Breakdowns of Zanussi top-loading washing machines

There are no perfect manufacturers of washing machines, so any technology has its pros and cons, which must be kept in mind when choosing and purchasing a “home assistant”. Forewarned is forearmed! That is why in this article we will examine in detail the main malfunctions of Zanussi top-loading washing machines. This will help new SM users not only prevent common problems, but also extend the life of the machine.

The drum turned with the doors open

According to statistics, almost a third of Zanussi washing machine owners call a repair service so that the technician turns the drum with the hatch up. It is this unit that most often needs to be repaired in devices of this brand. In this situation, the machine doors open after the wash is completed, or simply scroll down after the working cycle has stopped. This happens both because the locking mechanism has failed, and because the valves are not tightly closed. Regardless of the cause of the breakdown, the housewife finds herself in an unpleasant situation where she cannot remove things and continue the cycle.

Any service center will help fix the breakdown, but such repairs are not cheap. That's why it's better to try to fix the washing machine yourself to save your family budget. There is no need to be afraid of the procedure, because due to the prevalence of the problem, detailed and reliable instructions were prepared long ago.

• Take a long steel wire with a cross-section of 30 to 60 millimeters.
• Fold it over at one end.
• Lower the resulting hook down.
• Lift the CM flap and try to close the hatch.
• Close the doors and rotate the drum with the hatch up.

The most difficult thing about repairs is that you have to work by touch. When the hole on the Zanussi washer is too small and you can’t insert the wire hook into it, you can try to widen the hole and then try again. Finally, if this method fails to fix the breakdown, then you can disassemble the household appliances, gain free access to the doors and close the drum.

Control board

Also, quite often Zanussi equipment needs repair of the control module, the “brain” of the system, which controls the operation of all equipment components. When it gradually fails, the washing machine begins to freeze during operation, reset the current cycle, and also does not respond to the activation of certain programs while other modes are working properly.

If the control board is damaged, only a qualified technician with knowledge, experience and special equipment can repair it, so do not try to fix it yourself, so as not to accidentally damage it even more.

Depending on the degree of damage, the module behaves differently, which is why it is so difficult to check and repair. Often, to restore it, it is necessary to update its firmware, or replace burnt-out capacitors and resistors. In addition, terminals, contacts, as well as tracks on the board itself could fail.

To prevent the breakdown of this key unit, experts recommend protecting the “home assistant” from sudden power surges, which usually cause software failures.This can be done with the help of a stabilizer, an expensive device, but extremely useful, as it effectively saves household appliances that are sensitive to voltage surges.

Bearing unit

Finally, the last weak point of top-loading washing machines from the Zanussi brand is the bearings. This unit often suffers from the fact that the oil seal, which protects the bearings from moisture, dries out, cracks and begins to leak water. As a result, the liquid completely washes away the lubricant, which causes abrasion, deformation and damage to the bearing rings.

If the unit is damaged, the housewife will be able to understand this by an excessively strong hum during operation, as well as by a loud knocking, grinding and clanging sound, especially during spinning. It is not difficult to check the unit - you just need to open the hatch and try to turn the drum. If it tilts heavily and makes a loud creaking noise, then the element is definitely loose and needs repair.

An additional problem is that it is difficult to restore the bearings with your own hands, since this will require disassembling the washing machine, removing the tank and even dividing it into two halves. The latter is especially difficult to do, because in some SM models from Zanussi the tank is non-separable, which means that it will have to be carefully sawed along the seam line, and then assembled and fixed using reliable fasteners.

When the tank is disassembled, the worn bearing assembly must be removed using a chisel and hammer. In a situation where the rings are securely fixed in the seats and do not just come out, they need to be treated with a lubricant, for example, WD-40. Afterwards, the elements will need to be replaced along with the oil seal.

When the repair is completed, all that remains is to connect the halves of the tank, secure them with self-tapping screws along all the perimeter, and additionally treat the seam with a sealant that will protect the “home assistant” from moisture. If you are confident in your abilities, then get ready for complex and time-consuming repairs; if not, it is better to call a specialist right away.

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