Zanussi washing machine drum does not spin

Having noticed that the washing machine does not spin the drum, it is necessary to urgently take action and fix the problem. Braking can be caused by problems with the belt, motor, heating element, or with the electronics of the machine. In order not to guess and not act chaotically, we suggest that you consistently check all possible causes and eliminate the obstacles to full rotation. All instructions for diagnosing and repairing a Zanussi washing machine are in our article.

Symptoms of failure, possible causes

The drum can stop at any stage of the wash: either at the start of the cycle, in the middle of it, or during the spin cycle. Whether the deceleration occurs abruptly or gradually - it all depends on the specific model, the breakdown that occurred and the acceleration gained by the engine. The following symptoms help to suspect something is wrong:

• water has filled in, but unwinding does not occur;
• the indicators on the dashboard are on, but there is no water supply;
• The machine is ready to start the cycle, the motor is humming, and the drum is static.

It is difficult to immediately explain such behavior of the machine. Moreover, there are about ten possible reasons for the breakdown of the Zanussi washing machine, which led to stalling.

1. A loose, torn or loose drive belt.
2. A foreign object has entered the tank.
3. Seized bearing assembly.
4. Worn out electric brushes.
5. Damaged electric motor.
6. Broken heater.
7. Non-functioning control module.
8. Broken condensate.

A consistent check of all possible causes will help to accurately diagnose the source of the problem. It’s better to start with the most likely and least labor-intensive options. So, let's start finding and repairing a non-rotating drum.

Urgent actions

As soon as you notice the first signs of a drum that refuses to rotate, immediately unplug the power cord from the electrical outlet. At the same time, touching the washing machine is strictly prohibited, since the possibility of current leakage to the unit body cannot be ruled out. Next, turn off the water and leave the machine for 10-15 minutes until it cools completely.

What you should absolutely not do:

• try to restart the machine;
• start finding out the cause while the machine is running;
• press the buttons, trying to provoke the rotation of the drum.

Remember that the washing machine is energized and poses a dangerous threat to the health, life and property of the owner. It is better to immediately contact the service center after turning off the power to Zanussi and invite a technician to your home. However, you can fix the situation with the drum yourself, which will be discussed further.

Checking the drive belt

Most often the drum does not rotate due to problems with the belt. It can be weakened, damaged or torn off by prolonged use, untimely replacement, manufacturing defects or regularly exceeding the maximum tank load. Fixing the drive yourself is quite simple:

1. We disconnect the machine from all communications (electricity, water supply and communications).
2. We move it away from the wall, providing free access to the back wall.
3. Unscrew the back cover.
4. Inspect the belt for cracks or other damage.
5. Remove the rubber band by pulling it towards you with one hand and rotating the pulley with the other.
6. We take a new belt and hang it on the motor shaft, then on the rotated pulley.

Important! A belt that flew off at speed could damage nearby sensors and wires.

7. We pay attention to the parts surrounding the pulley, if necessary, replace them and tighten them.
8. We return the cover to its place.
9. We start the fastest wash.

If the drum does not move, it means that the failure was not only due to the belt or the installation process was carried out incorrectly. Check the elastic tension again and rotate the shaft. If the result is negative, continue the diagnosis to determine the secondary cause.

Removing the stuck object

When everything is in order with the drive belt, you need to check the drum itself. It is quite possible that a foreign object in the form of a torn button or key got into the space between it and the tank. Continuing to operate the machine with an “uninvited guest” is extremely dangerous - a hard thing will cause jamming or damage the drum wall. In any case, the repairs will be expensive, especially if you have to change the internal tanks of the washing machine.

You can tell if something has gotten into the tank with a simple test. Open the hatch door and turn the drum in both directions with your palm. The resistance encountered, ringing or grinding will clearly indicate the presence of an external obstacle.

There is only one way out - to get the foreign body out as soon as possible. However, it is quite difficult to extract it. You will have to act through the drain filter or the hole under the heating element. In the first case, the order is:

Only soft or small objects get into the drain filter, hoses and pipes: pins, buttons, coins, nuts, socks.

1. We find the drain hatch in the lower right corner of the body.
2. Pry off the cover with a flat screwdriver.
3. Cover the floor with rags.
4. Unscrew the garbage filter.
5. We clean the body, rinse the hoses and pipes.

Larger objects remain at the bottom of the tank. The fastest way to get to them is to remove the back cover, disconnect the heater and remove the heating element from its seat. Then we shine a flashlight through it, find the thing and use long-nose pliers, fingers or a wire hook to pull it out. The main thing is to act extremely carefully so as not to damage the walls of the tank.

When the situation has started, and the drum has already become jammed, you will have to completely disassemble the tank. In this case, the procedure is similar to replacing the bearing assembly: remove the top and back covers, drive, motor, dispenser, module, counterweights, shock absorbers and all other spare parts of the machine. After all the manipulations, we take out the main container, halve it and remove the extraneous example. It’s even more difficult if the tank is non-separable. Then a four-hour cut is required, which is best left to a service worker.

Problem bearings

The drum does not rotate due to the previously mentioned bearings. More precisely, due to their wear, knocking out or washing away all the factory lubricant. This outcome is caused by overloading the tank with laundry, improper operation and leaking seals. In any case, the entire bearing assembly will have to be replaced. The replacement technology is quite complex:

1. We disassemble the entire machine.
2. We get the tank.
3. We knock out the drum.
4. We take out the old bearings.
5. We select replacement parts.
6. We change the assembly and seals.
7. We fix the parts with glue and treat them with sealant.
8. We assemble the machine in reverse order.

It is very difficult to do all the work on your own, so it is better to seek help from professionals. Service center employees have more experience and special equipment for dismantling and installation. If you want to save more, read the detailed instructions for replacing bearings.

Motor malfunction

Often, a static drum indicates that the engine does not have enough power to fully spin up.Worn out carbon electric brushes are to blame for this. Returning the engine to its previous performance is quite simple:

1. We provide access to the engine by removing the back cover of the machine and removing the drive belt.
2. We release the wiring connected to the motor.
3. We find brushes on both sides of the body. They are located in cases, have a power supply and a spring that presses the part to the rotating lamellas.
4. Use a flat-head screwdriver to pry up the power terminal and pull off the wiring.
5. We move the contact in the opposite direction.
6. We press the latch, after which the spring unclenches and pushes the brush out.

Attention! Remember in which direction the brush was installed; if installed incorrectly, the motor will spark.

7. We measure the length of the carbon tip, which should be at least 0.7-1 cm.
8. We take new electric brushes and place them in the engine traverses.
9. Compress the attached spring and insert it into the brush.
10. We fix the terminals.
11. We connect the power wire.

It is better to record the location of the spare part and the connected wires on the camera. You cannot change just one brush - they can only be dismantled in pairs. Therefore, we take the second part and repeat the procedure in a similar way. At the end, we check the reliability of the fixation and test the updated motor.

The heating element has failed

In Zanussi washing machines, a faulty heating element also causes the drum to slow down. Thus, the temperature sensor does not inform the control system that the water has been heated, and the module does not command the motor to accelerate. Therefore, the engine rotates in test mode at a maximum speed of up to 30 rpm. In this case, do-it-yourself repair involves checking the heating element with a multimeter for functionality and, if it breaks, replacing it with a new heater.Let's start with testing:

1. Unscrew the back cover.
2. We find a heating element under the tank.
3. Set up the multimeter to measure resistance.
4. Disconnect all suitable conductors from the heater.
5. We bring the meter probes to the contacts and evaluate the results.

If the display shows numbers within 20-30 Ohms, then everything is in order. If there is a deviation from the norm, the heating element will have to be changed. We loosen the holding bolt, push its rod inward and take out the device. We carry out installation, assemble the machine and start the test cycle.

Could it be an electronic issue?

Another reason for the drum not rotating is flying electronics. However, it is quite difficult to understand for sure that the problem is in the control board and whether repairs are needed. Moreover, it often creates the appearance of a module failure, but in fact the reason was not eliminated in the previously discussed elements of the washer. Therefore, you should not immediately blame, repair or change the electronic “filling”: you can throw money down the drain and not get results.

Turning to professionals is what to do at this stage of diagnosis. Only an experienced technician will be able to accurately determine the source and extent of the malfunction, as well as repair a burnt-out triac or loose contact. It is strongly not recommended to tamper with wires and chips on your own: most often, inept experiments with the board end in final failure and expensive replacement.

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