Washing Machine Firmware

[andyr12345]

Hi, I am just wondering how an end user gets to find out if there is any new firmware updates from the manufacturer to improve the operation of the Washing Machine or add new features or iron out bugs or new wash programmes or modify the already ones stored on the flash memory on the circuit control board.

Say in my case I bought a Hotpoint WMUD843P washing Machine back in 2012 and it has the slot on the back where the smartcard would go in- how would I know what firmware my washing machine has and wether the manufacturer (Indesit) has bought out any firmware (if any) since I have bought my washing machine. I think when I first bought the washing machine this particular model number had just come out so for all I know somewhere down the line Indesit might have brought out a firmware update to change the operation of the machine, or improved on the wash programmes, How would I know, or get to find out? - Thanks.

is the Firmware on this label at the back, or on a label on the control board itself?
 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Hi. As far as I know the slot at the back is just for a diagnostic tool. I used to have one and all it did was display the last error code. The only manufacturer I can imagine bringing out firmware updates to improve their appliances are Miele and even then I don't expect they'd ever let customers do it. It's possible a manufacturer might be forced to modify something to fix an issue but again I'd be amazed if it was ever made available to the public. Appliance manufacturers just operate very differently.