Faulty - Bosch Exxcel Washer stuck on wash cycle with 1 minute to go

[Lio]

On all the programs except the 15 min quick wash or rinse/spin the Bosch Exxcel 8 washing machine gets stuck at the end of the wash cycle, the drum just slowly rotates in one direction and then the next continuously. Softener remains in the tray unused and the only way to complete the wash is to switch to one of the other mentioned cycles. Does someone know what might be wrong? 

edit: I've checked the pump filter and apart from a few collar stiffeners which i've cleared, there was no blockage.

Edited October 9, 2017 by Lio

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Hi. If softener doesn't get taken down it's usually because the washing machine has aborted or there is a fault on the water supply to the softener compartment.When it slowly rotates and gets stuck is there any water in the machine? Can you hear a humming noise that could be ta water valve trying to take in water? Is there any error code displaying or flashing lights?

[Lio]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for your reply I will run an empty wash tonight and report back with these findings. As far as I can tell so far there is no error code displayed, everything on the display looks normal except that the current cycle seems to run indefinitely with 1 minute remaining, nothing is flashing. If I run a 15 min quick wash or rinse/spin program the softener compartment is flushed and emptied as expected. On getting stuck in the cycle there is water still in the drum but it is at a fairly low level (I'll double check how much water and whether it's soapy, I think so). I have not heard a humming sound, the only sound is of the drum rotating round for a few seconds in one direction and then doing the same thing in the other direction.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

The heater going open circuit can cause some washing machines to stick without an error code.

[Lio]

Thank you very much for your reply. It looks like it gets stuck in the wash cycle and does not start the next cycle which normally occurs about 20 mins before the end of the current cycle. As far as I can remember the machine has never really been capable of a hot wash, no matter the temperature setting used. It does seem that it is a heating element issue. Looking at the Bosch product page for this model WAQ28461GB it seems like there are reports of this issue from others also identifying heating element as a probable cause. The machine is about 3-4 years old. Bosch's standard response is that a call out is required and will charge a fee of £95 for inspection only.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

The amount that manufacturers charge to repair their appliances is sadly ludicrous now. For many people it represents almost half or a third of what they paid for it. It highlights how the cost of labour and engineers has risen whilst at the same time the cost of new appliances has dramatically fallen. The gap now is too small. See if you can find a local trader. Check out my affiliate advertisers here - appliance repairs - If you are in London Domex might be a good choice. If not try Which? Local Traders to find a Which? approved appliance repairer. 

[Lio]

Much thanks for your help Andy. As a temporary workaround, and for others seeing a similar issue, I've noticed that if I instruct a wash to only use cold water it completes normally.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Interesting. That seems to imply the heating element is the problem. I'm presuming it won't wash properly though? You could try getting estimates for having an element fitted to see if it's worth doing. 

[rabury]

Hi Lio,
Have you discovered a solution for your problem of sticking at 1 minute at the end of the wash cycle. Was it the heater?

[jon33]

I have the same question as Lio, repeated by rabury. What was the outcome? Thanks

[rabury]

It was the heater element. What happens is that the machine goes through most of the cycle but fails to complete it as the water temperature does not reach the required temperature and so it appears to drain but not complete the spin cycle.

A new heating element costs about £30.oo and it is relative easy to replace - instruction video can be found on youtube - worth watching as it does require a blow with a hammer at some stage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMYM_j8Uoyk

[Tony465]

Many thanks to those who contributed to this thread.

We had the same problem with our Bosch excel washer dryer, cycle wouldn't finish but kept displaying 1 minute to go. It worked OK when a cold wash was selected.

It was a faulty heating element (open circuit between the two terminals). New one cost around £70 perhaps more expensive because it was a cranked one, not a straight one.

With the help of the YouTube video mentioned by rebury it was fairly straightforward to replace and the machine works as normal now. I wouldn't have had the confidence to purchase and install the replacement without this thread - very helpful.

[Tyke]

Same fault as described above cycle wouldn’t finish, powder and conditioner was not washing through on Bosch Exxcel 8 machine. First fault in eight years of use. It was the heating element but you might as well replace the temperature NTC sensor at the same time as it is part of the heating element assembly but sold separately. Purchased genuine parts on line for:- £29 heating element, £14 for NTC sensor. On the Bosch Exxcel 8 access to the heating element is achieved by removing the rear access panel (remove three screws) on some Bosch machines the heating element is at the front. Straight forward replacement but worth watching the YouTube video as mentioned by rabury.

(if you have a multi-meter you can test your existing element, the new one I purchased has a resistance of 26 ohms.)