Draining Problems

[Rebelsmoor]

Can anyone advise what may be wrong with my 7 yr old Miele prestige plus W524. It is working through the cycle but is not properly emptying the water out on spin. It knows there is water there as when I drain it out manually and the set it to drain spin it the spins at full speed and the clothes come out drier. I don't think it is rinsing and draining properly either as there are still suds when it spins. We have checked the filter and the propeller is spinning and I can hear water going into the pipes under the sink. We have checked the hoses and can't find anything wrong. I can't decide whether go call the engineer or replace the miele with a new cheaper machine. Any advice greatly appreciated!

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

A Miele at only 7 years old should be worth repairing as long as it's not astronomically expensive. Mine is nearly 10 and I expect it to last possibly another 10 years. Every tip on this subject is in my article washing machine won't empty water

[Peter H]

Hi Rebelsmoor

I have a very similar problem - did you ever get it resolved and if so how please. Mine does not always fully empty so have to use the drain/spin to finish taking out the last bit of water. Intermittent too.

Thanks

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

If a washing machine doesen't fully empty then the most likely cause is a partial blockage. in the pump filter or an obstruction inside that keeps interfering with the pump. The latter can be quite intermittent especially if the obstruction is plastic which can float about and get sucked and bounced around. A partially blocked filter can also be a little intermittent if it's only reducing pump efficiency enough to affect absorbent loads that hold a lot of water. 

try these two articles as well as the one in my previous reply -

How do I clean my pump filter – where is the pump filter?

Can’t Find a Blockage But Washing Machine Still Not Draining

[Peter H]

Thanks Andy - My suspicions are the same as yours so looks like I'm going to have to pull the machine apart - well at least swing open the front to access the pump and pipes. The pump filter looks ok so could be elsewhere. What is interesting is when one starts the machine up there is a horrible smell which you can get via the drain hose (via sink plug/outlet) - it's as if there maybe  some gunge or something in the hose so will check that too - maybe something floating up and down that too. I have previously repaired it following dryer tripping out and that was the top air duct full of fluff causing it to overheat - eventually got the top off and cleaned and job done so hopefully this is no harder. Thanks again. Peter

 

3rd October - took the machine apart - access via side after detaching front panel - found the water inlet was barely clear and all the hoses which lead to main drum inlet and then to some kind of plastic cigar like chamber which then goes down to pump (about 12" long 1" x 1/2" wide) was blocked up with hair and muck (probably from dog blankets etc!) - cleaned and re-assembled - job done - took 3 hrs so saved myself around £350 in Miele labour fees

Edited October 3, 2017 by Peter H
Problem fixed

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Excellent. Thanks for the update.

[ClivePhoto]

I can't find a way to get the front off the machine. I can get the sides to bend out a bit but they appear to be secured at the front behind the front panel which doesn't have any obvious screws holding it on. I can't bend the sides out far enough to access the innards and I don't want to bend them too far in case they break. 

Any ideas? I note above that someone casually mentions opening the front but no details on how this can be achieved. 

Cheers. 

 

[Peter H]

Clive - If it is the same as mine, remove bottom torx screws behind front plastic kick panel (lever off carefully with blunt flat instrument about 6" in on the top edge from outside edge) - Only need to remove outer screw at the bottom (there are 2). Then you should be able to pull away gently about an inch or so and then downwards. There are two plastic pins that locate under the control panel. Make sure you locate the door lock by replacing the front panel by reverse method as you slide up. There is a plastic clip (lock holder) you need to locate the door lock with - not easy to explain but I do now have full diagram from Miele if it helps but only for my model WT 2780. What are you trying to access? Peter

Forgot to mention, there is also a torx screw which I guess you may already know beneath the door opening. Be sure the torx fits well as this can be very tight and even a bit rusty. 

Photo located below - when you replace the front panel locate the pins at the top behind the control panel, and at the same time slide the front up holding it fairly close to the frame so you locate the door lock with the lock holder as indicate by *. Silly system I know. You should hear a click as it engages. It must fit properly or you will hear knocking when machine spins - I found that out and had to do it again. Tip. Have some pieces of wood handy so you can rest the front panel on while doing up the screws at the bottom - fiddly to hold the front panel up and insert/tighten screws at the bottom or get another pair of hands!

Edited November 12, 2017 by Peter H
More info

[ClivePhoto]

Hi Peter, thanks for that. 

I managed to work out that with this one there's a big bolt under the drum opening, a spring loaded wire ring to hold the drum rubber on and a torx bolt somewhere at the bottom under the plastic facia then it pulls forwards from the bottom and pulls down to release from the two lugs under the control panel. Of course I only worked this out after dismantling the control panel which, unlike every other Miele I've looked at on the interweb, doesn't need to be touched. Also don't need to remove the door catch on this one, just unplug the wires from the back of it. 

Everything looked fine when I finally got in there except for a lot of water in the sump which was likely tripping the flood sensor. If I'd known that was the problem I would have just tipped the thing forwards to empty it rather than pulling the thing apart. I should learn to actually check the symptoms myself rather than rely on reports which I should know by not are totally unreliable. 

On the plus side I can't find any obvious problems or leaks. I only hope I've put the little ball valve on top of the outlet back together in the right order! 

Thanks for getting back to me, I'll let you know how it goes. 

PS I hope I got the lock holder engaged properly!! Better check that. 

 

[Peter H]

Well done and good - any issues, feel free to come back to me. I did not have to disconnect any wires etc as I only needed access to the screws which held the side panel on as per my photos. I do have a full list of part numbers if you need it. I had to buy a new piece of plastic which cost about £5 inc del and Miele were very helpful. I have a contact e-mail address if need be - she was amazing - none of this "better get an engineer to call" etc etc

I assume you have a leak hence the flood switch tripping so may be worth getting some hose clips too as not many of the connected hoses have any clips at all - how cheap is that!

Pulling of the side panel gives good access to most things - much better than the old models.

Peter

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Also note that some washing machines these days have front panels that are welded on, and no back panels either. Only way to get to some parts is to pull the entire drum out through the lid opening. Crazy. 

[simondorras@btinternet.com]

On 02/10/2017 at 18:23, Peter H said:

Thanks Andy - My suspicions are the same as yours so looks like I'm going to have to pull the machine apart - well at least swing open the front to access the pump and pipes. The pump filter looks ok so could be elsewhere. What is interesting is when one starts the machine up there is a horrible smell which you can get via the drain hose (via sink plug/outlet) - it's as if there maybe  some gunge or something in the hose so will check that too - maybe something floating up and down that too. I have previously repaired it following dryer tripping out and that was the top air duct full of fluff causing it to overheat - eventually got the top off and cleaned and job done so hopefully this is no harder. Thanks again. Peter

 

3rd October - took the machine apart - access via side after detaching front panel - found the water inlet was barely clear and all the hoses which lead to main drum inlet and then to some kind of plastic cigar like chamber which then goes down to pump (about 12" long 1" x 1/2" wide) was blocked up with hair and muck (probably from dog blankets etc!) - cleaned and re-assembled - job done - took 3 hrs so saved myself around £350 in Miele labour fees

 

 

hi Peter can yoiu tell me exactly where this plastic thing is situated stripped machine down but cant find it anywhere many thanx 

[Peter H]

Another photo showing location of plastic tube - in area circled red

[simondorras@btinternet.com]

many thanks for your Peter  help no plastic on mine just rubber pipework but sure enough one of the rubber pipes was blockede fingers crossed problem solved thanx again