Samsung Eco Bubble Washing Machine Fault

[pottsey66]

My washing machine is just over 30 months old and developed fault 3e.

Samsung refuse to honour the warranty, saying I had not registered the extended 5 years, which I have done.

The machine sticks and the drum shudders; If put on pause it will wash after 2-3 hours of consistently pausing it.

Does anyone know what this fault is? Could it be the motor?

Thanks

[edhorwood]

If you can turn the drum by hand ok, and there are no binding spots, I would try new motor brushes.

[pottsey66]

Thank you I will try this .

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Shuddering isn't usually a carbon brush symptom but it's worth checking the motor brushes if the motor isn't running. Don't waste time replacing them "just in case". Only replace them if after examining them you can see they are worn out, almost worn out, or one or both are clearly charred. If both brushes are shiny where they run on the armature and have plenty of brush left on them they will not be faulty and don't need replacing. For more insight read this article which is relevant for any brand of carbon brush - carbon brushes diagnostics

[pottsey66]

The wash starts and after a few minutes stops ,it is then that the drum shudders as if it is stuck .it does this and the stops showing error code 3 e motor fault .i am confused and disappointed that Samsung are denying my warranty.i will have to ring to get a repair.thanks for your help.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

The only thing you can check is connections on the motor and the carbon brushes, after that you'd need to get an engineer to look at it. I have limitted information on Samsung error codes but I have one which describes error 3e as a motor tacho fault. My article here describes a similar fault on a different brand but should at least inform you what a tacho is and give a clue what to look for - what is a tacho coil?

Regarding the extended guarantee, they are always "in addition to statutory rights" so they are able to impose certain terms and conditions such as they must be registered. If you registered but they have no record of it they are sadly able to wriggle out of it unless you can persuade them to look again or get them to believe you. However, if the fault turns out to be serious and expensive you could still have a claim against the retailer under the sale of goods act depending on all circumstances.

[general repair]

I realise this is an old question but I have not seen a proper answer to it so thought I would post the answer.I have the same fault the machine keeps stopping most specifically when the drum is trying to turn slowly but if you open the machine it is not jammed. It is not a brush fault as these machines have an induction motor that does not have brushes. Looking at some other forums suggest this is a problem that can start after putting a single heavy object in the machine which upsets the overload sensors in the machine. Other answers were the drum spider was corroded and broken. I have stripped my machine found the shaft on the drum spider is worn if you run your finger up it. I have decided against replacing the part as a new rear drum with new bearings and spider flange comes to about £200 with delivery. I am not buying Samsung again as I can get a cheap machine for a little more than the cost of the spares.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Hello general repair. If an induction motor judders and struggles to turn slowly but the drum is free it can be a fault on the windings of the motor field coil, a poor connection somewhere or a problem with the motor control module/PC. Theoretically a slack drive belt could also cause it but it would have to be quite slack.

[Ojustaboo]

On 9/22/2017 at 14:12, general repair said:

I realise this is an old question but I have not seen a proper answer to it so thought I would post the answer.I have the same fault the machine keeps stopping most specifically when the drum is trying to turn slowly but if you open the machine it is not jammed. It is not a brush fault as these machines have an induction motor that does not have brushes. Looking at some other forums suggest this is a problem that can start after putting a single heavy object in the machine which upsets the overload sensors in the machine. Other answers were the drum spider was corroded and broken. I have stripped my machine found the shaft on the drum spider is worn if you run your finger up it. I have decided against replacing the part as a new rear drum with new bearings and spider flange comes to about £200 with delivery. I am not buying Samsung again as I can get a cheap machine for a little more than the cost of the spares.

I posted a while ago about my samsung drum banging on the front and I couldn't work out why.  I thought I fixed it by glueing foam pads to the inside of the frint cover so that the drum hit the foam.

This worked for a while, but has steadily got worse and worse. I have already changed the two suspension arm/shock absorber things (very overpriced for what they are), but over the weeks, the banking got louder and louder.

Then I noticed that while with no load the inner main drum turns fine and appears to have no movement  (same distance between inner and outer drum all round) if I try to force it up and down, when it's got washing and water in, I can clearly see the inner drum is turning at a warped sort of angle, if I focus on one point of the outer drum, the inner drum nearly touches it a and then is way to far away from it.

So I presumed spider arm.

Took pics as I disassembled it, wasn't that hard except for the nut on the back that holds the spider shaft to the pulley (I took it to the nearby exhaust place and they undid it in a second for a drink)

Looking at the arm, while corroded, it doesn't appear to be broken. 

So I removed the bearings, these too appear to be fine, but I replaced them anyway. A local bearing shop sold me both for a total of £21,  I could have got them for half that at online, but was trying to repair it as soon as possible and had a friend round whose a motor mechanic with proper bearing fitting tools.

Looking at the spider arm once removed and pressure washed, and where the rust is underneath of it (right over where the shaft comes through it),, we both came to the conclusion that when the waters heating up, the metal is expanding slightly causing the shaft to move where it goes into the spider bit (shaft seems perfectly round).

So I look online, loads of various spider arms, I tried a few companies and then came to the obvious conclusion they were all the same place (all had same head office address including the one this site links to, same company as Espares etc   none of the spider arms under Samsung said it matched my model number.  . 

So I phoned Espares up , they put me on hold for a while, then came back and told me the part I need isn't a stock item and will be between 14 and 28 days. Entering the stock number, it brings up the part without the pic, but if I enter my model number it comes up as not compatible.

So last night I sent an email to Samsung UK support asking them what the part number is for the spider arm/drum shaft and whether any newer versions are compatible (gave them model no and serial no).

They got back to me this morning saying quote  "We can help you there but I need to know what item you really need. Please send us a photo of the broken part needing replacement and also a photo of where it is going to be assembled clearly marked" 

I don't hold much hope for my query, that looks like an overseas call center type response Anyone with washing machine know how would under stand what a drun spider/drum shaft is, ah well.

I too tried to claim under the 5 year warranty, they too told me that I hadn't registered it. I'm 99% sure I did but cant prove it, although I did receive a free camera from them that was part of the deal, but apparently this was a different website.

So not too impressed with their support.

However, over the years I have had Hotpoint and  Zanusi and none ever seem to last more than a couple of years without going wrong.

The Samsung lasted over 4 years before I had any problems (and had a LO(T of use) and presuming I can get a spider arm (quoted £86 delivered at the site I mentioned earlier) that will make about £120 in total with the bearings and seal. If I get another two + years out of it for that price I will be very happy.

I will probably buy a Samsung again due to the lack of problems we had for the first 4 years, the very silent running of it (and the ease in which it comes apart).

Am going to contact UKWhite goods as they seem to actually be a separate company unlike the rest, to see if they can help with my spider arm

 

 

. 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Hello Ojustaboo. UK white goods get the spares from the same place as everyone else but they do have a lot of excellent engineers there who may be able to offer some very useful advice and assistance. It sounds like you are a very persistent person :-) regarding the 5 year parts warranty I would have thought it was proof enough that you registered it if you receive the free gift. Not very good after sales service by the sound of it.

[London lady]

I cant help with any advice but can empathize. 

I had the same issue with Samsung not honoring the 5 yr warranty. My problems started when the machine was only 24 months old. It sounds the same as OP- shuddering when trying to rotate. 

The after sales service is run by people somewhere in Asia (judging by the accent and poor English) and is so poor. I have spoken to them over a dozen times and have to start from the beginning each time. They don't write notes on the case, or if they do they don't bother reading them. 
I've given up now but safe to say I wont be buying a Samsung again. 

I'd definitely not recommend the Ecobubble range based on my experience.  

[larry]

Hi ur machine didnt do any of the troubles above but the drum just stopped turning it was in a cycle then when it came to spin just stopped and not gone since, i have cleaned out all the pipes the drum turns by hand and there were no signs it was going to do this also we do not get any error codes come up like everyone else is saying they do.

any ideas??

[reefclown]

I had the juddering issue giving a 3E error code. To cut a long story short, it was finally fixed by replacing the primary PCB after 5-6 visits from British Gas. (they had practically replaced all components prior to resolving the issue!