Malfunctions of Zanussi washing machines
Zanussi machines, like all large household appliances, often break down. A foreign brand and high-quality assembly do not guarantee trouble-free operation - there are both factory defects and other problems in the system. As a rule, it is often not the manufacturers who are to blame for breakdowns, but force majeure and users who did not follow the rules for using the washing machine.
To prevent machine repair from becoming an expensive burden, it is worth studying the typical malfunctions of Zanussi washing machines. Knowing the “sore points” makes it easier to diagnose and fix the problem.
What kind of breakdowns do you encounter?
If you believe the statistics of service centers, then Zanussi washing machines mainly break down in certain places and components. The fact is that this manufacturer has a number of parts and elements that, due to shortcomings of the developers or Russian realities, are considered the most vulnerable. We are talking about the filling and drainage system, UBL, heating element and drive belt.
- Filling and drainage system. Like all foreign-made machines, Zanussi is not designed to work with water of very poor quality. In Russia, the water supply is often oversaturated with salts and impurities, which deposit a coating on the electric heater and other components of the machine. The provided filtration systems are not enough; they become clogged with lime and rust. If the user does not install additional filters and does not use softeners, the hoses, pump, inlet valve, impeller and pipes become clogged and create problems.
- UBL. Zanussi's hatch locking device is not of high quality: the part is unfinished and often breaks.This is the fault of the manufacturers, which, coupled with careless operation, leads to periodic malfunctions.
- heating element. With this machine, the heater becomes covered with scale faster, since during production an unimproved composition of the coating of the tubular part is used. The components “attract” lime, which results in overheating of the element and its subsequent failure.
- Drive belt. The elastic band used in the drive is not elastic and durable, due to which it stretches, tears and flies off faster. You can prevent damage by assessing the condition of the rim every three months. If stretching or tearing is noticed, the element must be replaced or tightened.
Zanussi has a number of typical faults: breakdown of the heating element, UBL and drive.
The listed causes of Zanussi breakdowns are considered typical. In addition to them, there are other system problems, but they are more to blame for the user himself, who does not comply with the operating conditions of the washing machine.
It is not necessary to wait for the breakdown to manifest itself by stopping the cycle and other unpleasant “symptoms”. It is better to regularly check the “sore points” of the machine and monitor the display. Thus, the modern Zanussi self-diagnosis system often notifies the user in advance about problems that have begun through error codes.
List of common mistakes
Modern Zanussi washing machines are equipped with “brains” - a control board that can detect failures in the system and report them to the user through error codes. A complete list of combinations displayed on the display is given in the factory instructions. If there is no screen on the machine, self-diagnosis works using an indication.
As a rule, error codes E11, E12, E21 and E22 light up most often on Zanussi. Let's take a closer look at what they are talking about.
- E11. Problems with recruitment.Most likely, the water supply tap is closed. Another reason is low pressure in the water pipe. E11 also lights up when the mesh filter is clogged and the intake valve is broken. During diagnostics, the integrity of the hose is checked, the filter nozzle is cleaned and the resistance on the valve coil is checked. In the latter case, the indicator should be 3.8 kOhm.
- E12. Problems with water filling during drying. If the combination is displayed on the screen 10 minutes after starting the drying cycle, then the problem is in the inlet valve.
- E21. The drain does not function. The explanation is simple: waste water is not pumped out of the tank into the sewer system. Drainage problems can be caused by a clogged drain filter or pipes, as well as a blocked pump impeller. The last “diagnosis” is easy to make: the blades do not rotate freely, but are locked. It is impossible to repair them, only replace them with new ones.
- E22. Low water level during drying. Most likely the capacitor needs to be emptied.
Thanks to the self-diagnosis system, you don’t have to check the entire machine, but can immediately focus on troubleshooting. The main thing is to decipher the code correctly using the factory instructions or user manual.
In-line filter maintenance
Clogged filtration systems are one of the most common reasons why a Zanussi washing machine stops working. In such a situation, it becomes impossible to either drain or collect water. More often the filler filter “suffers”, becoming covered with limescale and dirt.
Fixing the breakdown is easy: just wash the filter built into the water pipe. If it is missing, the filter mesh installed at the junction of the inlet hose and the machine body is cleaned. We proceed like this:
Experts recommend choosing improved inlet filters that can soften tap water.
- remove the top cover of the washing machine by loosening the corresponding bolts;
- look where the inlet hose connects to the body;
- find a mesh filter;
- Using pliers, remove the mesh from the seat;
- clean the filter (sometimes a toothbrush or toothpick is required);
- fix the mesh in the “nest”;
- We assemble the machine in reverse order.
Do-it-yourself cleaning of the intake filtration system on a Zanussi with vertical loading follows a similar pattern. It is worth understanding that the garbage filter located in the lower right corner of the machine often becomes clogged. Not only hard water is to blame here, but also too dirty clothes. Along with the fabric, hair, threads, sand, families, paper, coins and other debris get into the drum, which leads to problems with the pump. For prevention, it is recommended to clean the drainage every 3 months.
Lock failure
The UBL often fails on Zanussi, especially on the Aquacycle and Easyiron models. It is difficult to say who is more to blame for the breakdown, the manufacturer or the careless user. Sometimes the problem is not the blocker at all - there is a failure in the control board. However, the plastic clips that hold the hatch in place are very fragile and fragile, so they often break at the slightest pressure on the hinges from the owner of the washing machine. If the mechanical lock survives, the electronic one will immediately become unusable.
It is useless to repair the UBL - it is cheaper and easier to replace it with a working one. Price a new blocker for Zanussi ranges around 1,500 rubles. But before you go to the store and start repairing, you should make sure that there is a breakdown.
We proceed like this:
- open the hatch;
- We find two bolts holding the UBL near the locking mechanism and unscrew them;
- pry up the outer clamp on the cuff with a screwdriver and loosen it;
- insert the rubber band into the drum;
- put your hand into the hole formed, feel for the blocker and disconnect the wiring from it;
- take out the UBL.
Afterwards, all you have to do is assess the condition of the blocker yourself: inspect for damage and check with a multimeter. If the device is faulty, then we take the removed UBL as a sample and go to the store for a new one. Afterwards, the device is installed in the housing according to the described instructions in the reverse order.
Heater circuit
The tubular electric heater is considered the most vulnerable part on a washing machine of all brands, and especially on Zanussi. Here, the coating used on heating elements is far from ideal, which often leads to rapid scale accumulation with subsequent problems. The washing machine, in this case, displays the fault code “E05” on the screen, indicating that it is impossible to heat the water.
To check and repair the heating element you must:
- turn the washer “backward” forward;
- remove the back panel by unscrewing the corresponding bolts;
- find the “trick” of the heating element - located under the tank with two contacts and wiring;
- touch the probes and measure the resistance.
A working heater should show 20-40 Ohms. Numbers closer to “0” will indicate that a breakdown has occurred. The heating element cannot be repaired; it must be replaced.
To remove the heating element, you need:
- unscrew the central nut;
- press the pin inward;
- release the connected wiring;
- remove the heating element.
It is recommended to use only branded spare parts for replacement. Third-party heating elements will not last long or will cause damage to the control board.
Drive mechanism
If the drive breaks down, the machine continues to wash, but the drum does not spin. To deal with the problem, you will have to remove the backdrop and inspect the pulley. If the belt falls off or moves, then simply return the rim.
It's worse if the rubber band is in place. Then you will have to replace the belt yourself. Then we run a test wash and evaluate the result. If the drum is motionless again, then the pulley needs a comprehensive diagnosis.
Interesting:
3 reader comments
The Zanussi washing machine does not push 100 percent. But it drains the water.
Thank you, everything is available! There is only one problem, where to buy branded spare parts? The washing machine is already 22 years old! The rest is clear.
The machine does not switch to rinse. What to do ?