HELP PLEASE - Door stuck on washing machine full of washing

[SilverSurfer65]

Can anybody out there please advise me what to try?

My front loading Hotpoint Washing Machine door won't open, and it's got wet washing in. I've also got two more loads to do.

I've had problems with the handle for a couple of weeks now, but always managed to open it. Not today. I've tried switching it off at the wall but that didn't work. It just won't budge. Any other (sensible) suggestions please?

Gina

[mynamehere]

oil it?

[Loz]

It may not be draining properly. Your manual should tell you how to manually drain it. Having said that, it's almost impossible to do without getting water all over the place. Have a mop and bucket handy.

[the-e-dealer]

You may need to clean the Filter.

[silverfox]

It sounds as if it's still in a cycle and won't open until the cycle's finished. Try extra rinsing and draining. It might override it

[ianr]

If you've not definitely heard the click of the lock unlocking, you could try powering it on for a few seconds within a program, then off again and hope it unlocks. Unlikely to work, given that you've mentioned a problem with the actual handle, but might be worth trying, just in case it's the electronics that have got into a state that needs nudging.

PS Actually, what silverfox says makes more sense. Try it that way, or at least the very end of a cycle.

[SilverSurfer65]

silverfox Wrote:

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> It sounds as if it's still in a cycle and won't

> open until the cycle's finished. Try extra rinsing

> and draining. It might override it

Thanks for all your suggestions so far.

It has finished the cycle, no water is left, and I've re-spun it three times now but still no luck.

The handle is one which you have to pinch/squeeze together, and for a while now I've had to pull the back part away from the front after I've closed the door, and before it will start.

I've pulled the back part away, it won't go anymore, but still nothing.

It was such a lovely day for drying washing outside too!!!

Gina

[ianr]

You've switched off the power switch as well?

[Sue]

Very stupid question, but does it have a child lock which is still on?

Mine stays locked for some time after the cycle has finished before you can open the door (or at least it used to, now it doesn't lock at all .....)

ETA: And the power had to be on in order for the child lock to click off, if that makes sense.

[ianr]

> ETA: And the power had to be on in order for the child lock to click off, if that makes sense.

I don't know, but have assumed that, having finished a cycle, it would also default to off eventually if unpowered..

Gina, a web search on washing machine door won't unlock might be worth trying.

[Sue]

ianr Wrote:

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> Gina, a web search on washing machine door won't

> unlock might be worth trying.

xxxxxx

You could also try putting the make and model name into the search - other people may have had the same problem with this model.

I have to kick my machine's door to get the door to shut properly so that it will start - you could try kicking it as a last resort :) (alternatively phone the manufacturers in the morning? In my experience manufacturers are usually very helpful when things go wrong with their products).

[ianr]

> You could also try putting the make and model name into the search - other people may have had the same problem with this model.

D'oh! I did, but I stupidly put them in angle brackets so that they were ignored, and didn't preview. Thanks Sue.

I fear that, short of mantras, jemmies and pickaxes, we're running out of sensible suggestions.

[Huguenot]

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.

For more clarity, model number please?

[SilverSurfer65]

Thanks ianr and SUE.

Yes I've had it switched off from the mains, left if for a couple of hours then switched it on again, and the child lock has never been switched on. When the cycle is finished the little "door locked" sign flashes for about 2 minutes then stops, and I can open the door.

What I STUPIDLY did today, without looking properly, was try to open the door before it had stopped flashing!!!

I can't get the back off neither can the top be lifted.

I've fiddled with the handle time and again, but it still won't open.

I'll try the web search to see what that brings up, and I'll ring the Manufacturer in the morning if that doesn't work.

The second stupid thing I did was to post this in the wrong place, so Thank You for moving it. I'll get the hang of this one day.

Gina

[SilverSurfer65]

Hi Huguenot,

The machine is a Hotpoint Ultima WMA43.

Thanks.

Gina

[Huguenot]

I think that's an electronic one, but can't be definite.

Electronic ones won't be helped by a bit of physical effort..

*scratches head*

I think you may be stcuk until morning :(

[the-e-dealer]

Did you try cleaning the Filter?

[Annette Curtain]

When a door's stuck on a cheap washing machine (like yours) I'd recite this poem.

The Tay Bridge Disaster

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silv?ry Tay!

Alas! I am very sorry to say

That ninety lives have been taken away

On the last Sabbath day of 1879,

Which will be remember?d for a very long time.

?Twas about seven o?clock at night,

And the wind it blew with all its might,

And the rain came pouring down,

And the dark clouds seem?d to frown,

And the Demon of the air seem?d to say-

?I?ll blow down the Bridge of Tay.?

When the train left Edinburgh

The passengers? hearts were light and felt no sorrow,

But Boreas blew a terrific gale,

Which made their hearts for to quail,

And many of the passengers with fear did say-

?I hope God will send us safe across the Bridge of Tay.?

But when the train came near to Wormit Bay,

Boreas he did loud and angry bray,

And shook the central girders of the Bridge of Tay

On the last Sabbath day of 1879,

Which will be remember?d for a very long time.

So the train sped on with all its might,

And Bonnie Dundee soon hove in sight,

And the passengers? hearts felt light,

Thinking they would enjoy themselves on the New Year,

With their friends at home they lov?d most dear,

And wish them all a happy New Year.

So the train mov?d slowly along the Bridge of Tay,

Until it was about midway,

Then the central girders with a crash gave way,

And down went the train and passengers into the Tay!

The Storm Fiend did loudly bray,

Because ninety lives had been taken away,

On the last Sabbath day of 1879,

Which will be remember?d for a very long time.

As soon as the catastrophe came to be known

The alarm from mouth to mouth was blown,

And the cry rang out all o?er the town,

Good Heavens! the Tay Bridge is blown down,

And a passenger train from Edinburgh,

Which fill?d all the peoples hearts with sorrow,

And made them for to turn pale,

Because none of the passengers were sav?d to tell the tale

How the disaster happen?d on the last Sabbath day of 1879,

Which will be remember?d for a very long time.

It must have been an awful sight,

To witness in the dusky moonlight,

While the Storm Fiend did laugh, and angry did bray,

Along the Railway Bridge of the Silv?ry Tay,

Oh! ill-fated Bridge of the Silv?ry Tay,

I must now conclude my lay

By telling the world fearlessly without the least dismay,

That your central girders would not have given way,

At least many sensible men do say,

Had they been supported on each side with buttresses,

At least many sensible men confesses,

For the stronger we our houses do build,

The less chance we have of being killed.

It achieves absolutely nothing & yes the door's still stuck.

But it does put some perspective on it.

I mean Imagine how the poor people felt when plunging into the " Silv?ry Tay"

Now get on the phone to an engineer.

NETTE:-S

[Voyageur]

This happened to me - as someone has suggested twice before, unscrew and remove the filter (mine accessible from a little flap at the bottom of the front of the machine) and give it a good clean if it is gunged up. Then put the load through yet another spin cycle. A mucky, slimy job but it solved the problem with me so perhaps worth a try.

[the-e-dealer]

FOR THE 3Rd TIME DID YOU TRY CLEANING THE FILTER?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SilverSurfer65]

Many thanks also to Huguenot, the-e-dealer and Annette.

I couldn't get at the filter as I couldn't get into the machine anywhere.

I went online and Googled the question, got through to JustAnswer and had an online conversation with Fred Bloggs, after having paid ?11.00 - worth it as cheaper than getting an Engineer out, and having to wait at least 5 days, going by my past experience when I had the machine insured.

Fred Bloggs suggested using garden or strimmer wire threaded around the door handle and to pull it sideways, and when I went to find some, I passed the washing machine and tried the handle. SUCCESS !!! the door opened!!! I think having another jiggle with the handle and then leaving it switched off yet again seemed to work.

So I've now got another load on and I'll make sure I don't go near it until the door lock light is out next time!!!

Wishing you All a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Gina :))

[DulwichFox]

Hi silversurfer65

After your machine ends it's cycle there will allways be a time delay before you can open the door.

This will be up to 5 mins. or even longer if a washer dryer drying cycle has been done.

This to allow time for the machine to cool down and prevent you burning yourself on the glass part

of the door.

It is posible you have a thermostat problem that is causing the door release mechanism to mal function.

Just a thought ...

Tech. Fox

[Sue]

DulwichFox Wrote:

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> Hi silversurfer65

>

> After your machine ends it's cycle there will

> allways be a time delay before you can open the

> door.

xxxxxxx

Yeh that's what I reckon it was.

Thanks for the McGonanagall, Curtain Person :))

I used to be able to see the Tay Bridge from my living room window (not from ED, obviously)

:)-D

[the-e-dealer]

You get to the filter by opening the little door at the bottom.

[Annette Curtain]

the-e-dealer Wrote:

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> You get to the filter by opening the little door

> at the bottom.

Someone, stick the FEKKINFILTER where the sun-don't-shine

PLEASE

NETTE:-S