HELP PLEASE - Door stuck on washing machine full of washing

[SilverSurfer65]

This machine doesn't have a little door at the bottom, only a big door where I put the washing in.

On the back there doesn't appear to be any screws that fit any screwdrivers I've got.

Follow up:-

I did put another load in last night and the same thing happened, door lock light flashing forever, so I switched off at the mains again. As before, the door released and opened later.

So this morning I've put the last load on, and guess what? yes the door won't open, so it's now switched off at the mains.

As the machine will be 12 years old in January, I've decided that it's time for a new one. I've only ever had 4 Hotpoint machines since 1969, and they've all lasted 10 or more years.

Thanks to you all again.

Gina

[Huguenot]

This is what I tried to explain earlier.

You didn't follow my advice!

Here it is again:

"A combination of jiggle jiggle and time (rather than kick) may well cure the problem, and then don't use it again until you've cleared the pressure chamber."

[The Minkey]

Don't know about a Hotpoint, but the filter on my machine is down near the floor, behind a plastic faceplate so try taking off the plastic strip at the bottom of the machine. It will jiggle if it's removable ;-)

[Salsaboy]

Lot of jiggling going on here.

[the-e-dealer]

The manual says check all pipes and also check pump is working.

And have you selected Rinse - which will stop but not complete cycle until you press a button.

There really is no filter door.

[SilverSurfer65]

the-e-dealer Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The manual says check all pipes and also check

> pump is working.

> And have you selected Rinse - which will stop but

> not complete cycle until you press a button.

>

>Hi the-e-dealer -

There really is no filter door, pipes all O.K. and the water pumped out and it spun the clothes off, three times, as I kept re-setting it to try and get the door to unlock.

I've jiggled the faceplate which is across the whole width of the bottom of the machine, but it won't budge.

I'm pretty sure that this is to do with the handle, and/or possibly an electronic problem. There is always a delay from when the machine stops to when I could open the door, but I mistakenly grabbed the handle to open it before the "door locked" light hd stopped flashing.

This has been a great machine, and I've only ever called the Engineer out once, when I had it insured, in almost 12 years. He had to get to the filter, and went through the back of the machine somehow. He was surprised to see that the heating element was still as it was when new, probably to do with the fact that we have a water softener, so no build up of limescale on the heater.

I quite like the look of the new Hotpoint.

Thanks again to everyone for your help/advice/suggestions.

Gina

[Undisputedtruth]

I used to have an Hotpoint washing machine and yes the door locked on a few occasions. No such problems with my Bosch washing machine, pleased to say.

[Alex K]

This reminds me of a VERY BAD TIME with a Zanussi washing machine. Same sort of problem.

Ha!, I said to the machine after a day of travail and prayer that did nothing to open the door, you'll regret this!

The men from Curry's with the new washing machine broke the door of the old one open for me once it was outside in the street. I rescued the laundry and told the old one as it was loaded into the Curry's van: Serve you right.

[Bluerevolution]

Lump hammer and screwdriver, opens anything. Trust this helps.

[Apbin]

Hi, I have a Hotpoint thats working properly. I even heard the click sound after the machine cycle was over. I can't open the door though, I have waited for nearly 2 hours now. The light on the key sign disappeared too.

How can i get it to open, without damaging it?

[the-e-dealer]

Drain it via the filter door, Get a bowl first!

[Huguenot]

Did you read the thread - the various proposals are all in there?

Here was my offering:

"It sounds like a pretty standard problem with Hotpoints that use a pressure chamber to work out whether water is in the drum or not.

When the tube to the pressure chamber gets blocked the door lock feature thinks there's still water in the drum.

That's why jiggle jiggle freed it up before - the jiggling freed up the pressure pipe.

A combination of jiggle jiggle and time (rather than kick) may well cure the problem, and then don't use it again until you've cleared the pressure chamber."

The previous poster was daft enough to ignore the advice in BOLD, and consequently the system broke the next time, and that time the jiggling didn't work.

Try not to be so silly!

[Apbin]

So, I have already waited for 2 hours..ill wait for a bit more.

How do i jiggle it and clear the pressure chamber?

Thnx

[Huguenot]

It's not a technical term. ;-)

If this is the problem (it may not be, the are several possibilities) it's a question of jiggling the handle. You're trying to disturb a rubber tube just inside the door...

[intexasatthe moment]

Cliff on 07931 540287 is good and usually prompt if you want to go down the repair man route .

He's fixed my elderly Hotpoint a couple of times .

[Apbin]

no luck..the door is def unlocked and handle can be pressed easily..its just not opening.

[ianr]

... and that was the last that was ever heard of Apbin ...

[JohnL]

I've had a Hotpoint for 10 years and it still more or less works (drying packed up last year). Hotpoint's take a lot of flack but can't complain with 10 years and no Calgon either. I'd probably kick it if the door didn't open then leave it for 30 minutes - that would sort it.

Can confirm mine has no filter or much else. Replacement due this year.