Ecobubble washing machine stops in mid cycle sporadically

[mgspan]

I have a Samsung washing machine, model number is WW7SJ4260GW (Ecobubble). For the last two years approximately, it sometimes stops in the middle of a cycle for no apparent reason. Now it is happening more often. I find consistently that if I disconnect the machine from the electricity for about a day, it works OK for one loads.

It is hard to have a service person come, because it only happens sometimes.

I see on this forum that this happens to a lot of owners after the machine is a few years old. Any suggestions how to  fix it. I am pretty handy with fixing stuff, but this one has me puzzled.

It always stops in a part of the cycle where it changes direction every 10 seconds or so, and always stops when it is about to rotate counterclockwise. If I give it a little push on the belt wheel just as it is starting to rotate CCW, it starts rotating OK.  But later, it stops again.  Sometimes, it makes a loud scratching electrical noise when it starts CCW, and then it usually continues a bit longer.

It seems that maybe an electrolytic capacitor is causing an issue,  since that is about the only thing that would be affected by a long time without power, and also would normally be a reservoir for the current spike needed to start rotating.  Perhaps some issue with the commutator in the motor is making the CCW have more difficulty starting.

Any hints will be welcome...it has done a good job washing up until now, and I kind of hate to part with it

[David308]

This is an issue with this model. There are loads of people having the same issue. Has your fuse melted your plug yet? Only a matter of time. Sorry.

[RicolasUK]

After over ten years, mine is doing the same.  It's happened a few times, and is getting worse. Just nursed it through its last cycle, and will replace it. At over ten years old I reckon that I would be throwing good money after bad if I get repair men out, and start replacing parts. Shame, as the bulk of the machine is in great order (I took it apart to check and clean connections, pipes, hoses etc.). But if the electronics are going then it is time.

Getting another Samsung though.  This one did us proud.

[Jonners62]

Did you give up on this? I just bought a second hand one and think I've been stitched up. But I'd love to find a solution. 

It can run fine a lot of the time, but it's beginning to fail at least once every cycle now.

I tried taking the belt off when it does it's jerky sticking thing, and the unattached motor still does it, so it looks electronic. Presumably a whole new board with be prohibitively expensive.

[RicolasUK]

I wouldn't normally give up, but at c12 years old I reckoned that other bits would be getting close to life-expired. It needs new shock absorbers for one thing! So I was disinclined to invest more into it.

That said, a lot of it is in great shape.  With more time and bloody-mindedness, I might have gone down the route of more exploration.  BUT the original poster made a comment about a capacitor, which I understand, but would really be beyond my abilities to isolate and replace. 

So a new one it is.  A shame, as I am a strong believer in repairing stuff and keeping it on the road (as it were!)

[Jonners62]

I get that. I've only just invested though, second hand, so I've not incentive. I wondered about shock absorbers - whether, if they're not strong, they might contribute to load sensors thinking it's it if balance when it isn't. I know - a bit desperate. 🤣. And they're only about £16/pair.