indesit W161 flash code needed?

I just had this problem with my W161, and found the answer elsewhere on the net, so I'll share it here.

8 flashes means unable to engage heater relay, which is why it fills up with water, then discovers it can't heat it, so empties, and the dial spinning is its method of showing an error. (Strange if you ask me, but there we go.)

The relay is on the main PCB. (Six screws to get the back panel off, then two tor-x screws to get the PCB unit free (white box on the bottom left, looking from the back, lots of cables coming out of it)).

It was suggested that "firmly tapping" the heater relay (the black boxes on the PCB, I wasn't sure which one, so did them all), might free it and fix the problem.

Firmly tapping didn't do it for me, but since it didn't work anyway, I thought I'd try harsher methods, and repeatedly rattled a small iron bar against them, inside the white enclosure, and that worked! (I ended up with small marks in the plastic casings from the vigorous beating, but now it works!)

So worth a try, if you get this error, definitely before forking out for new parts.

Also checking/cleaning all the connections to/from the PCB, and heater, wouldn't go amiss.

Owain
June 2011

Does any one know what 3 red lights flashes mean for this machine W161.

Problem being the washing machine fills and empties at the same time and the dial just continues to go round.

Alex
August 2009

hi,
as a washer repair specialist, i have been called to repair this model for some years now, there is a simple fix for the eight flash code. follow below instructions carefully.

1.pull machine away from wall.
2.turn mains switch off.
3.press on/of on machine twice.
4.open then close machine door.
5.turn mains switch on
6.push machine to wall.
7.invest in a miele you tight git.
hope this works for you like it did for my other customers.
regards
ukelectrics

uk elec
October 2008