AEG Lavamat L14840 faulty

[macabethiel]

Are there any washing machine engineers or the like in this forum?

Our washing machine is just 4 years old and it no longer takes the softrinse from the tray.
I have cleaned the tray and the gunge inside the compartment but no joy.

I am reasonably good at DIY (Destroy it Yourself) and have fixed dishwashers but not brilliant with washing machines any tips before I part with a fortune by using an AEG engineer?

 

[Banshee]

Are there any washing machine engineers or the like in this forum?

Our washing machine is just 4 years old and it no longer takes the softrinse from the tray.
I have cleaned the tray and the gunge inside the compartment but no joy.

I am reasonably good at DIY (Destroy it Yourself) and have fixed dishwashers but not brilliant with washing machines any tips before I part with a fortune by using an AEG engineer?

Used to know a cracking guy who was dirt cheap, his name was Ralph and worked for "Servis" (the made washing machines) for about 30 years

I've lost contact with him, sorry bud

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Are there any washing machine engineers or the like in this forum?

Our washing machine is just 4 years old and it no longer takes the softrinse from the tray.
I have cleaned the tray and the gunge inside the compartment but no joy.

I am reasonably good at DIY (Destroy it Yourself) and have fixed dishwashers but not brilliant with washing machines any tips before I part with a fortune by using an AEG engineer?

I do not know your actual machine, but I have had to work an a few washing machines over the years..

Not trying to state the obvious if you already know this, but the softener supply works on being syphoned out, so basically, when the washing machine needs it, it puts just enough water in to the softener section of the tray to cause the softener to then syphon out.

As you have already cleaned the tray, just check the syphon is not blocked, ours gets a build up of gunk in the top of the syphon tube, if not cleaned out regularly. I just hold it under the tap, and fill it with water, then turn the tap off, and wait to see of it all drains back out.

The next thing will be the valve that opens to send the water to the tray. I would be checking that it is opening when the correct voltage is applied to it, as it sounds like it may be stuck closed.

 

[kitchenman]

As above,
Open the tray, set the dial to softener and turn on power, if no water you have located the fault

 

[macabethiel]

Pending wash test

I took off the top of the machine (2 screws) and though it was a bit fiddly I managed to remove the tray outer casing assembly so I could clean it out as it was full of black algae type slime / crud. Had to remove 4 hoses and connector belows to drum but manged to wiggle it out.

Cleaned it all out with some nylon brushes and flushed it all through and re-fitted. Managed to draw blood with a nice cut the top of my thumb as a fiddled to get the tray out on some suitably sharp steel top braces.

Tea break to stem the blood flow and fit some plasters then put some orange grip gloves on.(Should have had them on to start with).

All back together and under test. There is a tripple valve near the water supply inlet and one of those feeds the water to the softener. If it is still not working then I will test the valve unit. Might just remove it and give it clean out it seems pretty easy to remove the valve block.

The machine is 4 years and 9 months old and apparantly has been playing up for a while but no error codes are showing on the display.

 

[macabethiel]

How do I test the three way valve ?

Washing cycle done and its not taking the softrinse so water supply is not working.

Its a three way valve with solenoids for each of the three outlets.

A new valve is £47.75 plus delivery so I need to test it has definitely failed and that its not the programmer.

How do I test the valve I know which of the three outlets that works the soft rinse so presumabbly some sort of test on the valve body wiring ?

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

check espares.com, have many tutorials and part price may be better too.

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Washing cycle done and its not taking the softrinse so water supply is not working.

Its a three way valve with solenoids for each of the three outlets.

A new valve is £47.75 plus delivery so I need to test it has definitely failed and that its not the programmer.

How do I test the valve I know which of the three outlets that works the soft rinse so presumabbly some sort of test on the valve body wiring ?

Not knowing how it is wired up, but could you just swap 2 of the solenoid wires over, so for example the softener one is on main wash solenoid, and vice-a-versa, then see if when the main wash opens the valve, the water comes out the softener port. That would at least prove if valve or timer.

 

[macabethiel]

Not knowing how it is wired up, but could you just swap 2 of the solenoid wires over, so for example the softener one is on main wash solenoid, and vice-a-versa, then see if when the main wash opens the valve, the water comes out the softener port. That would at least prove if valve or timer.

Good idea that I will give it a try. Pressure is mounting from her indoors who now tells me it's been pausing mid cycle for the last six months and also has 'extra noisy' operation days.

 

[macabethiel]

check espares.com, have many tutorials and part price may be better too.

Will take a look thanks for the tip.

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

whats the warranty, many AEG have a 5 year as top end machines,

dont forget you also have Sale of Goods Act with retailer, for first 5 years.
May have to have report from engineer that manufactured component is failed
but if find in favour may be looking at cost of repair, or depreciated credit part
refund write off.

 

[macabethiel]

Warranty

whats the warranty, many AEG have a 5 year as top end machines,

dont forget you also have Sale of Goods Act with retailer, for first 5 years.
May have to have report from engineer that manufactured component is failed
but if find in favour may be looking at cost of repair, or depreciated credit part
refund write off.

I think mine came with a 3 year warranty when I registered online. However when you read the small print its just parts after the first year and you have to have the 'Free part' fitted by AEG service engineer so its almost worthless when you pay for call out / minimum charge etc.

I am waiting for a call from a semi-retired AEG trained repair man but am on a bit of a deadline as her indoors wants a working machine NOW!

Might just give up and buy a new machine anyway and be done with it. Reading information about many brands such as Siemens and they build new models in China ! Bosch in Turkey etc. Europe is fast loosing its real brands !

 

[macabethiel]

Given up bought new machine !

Well after subtle pressure from her indoors I have bought a new machine being delivered in the morning.

Thanks for your input guys but decided that if I fitted a new valve and got it working ok her indoors would have blown a gasket if it started going into pause mode like it did before the soft rinse fault.

Ended up buying an LG made in China just like the new Seimens ones are !
Direct drive motor with a 10 year warranty on that part.

Next to the Mielle at 3 times the price it looked good value - time will tell !

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Well after subtle pressure from her indoors I have bought a new machine being delivered in the morning.

Thanks for your input guys but decided that if I fitted a new valve and got it working ok her indoors would have blown a gasket if it started going into pause mode like it did before the soft rinse fault.

Ended up buying an LG made in China just like the new Seimens ones are !
Direct drive motor with a 10 year warranty on that part.

Next to the Mielle at 3 times the price it looked good value - time will tell !

Are you sure the LG is made in China? I only ask, as I used to work for Samsung, and both LG and they are Korean manufacturers, and hated being compared to the Chinese (Or Hong Kong for that matter), as they consider them inferior countries and products... it would be so ironic and funny to think that they are now using them to produce their products as well :doh the out sourcer's are now out sourcing...:lol

I must admit that over the years we have gone for Miele, we have a Washing Machine, Dish Washer and Fridge Freezer, as they do have some great unique features, but I drew the line at buying one of their Tumble Dryers, as there was just no way to justify the price for what is basically just a rotary heater with a timer that wears out the same as any other make, regardless of cost.

 

[macabethiel]

LG washing machine made in China

Yep I looked on the back it had a printed label 'Made in China' on it - I was surprised too.
That's what made me look at the Seimens as salesman said it was German like Mielle but when I Googled it the WWW said otherwise for the new models.

Also my old AEG was built in the same factory as Indesit !

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Yep I looked on the back it had a printed label 'Made in China' on it - I was surprised too.
That's what made me look at the Seimens as salesman said it was German like Mielle but when I Googled it the WWW said otherwise for the new models.

Also my old AEG was built in the same factory as Indesit !

It's a Joke....

When I worked at Samsung, we had a company video, and at one point it showed the Microwave assembly line, where they went along, and at specific points they would split off to different finishing points. At the end positions was where they had the cover put on, and were boxed up. Some of the manufacturers I remember were, Samsung, the own brands of Curry's and Dixons, Philips, Sharp.... the list went on. he funniest bit was, some came off the same line a couple of stops earlier, before things like the turntable were added, and were then boxed for the supermarkets, like Asda and Tescos.

It was the same with the computer monitors, the unit was built into a Chassis, and then at the end was slid into different cases for Packard Bell, Philips, IBM etc.

As I said earlier, now it looks like even Korea is outsorceing, how much irony is there in that.:doh

 

[macabethiel]

And as for Mercedes cars !!

You are right I guess its all part of the global market.

Look at the Merc C class with a few exceptions most C class model variants are assembled in South Africa ! They did have some build quality issues a few years ago but they appear to have overcome that.

ML is built in America and many componenets and models for export to other countries are built in Mexico of all palces hombre !

I am pretty sure most MB owners think they are driving a German built car when in fact they are described in part as German Engineered !