my hotpoint wma76, has filled up with water durin the cycle, but it won't drain, it dribbles out a little water, but not more, as there is no filter, how do i clean the pump, if thats the problem?

joy moore, December 2007

Easy enough fix - I've had to do it at least 7 times - wear rubber gloves if you want as it can be quite a mucky job & it's not necessarily a job for the squeamish due to the disgusting gunk - disconnect all hoses (have a washing up bowl ready for any water left in pipes), disconnect mains plug, move machine out of where it lives. Tip machine forwards & put a large old towel under the machine. Remove plastic panel at bottom of machine - held in place with a few self tapping screws. You'll see a black rubber hose in bottom of machine which the drain hose joins onto, this in turn is attached to the pump & motor - carefully disconnect the multipin connector - it pulls apart - make sure you hold the plastic connector, not the wires. The hoses are held in place with large worm drive type (jubiliee) clips. Loosen these (2nd one is on RHS & slightly hidden from view) - there's no need to undo them completely. Wriggle & twist the hoses off the bottom of the drum & the flatish drain pipe carefully, there will still be water in it.

Inside the large rubber housing you'll see a 'ping pong' ball & no doubt a load of crud including coins, buttons, 3 inch nails from husband's boiler suits etc - remove all this, you can also remove the hoses from the pump & give it all a good flush through with clean water, including the main drain hose - you'll be amazed at how much crud & slime builds up in the hose - if using a corrugated hose stretch it all the way along it to help dislodge as much muck as possible. Refit everything - make sure you grip the jubilee clips firmly as you re-tightenthem so you keep the screwhead within easy access.

I tend to run the machine through part of a wash cycle before putting it back in its slot, leaving the drain hose low to help if flush any last remaining muck out.

Oh & I'm female & I've just finished doing it as I had white bits appearing on all the washing this week - took me about 10mins once I'd moved the machine out :)

Lesson to be learnt - don't buy a machine without the front filter - I certainly won't ever buy another 'self cleaning' machine!

v8kate, October 2011

this is very common, it is the filter inside the machine that you dont see as its located under the drum and consists of a black rubber pipe it will be blocked, its a ten min job if u know how and would recommend an engineer as its very sharp edges under there and also needs to go back on securely so it dosent leak

t pots (ex hotpoint engineer), December 2007