My Hoover machine has taken 7 hrs to do a cycle, I turned it off in the end. Being over 5yrs old I would need to pay for all repairs/parts but customer service said sounds like the "timer" has a problem (I'll say!!!)
It also randomly chooses a cycle - sometimes it will decide to do a pre-wash, and it rarely does a cycle in the time it says on the control knob.
On the back of this experience, despite the age of the machine, it has put me off buying another Hoover machine.
Lisa
July 2010