Have a Hotpoint Aquarius WF340 and on/off light keeps flashing fast. Also the Reduced Creases and Mini Load lights are flashing. Its stuck on this, not washing or draining! Please help and advise what I would need to do. I've had this washing machine for 3 or 4 years now.
Many thanks.

Nicola, November 2008

just a note to thank malc b for his answer, which i applied last night, and it worked.

a few things to emphasise, using malc's numbering:

1) be sure to unplug the electric cable from the wall socket.

6) it's definitely a two man job, as the machine should be tilted forwards, and then held there by someone else for safety.

8) undo the clip which is at the very top of the black pipe.

11) empty and clean the cup and the ball.

15) i took malc's advice at this point, but when next running the machine, the water pressure forced the black hose off, sending water across the kitchen floor.

on my second attempt, i held the black hose as high up the white neck as possible.

i then tightened the screw until it literally made an audible squeak.

many thanks, malc, for solving a problem which hotpoint don't want us to solve by ourselves.

matthew, January 2009

Solved mine anyway; the pump chamber was clogged (mostly coins, a bit of fabric and and even a screwdriver bit).

If you know someone that can turn a screwdriver,

1) Unplug the washer and pull it out
2) You can now open the door and bail out as much water as possible
3) take off the lower panel at the back of the machine (2 screws)
4) the pump is on the lower right
5) from the pump to the drum is a black "corrugated" rubber pipe
6) CAREFULLY tip the machine forward and get someone to hold it or otherwise secure it at an angle.
7) slide something to catch the water under the drum at the point where the rubber hose is attached - I used an old plastic buiscit tin
8) undo the clip secuirng the rubber pipe and pull it down
9) surprise ! a plastic ball falls out - don't worry
10) there is a white cup inside the rubber hose; it pulls out
11) empty and clean it!
12) put it back in; there is a raise bit of rubber in the bottom of the pipe to ensure it fits correctly
13) put the ball back in the pipe
14) put the clip around the pipe and push it back onto the lip projecting from the drum
15) hold it in place and tighten the clip - not TOO tight
16) remove your "tin", lower the machine and switch it back on
17) run the rinse and spin to make sure it doesn't leak!!
18) Put the panel back on and you're done - and £99 better off

Malc B, November 2008

I have just come home to the same problem.

I presume that these flashing lights are some sort of error code to assist the engineer. Does anyone know what they mean?

Malc B, November 2008