Another one exploads again, BOOOM!!

[aquacycle]

just remember 8! machines exploded, not 8000000...

...yes, but how many exploding drums in Miele, Bosch, Zanussi or even Indesit machines do you hear of in comparison?

I know you are a Candy fan, but you need to be able to at least accept the flaws of them as well as the positive points.

 

[aeg03]

Hi Newwave,

Its not the suspension, its the machine as its fine on spin cycles. The washing machine was on its main 50 degree cotton wash. It wasn't supposed to spin, just tumble clockwise and anticlockwise etc when it just went into a mad spin for 1 - 2 seconds, I noticed it had spun clockwise.

On the spin cycles, the machine never spins clockwise, always anti clockwise. I wish I had caught the machine do this so I could demonstrate it. It was totally messed up for those few seconds.
I think the microprocessor is on its way out :-(

 

[3beltwesty]

Re :

"just remember 8! machines exploded, not 8000000...

...yes, but how many exploding drums in Miele, Bosch, Zanussi or even Indesit machines do you hear of in comparison?"

Here in the states, the better/great makers of consumer items sometimes just buy back the ruined item to keep up a great reputation *AND* to improve the wayward design and fix quality. It is done as damage control, as why to not loose customers. It allows a post morteum / CSI /Bones review of the design. With these eat crow buybacks, the real number of published failures is less; the buyback is hush money. Thus 8 published failures might be really 32 or 132 too, the sqeaky wheel got the grease/money; a new free gizmo.

This whole thing of fixing/replacing stuff is hampered because many will try to get a new widget, when their variant already has the fix. Ie they want to work the system for welfare. It is also hampered because few register their products. It is hampered because the usa has an entire lawyer system designed to sue makers of products. Thus a non published secret buyback is used at times. There are also products where folks do NOT want to give back their items, like old gas refrigerators. These items work, they maintain them well; they understand the risks.

 

[pierreandreply4]

Rpalcement parts

and here in canada its hard to get genuine new replacement parts as most parts use for repairs in washers are refurbish or the tech doing the repair tell to buy a new machine and thats here in canda and i don't know if it the same for the us in order to have a repair today you need to keep the purchuse papers or no repair

 

[fl1012]

AEG03

If it's not the suspension then i guess it must be the microprocessor beginning to pack-up. There seems to be more equivilent age Zanussi's on eBay for spares at present, and i've noticed a few of these are described as 'working intermitently' or pausing mid-cycle, which i suppose are also signs of computer failure.

Most of the ones i've seen on eBay so far are the old Jetsystem XC's, such as the FJS 1225W, but i guess your AEG may use similar/the same components and therefore failure in the same sort of time frame could be expected.

It's a shame as these seem to be the last series of decently made Electrolux group machines, but where electronics are concerned i suspect the repair price will prohibit replacing parts.

Still, 8 years for a 'modern' machine can't be sniffed at. Will you buy AEG again or just get a Zanussi now, bearing in mind theyre very similar underneath? AEG obviously have the bonus of a 5 yr warranty, but you pay for it in the purchase price.

Liam.

 

[MrX]

@3beltwesty

European appliance makers, and other consumer product companies, do exactly the same thing.

For example, I had a faulty Hotpoint (Hotpoint-Ariston) Aqualtis. There was a very minor flaw in the motor baring which was causing a squeak. I rang Hotpoint (Ariston) and they sent a repair guy out to assess it. He diagnosed a faulty motor and sent a report back explaining the fault.

About 24 hours later, I had a call from Hotpoint in Dublin apologising and offering me a free upgrade to the TOL Aqualtis.

2 days later, they picked up the old machine and delivered a brand new TOL model.

I couldn't really fault that kind of customer care. It was excellent.

I'd a similar experience with Sony. Our 42" TV developed some really weird distortions on the screen and I called Sony. They sent a guy from the local Sony Centre up to us to check the screen and within 24 hours we had a replacement and the old TV was shipped back for analysis.

That TV was 3 years old which is what surprised me as it was outside the terms of their guarantee. Although, under Irish law the manufacturers limited warranty means squat really. You're legally entitled to expect a 'reasonable operating life' for any appliance, and for an expensive major appliance, that is not 12 months. If they refuse to play ball, you can take them to Small Claims Court (at almost no cost to you) and have a judge decide what a reasonable life expectancy for an appliance is!

I've had a few other minor issues like that over the years and I've found most companies excellent to deal with. Including : Apple (failed logic board in iMac), Nokia (faulty screen), Hotpoint/Ariston (as described above), Miele (faulty vacuum attachment), De Dietrich (electronic controller problem) & quite a few others too

The only problems I've ever had were with certain electrical retailers who were trying to force me to deal with manufacturers when the contract of sale under law here is with them, and they're supposed to interface with the manufacturer if the goods are faulty. Once I actually got speaking to the manufacturer, they were invariably very friendly.

I am *very* surprised that Candy's not making more of a public gesture to deal with this problem! Although, you can be 100% sure they've replaced the actual washing machines. It's the fact that the problem seems to be reoccurring that is a little worrying.

 

[haxisfan]

@MrX

I have experienced Candy/Hoover customer service in more than one occasion and I could say the outcomes were on the same lines as you described with the other manufacturers.

Just over a decade ago I was suspecting a fault with my Candy freezer as it was starting and stopping too many times within a short period of time... Candy did not hesitate to send out an engineer (it was still under warranty) and dealt with the issue promptly.

When I bought the Hoover back in 2004, as I wasn't happy with the scratches found on the first and second models, Candy/Hoover would quickly give me uplift codes to replace the appliances in question, which is more than I could have said say for the retailer who washed their hands completely and kept sending out scratched or dented units.

Last but not least... a year or so ago I heard a little explosion in the kitchen and after checking what had happened I could see nothing but detect some electrical burning smell so I assumed that it was the dishwasher as it was the only thing on at the time: I took it apart but still couldn't find anything, yet I assumed that it needed a new immersion heater so I ordered one online through Candy (Gias). I then called them as the part showed on the picture did not convince me: they were ever so polite (probably they felt guilty LOL cos’ the spare part I was about to purchase was there in error) and they even offered me a discount that I didn't ask for... but after a day or so, having realised that the explosion and burning smell from the kitchen were related to a CFL light bulb, I called Candy again to cancel the order, the were more than happy to oblige.

With the kind of experience I had throughout the years with their products as well as their service, I frankly cannot fault them either, but then... that's just my experience... naturally somebody else's might be different.

 

[aeg03]

FL1012,

It is a shame if this machine is now going to fail completely sometime soon as it will be 9 years I've had it in September and this machine does the 'Spin Rinses' similar to the old type Zanussi 'Spin washes' just it does it on rinse and not the wash. This system seems to work by some sort of fuzzy logic sensor as it adapts the rinse according to the amount of laundry in the drum. The newer AEG's and Zanussi's don't seem to do this :-(

When the time comes I will consider going for the Zanussi ZWF16581W which looks very good and is quiet (though we have been always discussing on getting a Miele when the AEG packs up, I don't know if this is what we will get when the time comes) I like the fact the Zanussi has a whisper quiet motor and Jet System to constantly spray the clothes as the AEG has this too and I think it helps to saturate the clothes better. Why just bath the clothes when you can shower them too. We have a Zanussi fridge freezer and chest freezer which have been fine for years.

I did consider a TOL Indesit but seen some Youtube videos and I don't like the noise the motor makes on the washes, it seems excessively loud, like old Hotpoints from the 80s. I had an Indesit in 1996 and it only lasted 5 years. The Indesit tumble drier we got in 2004 is still going strong though.

A link to the machine I'm considering getting. I like the wash action. My AEG does this rhythm on the cotton wash but its not as noticable as this Zanussi, maybe due to the Zanussi having a different type motor than my one which has a universal carbon brush type.

 

[cornutt]

"i never knew dryer fires had been a (fairly) common occurance in the USA.

Why is it that the UK doesn't seem to suffer from this issue? "

I think one reason is that there are a lot of people in the States these days who want their laundry area to be inside of a master bedroom suite, often in a closet or bath. Some architects don't think about the dryer vent routing when they place the laundry in the design; they position it on an inside wall well away from the exterior and then leave it up to the builder to figure out how to route the vent. And then, because most builders are clueless and/or don't give a damn, you wind up with a vent run that's 25' long and has 7-8 90" bends, or has a long upwards vertical run, or runs through an unheated attic where the moisture freezes in the winter. On a short vent run, the dryer's exhaust flow will usually be sufficient to keep the line clear even if the owner forgets to clean the lint filter or runs the dryer without the filter. However, with one of these ridiculous runs, the dryer can't do that and eventually the vent line stops up. My understanding of how things are done in the UK is that no one is stupid enough to do that; dryers are always positioned on or near an outside wall, or else you use a condensing dryer.

 

[fl1012]

AEG03

I suppose you could ask an engineer what sortof cost youre looking at to get the AEG in full order again, but i shouild imagine because the recirculation pump is also getting tired (i saw your youtube vids), then it probably isnt cost effective bearing in mind other parts that might fail soon too (bearings, motor components).

The Zanussi Jetsystem you posted appears good value - Comet had it on their website for £349 i believe, and i think it'll do distribution rinses even if it doesn't spin during the wash/rinse like the AEG. I'd imagine its the repeated spinning whilst full of water that puts pay to the suspension, so doing away with it probably isn't a bad idea.

The only thing i would look at is whether some AEG's do still have Jetsystem, as on the link below it looks like there is a spout for it on the door rubber :-/
Obviously the AEG is more expensive than the Zanussi and is slightly lower spec (1400rpm/6kg rather than 1600rpm/7kg) but it does have a proper 5 year warranty where the Zanussi makes do with 1 year. I believe this is parts and labour rather than just parts like a few manufacturers offer.

Cornutt....

Thanks for that explanation. That would make sense if people have a tendency to position the dryers in places where venting is tricky. As you mentioned, in the UK we either have a vented dryer on an external wall or if that can't be achieved we use a condensor dryer. Are condensors not a popular choice in the USA? I can't say ive ever seen one mentioned by any guys in the USA.

Thanks,
Liam

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/aeg-l64840l-washing-machine-white-04952403-pdt.html

 

[3beltwesty]

Cornutt

RE :"I think one reason is that there are a lot of people in the States these days who want their laundry area to be inside of a master bedroom suite, often in a closet or bath. Some architects don't think about the dryer vent routing when they place the laundry in the design; they position it on an inside wall well away from the exterior and then leave it up to the builder to figure out how to route the vent. And then, because most builders are clueless and/or don't give a damn, you wind up with a vent run that's 25' long and has 7-8 90" bends, or has a long upwards vertical run, or runs through an unheated attic where the moisture freezes in the winter. On a short vent run, the dryer's exhaust flow will usually be sufficient to keep the line clear even if the owner forgets to clean the lint filter or runs the dryer without the filter. However, with one of these ridiculous runs, the dryer can't do that and eventually the vent line stops up. "

Here in the USA one cannot LEGALLY have a house pass the building code with such an ILLEGAL LONG Dryer vent hose.

The code over about 40 to 50 years limits the max length ;and delimits for every bend too. The max length is 25 feet; every 90 degree bend is 5 feet; every 45 degree bend is 2.5 feet.

Thus your example is a comical absurd goof. ie Seven 90 degree bends means the max length is 25 - 7*5=; minus 10 feet. Thus your example is grossly illegal.

Since your example is so grossly illegal; I assume it is a total joke.

I look at house plans all day; a dryer in a master bedroom is about a 1 in 10,000 houses or less, absurd too.

I just point out to non usa folks that having a dryer in master bedroom is probably like if folks in the UK kept riding mowers in their master bedroom, rather rare. Also a grossly illegal set installation voids ones fire insurance too

 

[dj-gabriele]

NEW CANDY CATALOGUE

Today I just had a look at Candy's Italian website and strangely, all the 1600 rpm machines disappeared, now the maximum spin speed you can find is 1400...

And the same goes for the French website!

And in Germany all the machines at 1400 and 1600 rpm are marked as "NEU", new model.

 

[aeg03]

FL1012

The recirculation pump is fine now. I carried out a few maintenance washes and it seemed to have cured the problem with the machine - No longer makes that horrible noise.

Seeing as its just the PCB Board I will make enquries about a possible repair.

I don't think that the spins with the drum/tub full of water caused any problems with the suspension. My machine has been fine with carrying out the spin rinses. Even when stuffed full with a duvet. The suspension isn't anything special in this machine and it has been fine, in fact I think the extra weight helped keep the drum/tub more stable, when only normal spin with no water present, everything seems to move about more. But I do think that perhaps Electrolux stopped it as perhaps they might not be making their newer machines as well as they did. The tubs and now completely sealed if I remember reading correctly. The extra pressure of the drum spinning full of water at 400RPM must certainly put a great deal of strain on seals and the bearings.

 

[slimstar]

Woah!

Hello folks, fairly new member here.
Interesting to see such a heated discussion. Brings to mind something my nan used to say...
.."If you buy cheap. you buy twice!"
Just a thought.

 

[cornutt]

Hey 3belt, I could easily point out a dozen homes around here that have the laundry somewhere in the master suite. A few years ago I looked through a house being built where the dryer vent routing went like this:

1. From the dryer upwards through an interior wall (bend 1).
2. Through the ceiling space between floors (bend 2).
3. A jog to accommodate the tray ceiling in the mater BR (bends 3 and 4).
4. Down the wall on the other side (bend 5).
6. A jog to the right and then out (bends 6 and 7).

The length of the run had to be at least 30 feet. The town that the house was being built in has no inspectors.

 

[tolivac]

when I was househunting in Manassas several years ago-the realter showed me a place in Manassas Park,just outside of Manassas-was weird-the Washer Dryer was moved from an attic alcove to the master bedroom.Its just to strange to have a washer and dryer right by the bed-what happens if you want to wash while taking a nap?Passed on that place.Other homes the washer was in the kitchen or the little alcove beside the kitchen or in the attic-off the hallway.

 

[securitybearuk]

have candy can do

I have a Candy cm462s Washer, had it 2 years only had 1 call out to remove a coin that was rattling underneath the drum. The service was good friendly and professional, and nothing was a bother to the tech guy. He checked over the machine for safty issues and found none, he was happy I was happy. job done.
This machine I have is excellent, main wash is 90mins at 40 degrees.There are 3 function buttons I use, fast wash, stain remove, and allergy. The allergy button gives me 6 deep rinses all with a fast pre spin for 3 mins then a step up 4 phase to hi 1400 spin. I am a very happy candy user, if I was to turn off those buttons. The wash time increses to 3 hours and a very slow drum roataion. and only 4 low water rinses. I know this is frustrating to some guys but, I have no problems here

 

[3beltwesty]

cornutt; when a town has no codes or inspectors, then folks can build treehouses, have exposed wires, place sockets in bathtubs!

The 25 foot max length has been in the building codes over 1/2 century ; and it is derated for each bend. If Beavis and Butthead want to build a fire trap not up to proper codes; many insurance companys will not cover jackleg settups.