A common fault with late model Simpson Dishwashers

Recently I have come across a common fault with Simpson & Electrolux Dishwashers. A leak has been occurring in them. The last model Simpson dishwasher I worked on with this fault was a 52B 850WJ*05. These model as with all the late model Electrolux dishwashers have an in line heating element. From this element is a hose which runs from the heater up the side of the dishwasher and across the back to the top spray arm. On the bottom end of this hose or pipe in a short piece of rubber hose which is molded onto the rest of the hose which is molded plastic. The rubber part of the hose appears to perish and split after 3 -5 years.

How to replace this hose

The worst of this job is the outside wrap of the dishwasher has to be removed. This is where a battery operated drill comes in handy removing the thirty odd screws which hold the front trims and the wrap onto the frame. It is best to remove the eight screws along the bottom edge under the dishwasher first before removing the rest of the screws. To do this the dishwasher needs to be laid down on one side. Be careful removing the wrap because the metal edges are quite sharp.

Once the wrap is off it is easy to see to remove the faulty pipe. Remove the top rack from inside the dishwasher and unscrew the adaptor on the back wall. Loosen the hose clamp on the heater end and then remove the hose. Fit the new hose and reassemble the dishwasher and then you should be ready for action again.  The part is called: Tube heater to upper spray arm.

Of course before attempting any jobs like this the proper safety precautions should be followed. If in any doubt about doing a job like this, call your local dishwasher repairer. For dishwasher repairs in the Mackay area of Queensland call me, Rod Swan. Andergrove Appliance Service.

Washing machine will not drain

Electric Drain Pump

A washing machine full of water and will not drain is one of the most common problems with washing machines. This is usually caused by things that have been left in the pockets of clothing. There are a large variety of things I have pulled out of washing machine pumps, from tooth picks, nails, bobby pins, earrings, chains, shoe laces, plastic bread clips and the list goes on. Not as common now but the old style Hoover washing machines were a common hiding place for frogs and they are not pretty to pull out of a pump.

Woollen seat covers or blanket, bath mats and old blankets can fall apart and then the lint and fluff from them can become caught around the impeller of the pump. The other common article that can cause a problem are under bra wires. These articles of clothing are best washed in a wash bag.

Pumps

Whirlpool Mechanical Pump

On machines older than 20 years many of the machines had mechanical pumps that were driven by a belt. If the pump became jammed, the belt would stretch and burn out. There are still a couple brands that have mechanical pump and are directly connected to the main drive motor. These include the Whirlpool and Speed Queen Machines. All the rest of the washing machine including front loaders and twin tub washer have electric pumps. All the modern washing machines have a button trap attached to the pump. This traps most objects from entering the pump. It is a good idea to check the button trap on your machine every six months to make sure nothing is blocked in it. If the pump is not blocked and still will not turn you will most likely need a new pump.

Hoses

If the pump is not blocked and is working Ok, the problem must be in the hoses. Check for blockages and kinks. The modern drain hoses are usually corrugated giving them extra strength and they are very hard to kink. For service to your washing machine call your local White Goods repairer.

In the Mackay area, Queensland, you can call me Rod Swan, Andergrove Appliance Service.

Simpson & Electrolux Washing Machine Lid Switch Fault

Simpson Washing Machine

Electrolux Home Products put out a Technical Bulletin No. WMB68 which describes a fault that some models of Electrolux and Simpson washing machines had a fault. The fault caused either a failure of the lid switch locking the machine and the customer could not remove their washing or customers reported a tingle when they touched the machine. This fault was caused by moisture entering the lid lock assembly allowing a electrical leakage. I have come across a few of these machines and even if they are out of the warranty period, I have been able to arrange an Electrolux Service agent to call and repair the fault as a warranty issue.

The repair involves removing the existing lid switch assembly and fitting a new kit. The kit includes a daughter electronic board(fitted on the main board), a lid lock assembly, lid striker, a sticker(that says the kit has been fitted) and an instruction kit.

The Models Affected

Depending on the model up to certain Serial numbers, Again the service agent can clarify this.

• Electrolux, Medium: EWT606SA,
• Electrolux, Large: EWT806SA, EWT8069SA*00,EWT959SA, EWT959SA*00, EWT806SB
• Simpson, Medium: SWT552SA, SWT605SA
• Simson, Large: 22S750M, 22S750M*00, 22S950M, SWT802SA, SWT802SA*00, SWT902SA, SWT902SA*00, SWT955SA, SWT955SA*00

If you have one of these models and there is either tingling from the machine or a fault with the lid switch, call your local Electrolux Service Agent.

Domestic Washing Machines

Domestic Washing machines covers a huge variety of machines over the last thirty years and I say that because that is how long I have been repairing machines for. Here is Mackay, Queensland, there were not a large number of manufacturers back then. All were Australian made and they included Whirlpool, Simpson, Westinghouse, GE, Hoover. The twin tub washer was still very popular, although there were a lot of top loading automatic washers (as they were called then) and very few front loader washers. Hoover made a front loader and Simpson imported a front loader from Goringi,

Now of course front loading washing machines are taking over the market with more brands than you can poke a stick at. The twin tub has almost died out and the top loader is on the decline. The white goods manufacturing business in Australia is almost dead with all the manufacturers importing all their appliances from overseas now.

Mackay Area

As I previously mentioned I have been servicing and repairing washing machines for a long time around Mackay. So just to mention some of the suburbs I cover on a day to day basis around Mackay are: Bakers Creek, Plainlands, South Mackay, Walkerston, East Mackay, Glenella, Farleigh, North View, Mount Pleasant, North Mackay, Habana, Rural View, Bucasia, Shoal Point, Eimeo, Blacks Beach, Slade Point, Mackay Harbour. I do travel out of town a little further than that when required.

Workshop

I do have a workshop at 63 Malcomson Street, North Mackay. As most of my service calls are at customer’s houses, I am rarely at my workshop so an appointment is necessary if you want to drop a machine off to me.

Simpson Clothes Dryer

Simpson products have been one of the most popular Australian made products and their clothes dryers were right up there in their range of products. The Simpson clothes dryers is one of the simpliest and reliable brands for many years. I have been repairing the Simpson clothes dryer for over 30 years. Even as an apprentice I was repairing these appliances.

As with most brands an electric clothes dryer tumbles the clothes in this action it is lifting the clothes up from the bottom as the drum rotates and drops them down through the center of the drum. As this is happening a fan is blowing heated air through the drum and this air is filtered and then pumped out of the dryer. So as far as components of a clothes dryer there are the following.

• Motor and associated belts.
• fan usually belt driven except on the later models.
• Heating element and associated thermostats.
• Timer to control the drying time.
• Door switch and other safety switches.

All of these components can give trouble, but on the older Simpson clothes dryers the most common fault was the nylon fan belt on the back of the dryer. If the belt became worn or broke the fan would not blow air through the dryer and it would not dry the clothes. The heater would over heat and cut out on an overload. I will be going into further  faults in future posts.