CarolineR

It sounds like something between the inner lining of the drum and the outside casing (if that's how it's made up). When I say the front is off, I mean the front of the machine and not the front bit of the drum, so I can't see inside - if that makes sense. It's definitely not a bra wire. Just wondering what the bang could have been. Stupidly, I didn't stand over him while he was looking inside as was busy doing some work.

It was like a metal scraping noise - metal against metal - coming from the top right corner, and resistance going past that point. I'm not sure what you mean by the drive belt disconnected. He's left the front off etc so it may be disconnected now. When I turn the drum it is making a slight squeaking now but not as much as before. He said that possibly something had buckled. When it was going through a spin cycle the other day, there was a loud noise a bit like a minor explosion. Thanks

After reading the troubleshooting tips, I thought it might be a broken spider as, when you turn the drum, it becomes difficult at one point and makes a scraping noise. Just had someone out and he said it's not obvious what it is. Has taken it apart and now now drum turning better but still a little scraping. He took out the heating element and now it won't go back in ( which he warned me might happen). Possible solutions: 1. Replace heating element and front plate (£128 plus vat) 2. Just replace heating element (£48 plus vat) but he says drum will still be catching a bit. 3. Get a new washer (this one is about 7 years old and don't use the drier much). Would be grateful for any thoughts as never know what to think about what engineers tell me. Many thanks!