BEKO WDR7543121W door switch or not door switch fault

[bob12241]

Well 3 years after posting my fix for no lights no power on the BEKO WDR7543121W. It appears to be giving up now, Yesterday my wife couldn’t get the door open, we eventually managed to get the machine to do a spin cycle, it was then we found it had some water left inside, somehow it had stopped mid cycle. When it eventually restarted there was a noise like something stuck in the filter, and before I could stop the machine it cleared and then worked ok to finish the cycle, when it finished we were able to open the door as usual.

Today it would not start, no main display lights on, selector switch , power, start/pause were all lit, and we just got 2 beeps from the start /pause button when pressed, after a lot of searching I eventually found the correct buttons to enter diagnostics for this machine. It showed E23, which is the door switch (according to Beko), assuming the door switch had gone I exited diagnostics and, as you do, I gave it 1 last try, where I found it worked and did a full cycle without any problems. Later she tried another wash, where the exact same problem occurred and the same procedure cleared it. Not sure what is going on, but maybe someone else has had the same thing happen to them.

On my machine hold power and spin buttons for 3 seconds to enter diagnostics mode.

Edited August 28 by bob12241

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Hi Bob. It sounds like the first part of your problem could be something stuck in the pump. Plastic items in particular are known for been sucked into the pump, and either jamming it or making a racket, and then getting spat back out. An intermittent fault on the pump could also explain it although pumps tend to either run okay or not on average.

Sounds like you've got some very strange behaviour happening, which of course makes it extremely difficult to troubleshoot. The second part of your problem sounds more like a problem with the PCB that you originally posted about.

One potential pitfall with accessing diagnostics and error codes is that it only shows the last error code. It's possible that your current problem hasn't generated an error code, then you are erroneously trying to fix the wrong error code.

 

 

[bob12241]

Thanks Andy, As you say generally pumps either work or don't, never had one spit out the problem before though. I wasn't aware the diagnostics report the last error code and maybe not the present error. I will give it a few days more just to see if it reports differently but more so to see if the fault gets worse or better. I don't understand why Beko do not give info on how to access diagnostics, I had to search around before I found a button press combination that worked. Finally if it is giving up the ghost I really cant complain as it is now 5 years old, which is 3 years more than Beko designed it for with the built in redundancy.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Hi Bob. There are plenty of faults that occur on white good appliances that do not, or cannot, register an error code. So the diagnostics mode usually just indicates the last code. It would be very helpful if they put a date there.

None of the manufacturers want any of us to repair our own washing machines, nor do they want any independent repairers to repair them either, which is why they have become increasingly secretive about error codes. I have written a couple of comprehensive articles, which you may find of great interest -

Appliance error codes - what you need to know

Appliance error codes - friend or foe?

Yes 5 years for one of the cheapest washing machines on the market is sadly about right these days unless you are pretty lucky. Especially if you use the washing machine a lot. I would go as far as to say that none of the budget washing machines are of any use to a large family unless they are prepared for just a few years of washing before it fails.

[bob12241]

Bought this as it has a dryer combined, the dryer function is pathetic as everything came out badly creased, probably used it twice. Also come at a bad time, retired on limited income, energy prices through the roof. Think I will buy my missus a dolly tub,posser and mangle. Fortunately got my funeral paid for as I will need to make use quickly😂

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Washer dryers are rubbish really, but some people prefer one to nothing at all. Having separates is better in every way apart from cost and space.

They are a lot more of a compromise machine than most people realise. I've lost count of how many people buy them and then rarely use them. To wash and dry a full load of sheets or towels in one would take 7 or 8 hours as you have to split the load for drying, and drying takes a long time. 

[andyr12345]

11 minutes ago, Whitegoodshelp (Andy) said:

Washer dryers are rubbish really, but some people prefer one to nothing at all. Having separates is better in every way apart from cost and space.

They are a lot more of a compromise machine than most people realise. I've lost count of how many people buy them and then rarely use them. To wash and dry a full load of sheets or towels in one would take 7 or 8 hours as you have to split the load for drying, and drying takes a long time. 

have you ever come across a Washer Dryer that's had say 8KG WASH , 8KG Dry - or do they just not exist Andy? 
They are useful for when space is limited - there is no disputing that surely . My daughter is going to be buying a house soon and it has a very small utility room with a washing machine in there and a sink next to the washing machine, the bowl of the sink is there so a tumble dryer wont fit there, nor will it fit anywhere else in the utility room so i did mention to her about getting a washer dryer but she said the same thing that she has read they are rubbish at drying 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Hi Andy. Essentially, washing laundry needs clothes tightly packed and rubbing together but drying needs clothes to fall through hot air so they have to take half of the loadout when trying. They will be unlikely to ever get around that.

I have more on the subject here

Which is best a washer dryer or separates

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

This is why the tumble dryer drum is so much bigger than a washing machine drum. Obviously, the bigger the washing machine drum is, the more you will be able to tumble dry. But of course the equations will still be the same with a full load, which will always need about half of the laundry removing before drying.

[andyr12345]

there was a funny thing going on with the Hotpoint washing machines when i looked at getting a drum ones - same part number drum for 8kg, 9kg  and 10kg drums on the parts site - so why whould they use the 10kg drum on a 8kg hotpoint but only stamp on the front 8kg? - do you know why they do that? 

also - why on some washing machines on the fascia is stamped 1-8kg on the front rather than 8kg? 

 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

They presumably use the same outer drum for all machines, and just the inner drum changes depending on capacity. 

[andyr12345]

On 02/09/2022 at 11:18, Whitegoodshelp (Andy) said:

This is why the tumble dryer drum is so much bigger than a washing machine drum. Obviously, the bigger the washing machine drum is, the more you will be able to tumble dry. But of course the equations will still be the same with a full load, which will always need about half of the laundry removing before drying.

So I wonder as well is it the case that the drum design is crucial .  - so on a washing machine the paddles are small .. but on a standalone Tumble dryer the lifters / paddles are a lot bigger than on a washing machine , predictably to lift and drop the clothes through the hot air  tumble , rather than scrub, so why dont they just make the paddles in the washing machine dryer combo large? 
Then on a washing machine you have holes all throughout the drum but in a standalone tumble dryer the walls are solid and you have the holes at the back of the drum where the hot air comes out then the filter at the front of the drum at the bottom that sucks the warm damp air to the exhaust pipe. 

So maybe if they designed a Washer dryer around a Tumble dryer first and washing machine second then maybe the dryer would be better on a Washer Dryer combo?

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Hi Andy. There just isn't the space in a washing machine drum for laundry to fall through hot air. By taking half the load out it sort of just about works, but a washing machine drum would need to be the same size as a tumble dryer drum to be able to dry a full load. 

This of course is impossible, because there wouldn't be room for all the other components. And even if the managed it, there would be too much space for the laundry and they wouldn't rub together properly. 

[andyr12345]

8 minutes ago, Whitegoodshelp (Andy) said:

Hi Andy. There just isn't the space in a washing machine drum for laundry to fall through hot air. By taking half the load out it sort of just about works, but a washing machine drum would need to be the same size as a tumble dryer drum to be able to dry a full load. 

This of course is impossible, because there wouldn't be room for all the other components. And even if the managed it, there would be too much space for the laundry and they wouldn't rub together properly. 

ah yes I wasn't allowing for the outer drum tub needed and the pump and other items needed to fit in there. Indeed too tight for space

[bob12241]

Just an update on my post,  we have used it over a dozen times now and the error code is still there. Usual thing, enter diagnostic mode (still shows same error code), exit diagnostics by pressing the power on/off button, switch back on and then it will work. Is there a method of clearing a fault or should it clear automatically. Might write to Beko, but not holding my breath for a fix as they prefer I buy a new one.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Aye, error codes shouldn't need resetting. They should show when an error is detected, and disappear when the error is fixed. 

[bob12241]

Yeah Thanks Andy, thought that was the case, the thing is I am not doing a reset anyway, I am just looking at the fault and it will then start. Strange but can live with it for time being, wife is dab hand at it now 😊.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

It's just weird how the washing machine is apparently working OK but does that. If by any chance an error code needed resetting it would be in the instruction manual. Otherwise, every fault no matter how minor would need people to call an engineer. 

[bob12241]

Yeah  it is probably in the engineers manual (if it exists) as the instructions to enter diagnostic mode, if memory serves isn't in the instruction manual either. I could be wrong on that as I dont read manuals for my wifes stuff, she just gets straight on with it. I do know my central heating boiler has a user manual (supplied) but also an engineers manual (not supplied). Will check.

[bob12241]

Nope diagnostic mode is not in the manual, factory reset is, just hold power button for 3 seconds. Will give that a try next time as what we are doing is just an extension of that.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Hi Bob. If there's no mention of resetting error codes in the user manual then they won't need resetting. So if one is persistent it means there's some fault that keeps triggering it but for some reason the cycle seems to work OK, or something has gone wrong in the PCB and software. 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

1 minute ago, bob12241 said:

Nope diagnostic mode is not in the manual, factory reset is, just hold power button for 3 seconds. Will give that a try next time as what we are doing is just an extension of that.

Worth a try. 

[bob12241]

Hi, Just a further update to this problem. It has just developed another problem. Last week my wife found she couldn't switch it off, so I pulled the plug waited a few seconds and plugged it back in. Then it wouldn't switch on, in despair I ordered and paid for a new machine to be delivered. After having a few pints that night I thought I would see if it would come on (having rested for a while and being tipsy), it didn't , so in disgust I gave it a thump on the front panel, lo and behold, it came back on.So I cancelled the other machine and got a full refund 2 days later. Anyway it has done it again since, this time my wife gave it a smack, and again it worked (she learns fast, ha ha). I decided to price up a new front pcb as this was definately  a main button problem, I was surprised to see the price a lot lower than 3 years ago (£63 with next day delivery, it was over £100), so I have now ordered one, if it had been £100 or over I would have scrapped this machine now. During my search I saw a snippet of information that said this board can be resonsible for erratic error codes. I will keep you informed as to that. Hopefully another couple of years out of it.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Thanks Bob, could it be a dry joint or a poor connection on the pcb connector?

[bob12241]

Yes, it could well be, this I will check at the same time when changing, I was swayed by the info stating the board can cause spurious errors and given that it was a great deal cheaper than 3 years ago. I am hoping that the replacement might cure both problems otherwise the new board will go on ebay and it looks like a new machine. I do not think it is a door switch fault as nothing is done to correct the problem eg:- opening and closing the door. It is just a case of entering diagnostics and coming out, then it will do a cycle. Heres hoping