Repair Of Washing Machine Boards: DIY Repair Of Control Units. How To Check The Electronic Module Of The Washing Machine?

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-18 12:09

The control unit (module, board) is the computerized "heart" of the washing machine and its most vulnerable system. In accordance with the incoming signals from the regulators and sensors, the control module activates a certain list of possibilities. It is quite versatile. The manufacturer installs the same component on different models of washing units, labeling them in different ways.

Why is the module failing?

There can be many factors of failure of the control device. We will name the key ones with an indication of the probable methods of simple repairs.

• Manufacturing defect . It can be identified visually - by poorly soldered contacts, peeling tracks, soldering influx in the places where the main chip is mounted. If the car is under warranty, you do not need to remove the control unit yourself. The control device is replaced in a repair shop in accordance with the manufacturer's warranty. A manufacturing defect manifests itself rather quickly - during the first weeks or a month of use.
• Voltage deviation in the electrical network . Frequent throws, fluctuations, exceeding the maximum voltages can provoke the failure of the electronic control of the washing unit. Most of the electronic units are very susceptible to voltage failures, and in lines with fluctuations, a stabilizer or relay must be installed to control it. The norms that must be observed are usually indicated in the practical manual. In most cases, failures due to insufficient power supply are easily identified during the board check. Service centers in every way strive to recognize such a failure precedent not guaranteed.
• Improper functioning or failure of one or more sensors . This nuisance is often very easy to solve, in what way - we will talk below.
• Penetration of liquid into electronics . It should be noted that individual manufacturers are trying to completely eliminate this problem. In particular, the control module of some modifications of Samsung, LG, Beko is filled with a compound (electrical insulating material) and sealed. Other manufacturers allow water to enter in between wash cycles. If you try to start a wet board, protection is activated and the module is blocked. For example, repair work on the machine in this case may be limited to wiping the block and thoroughly drying the device. Moisture can come both as a result of emergency modes and during the transportation of the machine, in particular, when you change your place of residence.
• " Firmware flies" - built-in software with an algorithm for the functioning of a washing machine on a specialized memory chip . It is necessary to reprogram the memory by means of a specialized device or program code on a computer (pins are soldered to the memory chip, and it is connected to a personal computer). Sometimes the software is embedded in the central processor of the module, in which case it is "stitched" in a similar way.
• The board processor is inoperative - the main component of the electronic module . The processor can be changed if you find exactly the same. Only, as a rule, if the processor is damaged, the electronic control module must be replaced.

Other factors include excessive carbon deposits, the presence of conductive feces of domestic insects (cockroaches), mice, and, of course, short circuits through the bodies of insects or small rodents. It is easy to eliminate such problems, if the protection systems did not allow an emergency. The board only needs to be cleaned.

Symptoms of malfunctions

You can understand that something is wrong with the board by the following signs

1. The washing machine does not spin things, along with this, the control panel freezes, and it does not respond at all to user actions, the error code is not displayed on the display.
2. All the LEDs on the control panel blink in turn and all together; at the same time, it is impossible to activate any washing program.
3. The dirt removal program is installed and started, at the same time, water is either not drawn into the tank, or the water is drained immediately, besides, after that the machine "freezes", and only reloading helps out. Along with this, after the second start, washing can be carried out as usual.
4. For any washing program, the machine works for 3-4 hours in a row without stopping, without switching to rinsing and spinning. The drain pump makes no effort to pump the water out of the tank. After an extended period, the unit stops.
5. After connecting, when trying to set up the debris removal program, the machine freezes and turns off.
6. The dirt removal program is set, the display shows the washing process, only in practice nothing is done, water is not drawn into the tub, the drum does not rotate - nothing happens.
7. The electric motor arbitrarily often changes the speed of the drum movement, despite the fact that the change in speed is not predetermined by the program. The drum takes turns and for a rather long time spinning in one direction, then in another.
8. The thermoelectric heater of the washing machine either heats the water excessively or leaves it cold, neglecting the readings of the temperature sensor.

How do I identify the problem?

Any of the above signs of malfunctions can indicate both a malfunction of the control board and a malfunction of any of the units or sensors of the washing machine.

In order to make sure that this is exactly an electronic unit, it is required first of all to turn on the automatic test of the washing unit, and then check the machine components manually.

Only after all this it will be possible to draw the appropriate conclusions about the problem.

On various modifications of washing units, an automatic test is performed in different ways . In this regard, we advise you to carefully read the instructions for using your brand of automatic washing machine.

Let's consider an example of automatic testing using the Ardo washing machine as an example

1. We switch the arrow of the hardware and software device to a strictly vertical position so that the arrow is oriented downward.
2. We set the temperature to zero.
3. We check that there are no things in the drum, and there is no water in the tank.
4. We press all the keys on the control panel at once, after which the automatic test mode of the machine should start.
5. At the end of the diagnosis, an error code should appear on the display, which is responsible either for the failure of a component of the washing machine or the electronic unit.

An automatic test does not always provide an opportunity to get the correct result.

To make sure that the electronic unit is damaged, you need to ring it with an ampere-volt-wattmeter.

The same must be done with all dubious nodes by ringing them in turn. The occupation, of course, is very painstaking, but this is only one opportunity to make sure 100% of the failure of the electronic unit.

How to repair?

In order for the measures taken to repair the device to be productive and implemented quickly, it is recommended to study the circuits. They are included in the practical guide and are of utmost importance.

The control module is relatively easy to dismantle . It is necessary to remove the front panel or get to the mounting area by dismantling the top cover of the machine, after which the board is dismantled.

In the latest modifications there is protection "from fools" - the terminals cannot be set in the wrong position.

Nevertheless, when disassembling, you should carefully look at what is connected in which place in order to install the corrected unit correctly.

It is advisable to photograph the procedure. The board is dismantled after removing the fastening strips, which, as a rule, are fixed with self-tapping screws or countersunk head bolts.

However, some of the faults that provoke malfunctions in the operation of the control unit can be resolved on their own. They are associated with disturbances in the operation of sensors.

1. Failure of program settings sensors . Appears due to salting and contamination of the contact groups in the control knob. Signs: The regulator turns hard, does not emit a clear click. It is required to disassemble the regulator and clean it.
2. Accumulation of carbon deposits . Found in old cars. Visually, without much effort, it is determined: the power coils of the filter are covered with a layer of soot to suppress interference from the supply network. It is carefully cleaned with a brush and dry cloth.
3. Failure of the sensor of the device for locking the sunroof . It also appears due to the layering of detergent residues, salting. The sunroof lock must be cleaned.
4. Failure to start the electric motor after its short-term cranking, not distinguished by the stability of the speed. May be triggered by a loose drive belt. The car will need to be unmounted and the wheel tightened.
5. Interference in the power supply network . The absence of "ground" can provoke a "beat" of the voltage, under the influence of which the control unit blocks the device's performance.
6. Another common problem with Indesit machines is unstable fluid pressure characteristics . At the moment the user is trying to solve the problem by repairing the main control unit of the washing unit, the issue is exclusively in the transmitted hose, the broken gasket or the clogged filter device.

When should you contact a specialist?

Restoring the electronic control unit of a washing machine may require specialized knowledge. It will require a check of the characteristics of the elements, a test of the integrity of electrical circuits.

It is fairly easy to establish the need for professional participation:

1. if there are areas on the board with a changed color, darkened tracks, a scorched place;
2. capacitor heads are distinctly convex or torn in the area of the cruciform notch;
3. there are traces of varnish burnout on the damper coils;
4. the place where the central processor is mounted has darkened, the microchip legs are different in color.

When one of these indicators is found, and there is no experience with a soldering station and an ampere-wattmeter, then you should use the help of a highly qualified master.

And one more thing: when the warranty period for household appliances has not expired, then, of course, you do not have to suffer with the problem of how to make repairs, but immediately go to the service center. And you can fix the technique with your own hands at the end of it.

Repair of the washing machine control board in the video.