Hello all, I turn here in desperation!

I have a Fisher & Paykel SmartDrive 608 which is 12 years old! (Have only had it repaired once in that time).

I was doing a reasonably large wash the other day when the machine started beeing with 3 lights flashing on the board. I opened the lid and could see that the soap had been rinsed, but the clothes were very heavy with water so no spinning had taken place. A burning smoke smell was coming from the machine, so I turned it off and pulled it out of the wall outlet.

Thought I'd try it again the next morning, but refuses to do a wash. It turns on OK, but once water starts filling the drum, it comes it violent bursts for about 20 seconds or so, then stops, with those same three lights lit up.

Any suggestions, dear experts? It will cost me me over $100 just to get someone to turn up at my doorstep, but if I know the motor or pump has gone, I may as well just go out and get a new machine and save myself the hassle!

This is an awesome site, thanks so much for any help or suggestions!

KP, June 2009

Lincoln Appliance,

Thank you so much - you know way too much LOL.

Have decided a permanent failure sounds too disastrous to even think about, so have bought a new Bosch front loader to replace the F&P!

Here's hoping it lasts just as long!

Thanks once again.

KP, June 2009

Lincoln Appliance,

Thank you so much - you know way too much LOL.

Have decided a permanent failure sounds too disastrous to even think about, so have bought a new Bosch front loader to replace the F&P!

Here's hoping it lasts just as long!

Thanks once again.

KP, June 2009

That is error code 131 which is RPS permanent failure. This will account for the slight burning smell. Lay washer down on the front panel (put a towel or something under to avoid scratches to paint) Remove the rotor bowl by unscrewing centre hex.nut. Inside is the copper stator held on by 4 X bolts. Mounted on the side of the stator is the RPS circuit board. You will probably find corrosion & burning on it. Replace it with a new one. Check for any sign of water leakage. Usually shows up as brown stains on stator or rotor bowl. If any stains visible then the main tub seal & bearings will need replacing as well or else you will damage the new RPS (Rotor position sensor) When you put stator back, the wires go R - B - Y left to right. They are marked on the plastic next to the terminals.

Lincoln Appliance NZ, June 2009

Hello Lincoln Appliance NZ

There are 8 Wash progress buttons:

Long wash > plain button > plain button > plain button > Short wash > Rinse > plain button > Spin.

The first one and last two are the ones coming on (Long wash, plain button, spin) to indicate an error.

KP, June 2009

What are the three lights that are flashing? Write down the top row of lights exactly as they appear. From left to right which are on & which are off. I can then tell you what that error code is.

Lincoln Appliance NZ, June 2009