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Atlant washing machine gives an F3 error – what does this mean? Let’s sort it out in order.
Electronic CMs show error code F3 on the display, and on models without a screen, the third and fourth indicators are lit.
If you notice that the laundry is poorly washed, a musty smell is felt: there is probably a malfunction of the heating element (tubular heating element).
Causes and symptoms of malfunction
When the fault code F3 is on the Atlant washing machine display, you need to pay attention to water heating. A sure sign of a heating element malfunction is washing in cold water when a high temperature mode is selected. In some cases, programs with temperatures above 30 degrees do not start at all.
How to fix the situation and remove the F3 error? To do this, you need to check at what temperature the washing takes place. What to do: 20 minutes after starting, touch the sunroof with your hand. Usually, this time is enough for the Atlant washing machine to heat the water. If the hatch is cold, check the heating element.
Causes of heater failure
There are two main reasons for the failure of the heating element. This is a factory marriage and scale (rust).
Marriage occurs only in 2% of cases and manifests itself after a month or two. Scale can settle on the element for 3-4 years before it fails. With a careful attitude and high-quality powder, the service life can increase up to 7-8 years.
There are also such types of breakdowns of the heater:
- Breakage of contacts of the heating element. If the wiring between the heater and the control board is broken, the heating element will not receive a signal for action, therefore it will not work.
- Body break. When an element’s insulation layer is broken, current leakage occurs. What it means: a breakdown can become critical, as it leads to a short circuit and electric shock.
- Scale. The scale layer prevents the heater from giving off heat. As a result, the element overheats and burns out.
- Thermal relay failure. Incorrect temperature readings lead to damage to the heating element. As a result, SMA Atlant gives an F3 error.
How to avoid trouble
Forewarned is forearmed. To avoid premature failure, it is worth installing a stabilizer. It is sharp voltage surges that lead to a break in the electrical circuit between the module and the heating element in SM Atlant.
Installing a cleaning filter will help against hard water and scale formation. Use quality detergents.
To avoid overheating of the heater, set the temperature not to the maximum parameters, but slightly lower.
But how to fix the breakdown if the water is no longer heated, and the F3 error is on the display? The solution to the problem is to replace the heating element in the Atlant washing machine.
Independent repair
You can check and, if necessary, replace the heater yourself.
- Open the back cover of the Atlant washing machine, behind which the heating element is located.
- Disconnect the connectors and attach the multimeter probes to the heater contacts.
- Resistance below 20 ohms indicates a malfunction of the element.
- Loosen the center nut.
- Remove the temperature sensor from the base of the heating element.
- Push the bolt inward by pressing.
- Take out the heater.
Installation of a new element is carried out in the reverse order.
After inspecting the heating element, you were convinced that it was working normally. Now start the Atlant machine, see if the F3 error has disappeared.
If a fault code is displayed on the display, continue to search for a breakdown.
Checking the control module
The cause of the F3 error may be the control unit – it is located behind the front panel of the Atlant washing machine.
A multimeter is also used to check the module: each element of the board is called in turn. It may be necessary to solder the contacts or strip the tracks, if the block is completely burned out, it is replaced with a serviceable element.
Remember! Always disconnect the CM from the mains before starting work.
We hope our recommendations helped eliminate the F3 error code in the Atlant washing machine.