Model Number: WF2124ZAC
Brand: Samsung
Age: 6-10 years
My EcoBubble washer suddenly stopped with the error 3E. Machine is 7 years, within the 10 year digital inverter motor warranty. It happened after a planned power shutdown (mains circuit breaker was turned off), but I doubt that this is related.
After I unplug it for a few minutes (5-10 min) it spins normally for a while (everything from a few min to 15 min), but then stops again. When it stops, the motor tries to kick in but it just "knocks" the drum several times without turning it. The drum moves freely when i spin it manually, no bad noises and ball bearings seems fine when i twist the drum gently sideways. I took off the belt and turned the motor both slowly and quickly, i can detect some noise, but it's very subtle, and maybe one of the quietest motors I've turned (manually).
In diagnostics / service mode, running the test program (tSt) results in error 3E1. When I start diagnostic spin (sPn) it spins up to 1200 rpm (although target rpm in the display says 1400 rpm), it hits 1200 and fluctuates +/- 30 rpms around that but can't go higher (unless the sPn program is set to 1200?). It seems like in this sPn test, it spins without problems (?), unless I was just lucky.
I've checked all connections, run calibration (finished with no errors), big heat sink (on top of motor drive chip) on PCB does not become very warm as some has noted (some have actually put a fan on top of it to solve 3E), ball bearings ok. I have not taken out the PCB from the case as this will be the last resort.
I read about the hall sensor being the problem of 3E, but I can't seem to locate it (can't find the big circular stator where the hall sensor should sit). On many machines I see the stator and hall sensor is located behind the big belt wheel, but no stator and hall sensor on mine.
My digital inverter motor has three connections (red, white, blue). Doesn't it have a replaceable hall sensor?
An interesting observation, if I spin the drum quickly, a relay clicks on the PCB (without hooked up to power) and clicks back when i stop the drum, like the motor induces current and dispenses this onto the PCB, without the PCB having any protection about reverse currents. Maybe this have harmed the PCB over time?
I think the PCB and motor is identical on units: WF1124ZA, WF1124ZB, WF1124XA, WF1124XB, WF2124ZA, WF2124ZB, WF1124ZAC, WF1124ZBC, WF1124XAC, WF1124XBC, WF2124ZAC, WF2124ZBC, WF1124ZAU, WF1124ZBU, WF1124XAU, WF1124XBU, WF2124ZAU, WF2124ZBU.