The washing machine smells like burnt wiring when it's running.

What should you do if your washing machine starts to smell like burning wires? You should immediately turn off the power. Only after unplugging the appliance can you begin troubleshooting. Let's look at what might be causing the burning smell and which parts of the machine to check.

List of possible reasons

How to behave in such a case? If you smell a burning smell while the machine is running, immediately de-energize it by turning off the electricity supply to the apartment. After this, carefully inspect the outlet and the power cord plug. If the plastic has melted, you'll need to check the contacts and replace the plug. If everything is fine, you need to inspect the washing machine. A burning smell doesn't always indicate a faulty machine. It can appear:

• When starting a newly purchased washing machine, the machine may smell like burnt plastic when heating up during the first few cycles; this is normal. However, if the machine has been running for several months, this is definitely not the issue.
• When using a detergent that is not suitable for automatic washing machines. In this case, undissolved granules settle on the heating element tubes, causing a burning smell. To remove the stuck-on detergent particles, simply run a high-temperature wash cycle.

If these causes are ruled out, you'll need to run a full diagnostic of the washing machine to find the fault. The washing machine smells like burning:

• if the contacts of the network filter or heating element are damaged;
• burning of tracks on the main control board;
• short circuit in the wiring;
• when the drive belt wears out;
• short circuit caused by water getting on the electric motor;
• when the pump overheats;
• contamination of the heating element, foreign objects getting onto the heating element coil.

You cannot use a washing machine that smells of burning when turned on – it is unsafe.

You can try to troubleshoot the problem yourself. Let's figure out the best place to start diagnosing your washing machine and where to look for the problem.

Moisture got into the motor, causing problems with the brushes

Sometimes, a washing machine smells like burnt wiring when running due to water getting on the motor. However, most often, the burning smell is caused by worn brushes. Replacing them is easy; even a novice can handle the job. To replace the brushes on a commutator motor, follow these steps:

• turn off the power to the machine, turn off the water supply tap;
• detach the drain and fill hoses from the body;
• remove the top panel and the back wall of the case;
• remove the drive belt from the pulley;
• find the motor – it is located under the tank;
• disconnect the wiring from the engine;
• unscrew the two screws securing the electric motor to the housing;
• remove the engine from the car;
• unscrew the brush bolts and remove the parts;
• install new electric brushes and secure them in place.

Electric motor brushes must be replaced in pairs, even if one of the graphite tips is completely intact.

Inspect the motor winding. There should be no signs of damage. If you find carbon deposits, test it with a multimeter to check for short circuits or breakdowns. If the brushes and winding are fine, but the burning smell is definitely coming from the motor, inspect the plastic tank. Even a small crack can allow water to leak and end up on the engine. If you find a hole, repair it immediately.

Let's inspect the drive mechanism

Our sense of smell is the best way to effectively diagnose the problem. Remove the back of the machine and sniff. A strong burning aroma will emanate from the damaged component. Another possibility is that the drive belt may be frayed. If the bearing assembly wears out, the tub pulley may become misaligned. This can cause the drive belt to wear out. During intensive spinning, there will be a smell of burnt rubber, and black smoke may even come from the washing machine.

If the machine smells burnt during the spin cycle, inspect the drive belt; if it is damaged, replace the rubber band.

To change the drive belt:

• turn off the power to the machine, remove the top cover of the case and the back panel;
• remove the damaged rubber from the pulley;
• Pull the new belt first onto the engine pulley, then onto the drum wheel.

If the belt has worn out due to worn bearings, simply replacing the rubber seal won't solve the problem. The new part will also become damaged over time. In this case, replacing the bearings and seal is essential. This will require almost complete disassembly of the machine, removing the drum, splitting it in half, accessing the drum, knocking out the worn rings, and pressing in new components.

Network filter and heating element

If your washing machine suddenly smells burnt, check the wiring to the surge protector. It's located under the top panel of the machine. To remove the cover, simply unscrew the two screws that secure it. Locate the surge protector and inspect its wiring. If you see black deposits or traces of carbon deposits, replace the contacts or the entire protective device immediately. If you find no damage to the surge protector contacts, check the wiring to the heating element. The element is located under the washing machine's drum. Inspect the heating element terminals for defects.

You can remove deposits from the tubular heating element by running a high-temperature wash cycle and adding 50 grams of citric acid to the detergent dispenser. If this doesn't eliminate the burnt smell, you'll have to clean the heating element manually or replace it.

   

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