Assumptions:
The machine is plumbed in OK, and both hot and cold supplies are turned on!
Years ago I encountered a problem where a machine took 24 hours to do a wash cycle!!!!
Fault was traced to build up of scale in the passage from the soap tray into the drum, which left a hole less than 1 mm diameter. Most of the 24 hours was taken by filling the machine for the wash and rinse cycles.
The fix was to remove the complete soap tray assembly and dunk the lot in a descaler solution, removing stubborn lumps of scale with care and a screwdriver. After this fix, a cycle completed in 40 minutes!
Another possible area of suspicion is the inlet valves. There are two, one for hot and one for cold. If the hot one is faulty, the machine will fill with cold water, and then have a delay while it heats up. If the cold one is faulty, the machine will fill with hot water, and then wait until the thermostat in the back of the tub next to the element tells the control board that it is at the right temperature to proceed - another delay to cool down!!
You can test these conditions by feeling the glass on the door. Cold after a fill - possible hot valve or supply missing. Hot after a fill - possible cold valve/supply missing.
Removal of and/or further testing of individual parts will require a competent engineer to execute.
A bottle of descaler costs about £3.
Labour costs for a competent engineer are quite expensive.
David Clark, February 2006
