What is actually happening
A spin needs three things to be true: the water is gone, the door is locked, and the load is balanced. If any one of them fails the machine skips the spin rather than risk it. Where the wash itself is fine and only the spin fails, the two usual culprits are worn motor carbon brushes on older belt-driven machines, or a load that the machine cannot balance.
The General fault codes that point at this
A General washing machine will usually tell you what it thinks is wrong before anyone opens it up. These are the codes we hold for this make that relate to not spinning:
- E18 — The machine tried to pump the water out, didn't manage it in the time allowed, and stopped with the drum still holding water.
- F04 — The machine isn't getting the signal that tells it the drum motor is turning, so it stops rather than carry on.
- F08 — The machine has lost the signal that tells it the drum motor is turning, so it stops rather than carry on with a load it cannot spin.
If yours is showing one of those, that is a much shorter conversation than a general fault — tell us the code when you book and the engineer can often carry the part.
The usual causes on a General washing machine
- Worn carbon brushes on the motor — typical life is seven to ten years, and the machine will often wash but not spin
- Water left in the drum from a drain fault, so the spin is never attempted
- An unbalanced load — one heavy item such as a towel or duvet on its own
- A snapped or slipping drive belt: the motor runs, the drum does not
- A failed door interlock, so the machine will not commit to a high-speed spin
What you can safely check yourself
- Redistribute the load by hand and run a spin-only cycle — a single heavy item is a common and harmless cause
- Check whether water is left in the drum; if it is, this is a drain fault first and a spin fault second
- Listen during the attempted spin: a motor that revs while the drum stays still points at the belt
Still not spinning?
Most of these need an engineer once the checks above are done. £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 engineers work on General machines week in, week out, so they arrive knowing the machine rather than reading the back of it. Local engineers across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.
Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need
Common questions
Why is my General washing machine not spinning?
The machine washes normally but the clothes come out soaked, because the drum never reaches spin speed. A spin needs three things to be true: the water is gone, the door is locked, and the load is balanced. If any one of them fails the machine skips the spin rather than risk it. Where the wash itself is fine and only the spin fails, the two usual culprits are worn motor carbon brushes on older belt-driven machines, or a load that the machine cannot balance.
Can I fix a General washing machine not spinning myself?
Redistribute the load by hand and run a spin-only cycle — a single heavy item is a common and harmless cause. Check whether water is left in the drum; if it is, this is a drain fault first and a spin fault second. Listen during the attempted spin: a motor that revs while the drum stays still points at the belt. Beyond those checks this one normally needs an engineer.
What General error codes mean not spinning?
General washing machines report this through their own fault codes. The ones that point at not spinning are E18, F04, F08. If your machine is showing one of those, that narrows it down considerably — each has its own guide on this site.
How much does a General washing machine repair cost?
£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.
Other General washing machine faults
- washing machine not draining
- washing machine leaking water
- washing machine making a loud noise
- washing machine not heating the water
- washing machine door will not open
- washing machine will not turn on