If the pre wash light flashes 4 times then this points to worn brushes in the motor. It's a real simple job for anyone to replace the bushes. All you need is a half inch socket and a phillips screwdriver.
REMOVE the plug from the socket, turn off the power
Remove the back off the washing machine, unclip the wiring loom from the motor, remove main belt, remove earth wire from motor. Directly on the front of the motor is a half inch bolt, just slacken this bolt. Now feel behind the motor for the 2nd half inch bolt and remove this bolt. Now remove the first bolt and slide the motor towards you off it's metal guide (the 2nd bolt was attached to this guide) Now simply remove the brushes by prising the retaining clip on one side only. Remember which side the chamfer was on as the bushes only fit one way.
20 minutes from start to finish and the bushes only cost around £25
vegnomeat, September 2008