What F02 actually means
The machine has stopped because it isn't getting the drum to turn properly \u2014 the motor or the board that drives it isn't responding as expected.
On Hotpoint and Indesit washing machines, F02 is a motor fault. The control board sends a signal to the motor and watches the speed feedback coming back; if the drum doesn't turn, or turns erratically, or the feedback doesn't match, the cycle is halted and F02 is shown. The usual giveaway is that the machine fills and behaves normally until the drum should start rotating, then sits there and faults.
What usually causes it
- Worn motor carbon brushes on older brush-type motors
- Faulty motor speed sensor or tacho feedback
- Motor control section of the main circuit board failed
- Loose or damaged wiring between board and motor
- Something jamming the drum so the motor cannot turn freely
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 couple of minutes, then switch back on and try a short cycle \u2014 occasionally it clears a one-off glitch.
- With the machine switched off at the wall, open the door and try turning the drum by hand; it should spin freely with no grinding or hard stops.
- Check nothing has slipped out of the drum and lodged behind it, such as an underwired bra or coin, which can stop the drum turning.
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 F01 — The machine's main control board has flagged an electrical f…
- 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…