I really cannot afford a new one or even an engineer. I must try to fix it!

couriervanman

99% its a blocked waste pipe

jodenice

The waste pipe leading from the machine - into the wall? I can't even access most of it, is this a case of buying drain unblocker, pouring it into exit hose and hoping it makes it way through?

jodenice

or is the waste pipe on the machine? lol, remember, use little words.

Alfrescodave

Have another look at the filter, when you previously removed all the rubbish it might have allowed more crp in the pipe to move into the filter.

jodenice

I've done it, nothing else is coming out and the water is clear now. OK so are we talking about the pipe coming from the machine to the pipe in the wall?? If so how do I get it off to check, does it come off?

I'm going to buy drain and pipe unblocker in a moment and see if it clears any blockages in the pipe that leads outside

couriervanman

Well the block will probably be in a bend if that helps narrow it down

jodenice

ps thank you both

jodenice

I've taken out all the ubend bit that leads to the wall pipe and its clear, as far as I can see. So its not likely to be the pipe leading directly from the washing machine?

I'm going to have to give up soon, nothing is working.

couriervanman

So the pipe from the wall to the outside is blocked

Pour some water down the pipe and see if it comes out the outside drain

thevdm

The drain outside our house in the back garden occasionally blocks (from leaves etc...), if it blocks and the water level in the drain covers the end of the pipes coming from the kitchen it stops the washing machine from working (with the same symptoms of a blocked hose). I have to go out there and stick my hand into some lovely stagnant water to pull out all the leaves that are on top of the grate. I've installed a cover and mesh into the openings to hopefully stop leaves getting in there.


Might be worth a check.


Something else to check is in the washing machine pump itself (there's often an access pannel on the front of the machine). I see you've already checked this part, but a few strands of hair caught around the impeller it can stop the pump from spinning. If you can get the filter out to a point where you can reach the impeller, check to see if it's spinning freely.