Fault With my Bosch Classixx 1000 Cycle Time?

[Wash Not Wash]

Hi, I'm new on here, so go easy

My Bosch Washer is taking 2.5 hours to complete it's cycle, even with the "Reduced Time" Button engaged(Lit up). It's on a regular 40 C Wash (Cotton/Linens). I'm sure it never took this long before. The drum is usually half to 3/4 full so not overloading.

I assume that as the Reduced Time light comes on, but does not actually reduce time there is something wrong with the electronic side of the programme? The Washer is about 5 years old.

Any help?

 

Edit:Forgot to say, there is no other fault, the washing comes out OK. 

Thanks.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Hello. I don't know how long you've had it but as the weather has now turned, the temperature of the cold water going into the machine will be a lot lower than in recent months and this could add on a fair amount of time. Another thing that can add a lot of time is if the machine is struggling to balance the load prior to spin. Siphoning water faults can cause extended times too.

Generally if a washing machine finishes the wash, and laundry is clean, and there's no sign of anything being wrong then it should be without fault. But there are some anomaly faults such as the heating element going open circuit mid wash that could cause no error to show. That can make machine take a really long time to finish. If you think there's a fault try watching the machine to determine where it seems to get stuck. I.E. does it spend most time on wash, is it filling and emptying a lot or is it getting stuck just before spin sections and just constantly tumbling back and forth for ages?

[Wash Not Wash]

Thanks Andy, I'll try to watch the cycle, although I'd struggle to find time even if I wasn't "glued to it" so to speak. I'm not a technical guy by any means, what did you mean with the heating element going "Open Circuit"?

Don't know if this is relevant, but occasionally I'd do a service wash by running it empty with some soda crystals in the drum to clean it etc. I would put it on a 90 Deg wash on cotton/linen. I do drain it occasionally too, at the bottom of the washer.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

When an element fails it usually goes open circuit meaning electricity can't run all the way through it due to an internal break somewhere. Most washing machines can now detect when the heater isn't working and will time out on wash producing an error code. There are some washing machines (Hotpoint and Indesit for example) that can be fooled if the heater goes faulty mid wash and therefore malfunction but without an error code.

Doing a service wash can't hurt anything. 

[Wash Not Wash]

Ahhh, makes sense, you could be onto something though. I've not had time to really examine the cycle, but following your comment on the Heating Element, I took steps to make sure I checked the temperature of the Washer Door, sounds daft, but you can usually feel it get warm from the water temp. or it should on a 40C Wash, but the door feels cold the whole time.

Funny though, the washing always comes out clean. If the heating element is the fault, is it an easy repair or should I write it off?

 

Thanks.