How To Repair Your Hotpoint Aquarius Dishwasher

Dishwashers can be temperamental at the best of times. It is possible for the problems to be diagnosed and fixed without the need for a large repair bill ,or worse still, a new dishwasher. You will probably now know that when you need to sort out any kind of problem with any sort of machinery the first and best place to seek information is the internet. Good old Google in other words.

This is my first port of call and I usually find the answer immediately. This is because there are people who have had the same problem and have written about it somewhere on the net.

I recently had a problem where the dishwasher would not fully empty and two alarm lights would flash to indicate there is a problem. The first snag was that our instruction booklet did not tell us what the two flashing panel lights meant. Every other code was listed but the ones we wanted. After Googling the question it was apparent that there was a blockage in the filter / pump.

What now I hear you ask?

The best way to find out put is to pull out the dishwasher and open the drop down front door. Check the filter is clear by first removing the metal shroud surrounding the filter. Gently pull out the filter and you will see the hole left. Look inside for any restrictions in the waste water trap.My advice to you at this point is to ladel out the water which is sitting in the bottom of the machine as you will shortly be tipping the machine on its side.This will save you any undue time clearing up the kitchen floor.

If this is all clear tip the machine on it's side so you get access to the panel on the underside. There are about six self tapping screws to remove and the bottom plate will come free. In front of you now, you will see at the right in front of the main motor is the pump. Loosen the screw which attaches the pump to the main body and twist the pump in an anti clockwise direction, just like removing a bayonet light bulb from it's fitting. You should now be able to see inside the body of the pump. Looking inside the pump there is a set of fins which should rotate. If the fin does not rotate then there is almost certainly a blockage. Gently tap the body of the pump in your hand and the obstruction should clear and fall out. ( It may take a few goes to free up ).

So the blockage is clear. All there is to do now is a reverse of the procedure you have just performed. Carefully fit the pump back on its fitting and gently...very gently push and twist the pump home in a clockwise direction. Once located fasten back up with the self tapping screw. On the pump there are three locating lugs. Undue force will break the lugs so it is imperative that you use the minimum of force when twisting back into place. A new pump will cost between £35 and £50 so could be costly if you are unfortunate enough to break all the locating lugs.

Put the plate back on the machine on the underside and lift the machine to an upright position. Put back the filter and shroud and you are ready for the all important test.

If you have got it right then the machine will work as it always has done. If not you will get the warning lights on the front panel again after a few minutes of the dishwasher being turned on.