The machine if about 7 or 8 yrs old now and it started making a funny noise like a scraping sound but it completed a wash. Then i put another wash on and it did it again but this time it completed the cycle but luckily i only had 1 item in it and when i went to get it out it was soaking wet, it had not completed the spin cycle, can anyone help?? Or is it time to send it to W/M heaven?

Janice Perry, November 2009

Thank you for your answers. I ordered new brushes (not genuine Bosch) about £7 delivered. My husband fitted them - he said it was fiddley feeding the springs into the hole but not difficult. My machine works as new. The old brushes he removed had worn to about 1cm and the new brushes are about 3cm long.

Stedders, February 2010

Just had the same problem, called out engineer who replaced brushes which have sorted problem, he did point out that often when the brushes go that other motor related problems can lead to the motor failing, replacing brushes could last a long time or go fairly quickly. He pointed this out before replacing the brushes to give me the option to proceed or not, so not just covering himself.

Peter, December 2009

I replaced my 2401 brushes on the motor when the whole thing stopped and it now works fine. It was about 7 years old when the brushes simply wore out. When the brushes on the motor wear out the motor just doesn't work and the whole machine stops. The motor overall was OK, it just needed new brushes. I bought a capacitor too, but it turned out I didn't need one.

Paul in Hawaii, November 2009

Most likely your filter is clogged or the pump is shot. Everything that goes around breaks down sooner or later! A good tip...never wash just a single object (especially a heavier single object) in a washing machine.

Mike, November 2009