How to Replace a Fan Motor on an Indesit or Hotpoint Washer Dryer

Where would we be without our washer dryers? Like the “good” old days you’d take almost a week to clean your laundry for the whole family.

However with these appliances doing that work within only a couple of hours. (depending on the wash cycle) So imagine how devastating it would be to find that your washer dryer is faulty and refuses to work.

Well help is at hand - with this guide we will ease you into the process of repairing your appliance by yourself. If you’ve got the replacement part and tools this easy to follow step by step guide will give you the knowledge you need to get your appliance working again in  no time.

Now it is worth noting that this guide is primarily for a hotpoint or Indesit washer dryer however the process should be very similar - however remember you can always refer back to your user manual for instructions.

This video shows an example on how to remove or replace the part on a typical machine, some models may be different but the procedure should be similar.

• Fan Motor
• Screwdriver
• Pliers
• Box Driver

Safety First! Please ensure that you have disconnected the appliance from the mains before starting any repair

With the cautionary warnings out of the way; the next thing to do is to take the top of the washer off. To achieve this simply undo the two screws at the back - this will release the top of the washing machine.

Now with that out the way you’ll now need to unscrew the bracket which is blocking your access to the remainder of your washer.

With both the top cover and center bracket removed you will now be able to see the fan motor, however for us to access and replace it you will need to first split open the heater tunnel. To begin this next step you will need to remove the door seal -  from the bottom of the appliance, it is also attached by a cable tie which you’ll want to keep for later so don’t cut it.

Then finally you will need to remove all of the electrical connections, this includes undoing the screws that hold it together.

Continuing on, the best way to remove the door seal from the bottom of the tunnel without having to replace the cable tie is to just ease it off with two hands.

Now the door seal has been removed you can now disconnect the electrical connections to the motor. Be aware that these connectors can be very stiff, so be very gentle when disconnecting. With the electrical connections out of the way you can now unscrew and split open the heater tunnel.

After removing the screws you’ll be able to lift up the lid of the heater tunnel and in order to access the fan motor the fan will need unscrewing. It is worth noting that the fan is held in place with a left-handed nut which may be very tight, so using a bit of releasing agent - leave it for a few moments before unscrewing the nut a clockwise direction by using a box driver and holding onto the fan itself.

With the nut removed giving the centre a tap with either a small hammer or back end of your screwdriver - and the fan should then release.

With the fan out the way you can now begin to remove the motor - located at the top of the heater tunnel, there are four screws which require undoing - once again this can be done by using a box driver.

With light at the end of the tunnel we just need to ensure that you can put everything back as it was originally found, when you took the fan out, the centre boss that was inside the spindle should have come with it, so just make sure that is popped back in place with the fan and then simply screw the bolt back into place.

When installing the fan, it does not touch the bottom of the heater tunnel when rotating therefore ensure that it spins freely. You may need to give the shaft a little bit of a tap to adjust the height.

With the motor and fan all connected all that needs doing is the heater tunnel, seal, bracket and top cover to be replaced. However before you continue it's important to note that there is a seal which runs all the way around the outside of the heater tunnel, ensure that it is in place before sealing the heater tunnel.

Re connect the wires - these still maybe a little stiff so take care when doing so - you won’t want to damage the connectors so close to the finish line. And with the electrical connectors now reconnected you can refit the door seal around the heater tunnel.

Remember that cable tie you didn't cut into? Well here you get to reuse it. Using a small flathead screwdriver carefully push against the clasp, once released you can loosen the tie to refit it. Now you need to make sure it is secure and in place. With a pair of pliers you can tighten the cable tie is ensure it is securely in position. With that all done you are now free to reattach the center bracket and then refit the top cover.

Great Work! With the motor in place and everything secure you can now get back to tackling your pile of laundry.

With the new fan motor fitted you may wish to give your new part a test drive and what better way than also giving your washer dryer a clean out too. For giving your appliance a good clean may we suggest our highly rated dishwasher and washing machine cleaner. 6 sachets of superb cleaning can help maintain the internal components of the appliance helping them be far more efficient. To read more see our article here.

Luckily eSpares can provide you with not only the replacement parts you require, but also provide helpful step by step advice hoping to save you money by repairing your appliance yourself.