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When the washing machine sparks, you can see small flashes of light underneath it. The first thing to do, having discovered this breakdown, is to de-energize the device.
Do not operate a sparking washing machine, it can be dangerous!
Before continuing to use the machine, repair it or seek help from a specialist.
During such a failure, you can see not only sparks – a breakdown is often accompanied by an unpleasant burning smell; melted parts usually smell like this. There are times when sparks are visible from behind the glass of the hatch.
Turn off the washer and follow our tips to find out the reasons for the failure and fix the problem.
Why does the washing machine spark
Find out why there are sparks in the washing machine. This could be one of the following reasons:
- Heater short circuit.
- Failure in the control module.
- Deterioration of motor brushes.
- Breakage of lamellas in the engine manifold.
Now we will consider each case separately: how to deal with a malfunction and what you can do yourself.
Heater short circuit
If the heating element is closed, this can be detected through the glass part of the hatch – in its lower part you will notice a spark.
To make sure that it is the heating element that is broken, you need to organize its check. For this you need a tester.
The check is described in detail in the article “How to check the heating element of a washing machine.”
If the failure of the heating element is confirmed, buy the original analogue from a store or a certified service center and install it. We described the process of replacing the heater in detail in the articles for each individual brand of washing machines: LG, Bosch, Samsung, Indesit.
Programmer (control module) failure
Due to voltage drops, the control module can spark. In this case, you will see sparks not from below, but at the top of the machine. You can even determine this failure visually – during power surges, dark traces remain on the board.
If you missed these sparks, the control module could fail, which the control panel will notify you about: in this case, all the lights on it will flash. The way out of the situation: repair (firmware) or replacement of the unit.
We do not advise you to undertake such work on your own. But if you feel a huge repair potential in yourself, look for answers to your questions in the article: “Do-it-yourself washing machine control board repair”.
Motor brush wear
If your typewriter is many years old, then the electric motor in it could wear out in order. The brushes are the first to suffer – when moving, they do not come into too much contact with the collector, which can cause sparks. Since the motor is located at the bottom, the spark will be from under the bottom panel of the CMA.
To eliminate such a failure, you need to remove the motor and change the brushes. Step-by-step instructions for these works are waiting for you on the page “How to replace the motor brushes in a washing machine.”
Important! Not always “age” is the determining factor in this breakdown. Sometimes it crackles and sparks from the engine side and from the new washer. This may mean that the brushes have not yet become very worn. If you encounter such a failure, don’t worry. Just do not overload the drum at first.
Collector lamella failure
If everything is in order with the brushes, but the machine still sparks, then the lamellas may be worn. These elements can break due to frequent and prolonged operation of the machine.
To verify the breakdown, you need to manually scroll the motor shaft. If you hear a knock, this will mean that the brushes are knocking on the lamellas – they are broken.
Much to the chagrin of many craftsmen, we will inform you that the lamellas cannot be replaced, so the electric motor will be completely replaced. Do not be upset, the engine is not the most expensive part of the SM, replacing it is much cheaper and easier than the control module.
In this work, recommendations from the page “How to connect the washing machine motor” will help you. Also watch video: