What F01 actually means
The machine's main control board has flagged an electrical fault on the circuit that drives the drum motor, and it has stopped the cycle rather than risk running the motor.
On Hotpoint machines F01 points at the main electronic control board — on the EVO1, EVO2 and V4 boards fitted to most Hotpoint and Indesit washers it is specifically logged as a short circuit on the motor triac, the switching device on the board that feeds power to the motor. Because a shorted triac can leave the motor live when it shouldn't be, the board shuts everything down. Owners usually notice it either straight after switching on, sometimes with functions that can't be selected, or as soon as the drum is asked to turn.
What usually causes it
- A failed motor triac on the main control board
- Water or damp getting to the control board
- A one-off electrical glitch after a power cut or surge
- Damaged or chafed wiring between the board and the motor
- A failing motor drawing too much current and taking the board's output with it
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.
- Switch the machine off at the wall socket, leave it for a couple of minutes, then power up and try again — a genuine one-off glitch will clear and not come back
- If the code returns immediately or on every cycle, leave it off and book an engineer
When to call someone
This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, and it's £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it — £84 in total if it's repaired on the visit with no parts needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
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 Hotpoint washing machine codes
- Hotpoint F02 — The machine has stopped because it isn't getting the drum to…
- Hotpoint F03 — The machine can't get a sensible temperature reading from th…
- Hotpoint F04 — The machine hasn't managed to pump the water out in the time…
- Hotpoint F05 — The machine hasn't managed to pump the water out in the time…
- Hotpoint F06 — The machine can't confirm the door is locked, so it refuses …
- Hotpoint F07 — The machine has spotted a fault in the heating side of its c…
- Hotpoint F08 — The machine has a problem with the water heating side "the h…
- Hotpoint F09 — The machine's control board has lost or mismatched its softw…