Ariston F16 washer dryer: what it means & what to check

Stop using it for now. Carrying on with this fault risks further damage or a leak. Switch it off at the wall until it has been looked at.

What F16 actually means

The machine can't confirm the drum has parked and locked in the right position, so it stops rather than carry on.

Ariston uses a sensor to tell the control board where the drum has come to rest and whether it is locked in that position — this matters on top-loading drums, where the drum's own flap has to line up with the lid opening at the end of the cycle. When the board doesn't get the expected signal, it halts and shows F16. The usual symptom is the drum stopping somewhere it shouldn't, so you can't reach the drum flap, or the cycle stalling near the end instead of finishing.

What F16 looks like on a Ariston washer dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Ariston washer dryer, F16 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Very noisy on spin
Banging or knocking
Moving across the floor
Load left soaking wet because it won't spin up
No function at all
Dead — nothing lights up
Lights flashing and nothing happening
Programme won't start

Recognise any of those? That is this fault, and the rest of this page explains what causes it and what you can check yourself.

What usually causes it

The drum position sensor has failed or come loose
Wiring or a connector between the sensor and the control board has worked loose
The drum is being stopped out of position by a heavy or badly distributed load
The drum locking mechanism itself is sticking or damaged
A fault on the electronic control board reading the sensor

What you can safely check yourself

Work through these in order. Anything beyond this — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the machine plugged in.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and see whether the code returns — a one-off glitch will sometimes clear.
If you can reach the drum flap, check nothing is trapped in or around it and that it closes properly.
Try a smaller, evenly spread load — a heavy, unbalanced load can leave the drum resting where it shouldn't.
Check nothing has fallen down between the drum and the lid opening.

Common questions about Ariston F16

What does F16 mean on a Ariston washer dryer?

The machine can't confirm the drum has parked and locked in the right position, so it stops rather than carry on. Ariston uses a sensor to tell the control board where the drum has come to rest and whether it is locked in that position — this matters on top-loading drums, where the drum's own flap has to line up with the lid opening at the end of the cycle. When the board doesn't get the expected signal, it halts and shows F16. The usual symptom is the drum stopping somewhere it shouldn't, so you can't reach the drum flap, or the cycle stalling near the end instead of finishing.

Can I fix Ariston F16 myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and see whether the code returns — a one-off glitch will sometimes clear.
If you can reach the drum flap, check nothing is trapped in or around it and that it closes properly.
Try a smaller, evenly spread load — a heavy, unbalanced load can leave the drum resting where it shouldn't.
Check nothing has fallen down between the drum and the lid opening.

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried them.

How much does it cost to repair Ariston F16?

£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Tried the checks and it's still showing F16?

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. Then it wants someone who can open it up.

What it costs, before you call: the price is the same whatever the fault turns out to be — £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Our own engineers, not a call centre. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire — most washer dryer faults are seen same day or next day.

Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need

Outside our area? The explanation above still stands — take it to a local engineer and tell them the code. Knowing it saves them time and you money.

Other Ariston washer dryer codes

All Ariston fault codes and repairs →

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Ariston F16 error — washer dryer