Miele washing machines are not unique in that they don’t have a reset button to use to restore the factory default settings or to unblock a stuck wash cycle. What is unique is that to do a master reset you need to open and close the door six times in quick succession in less than twelve seconds. Then you need to run an empty test cycle and the machine will be back to normal.
In most cases, this master reset will help you resume normal washing for your Miele. However, there are times when this is not enough or when there are problems with the washing machine that need to be addressed. When a Miele washing machine is unresponsive and nothing seems to work then you have to do some troubleshooting.
In this article, we will go over how to reset the Miele washing machine to get it back to normal and working again even without a reset button.
Will resetting get your Miele washing machine working properly?
There are a couple of reasons to reset your Miele. One is that you have programmed settings that are no longer relevant and you want to reset them so you can reprogram how your wash cycles work. The other is when you have something that isn’t quite working with your washing machine.
Sometimes a Miele washing machine gets stuck in the middle of a cycle and needs to be reset to get back to normal. There are even times when you get an error code that lets you know what the specific problem is that the machine is facing and when you troubleshoot it you need to reset it to get it working normally again.
The answer is yes, a reset can sometimes get your Miele washing machine working again. As long as you are trying to clear the error code once it has been taken care of. Let’s go over some of the common problems that can happen to cause you to need to reset your Miele washing machine.
The control panel is not working
One of the reasons to reset is when you have a Miele control panel that is stuck or not working. There are a number of causes so you’ll have to go through a process of elimination to get to the bottom of it and find the right solution. Essentially, you go through a few potential causes and then put the washing machine into service mode to clear it and get it back to working normally.
No power
You’ll lose access to the control panel display and the washing machine will get stuck if there is a sudden interruption in the power supply that lasts a while. There could have been a power outage or a tripped circuit breaker that shut the power down at a critical point in the machine’s operation.
The first thing to check is that the cord and plug are not damaged. Sometimes when Miele washing machines are off balance it can move around a lot and cause the plug to come out of the socket or for there to be some damage to the cord.
If the cord is plugged in and there is no visible damage then go check the circuit breaker. The washing machine itself may have tripped it and shut it off. Turn the circuit breaker back on to get power to the machine and see what happens.
Miele washing machines that are stuck because of a loss of power will need to be reset by turning them back on, then unplugging them for a minute or two, and then plugging it back in. This clears the power completely from the onboard computer and resets it. You will likely have to reprogram it to your preferred settings after doing this.
If the power buttons become active then you should be ready to reprogram it or start a wash cycle.
The child safety locking mechanism is active
If you have children that are curious to press buttons then this setting is essential. It prevents them from getting into trouble by turning on the washing machines when they shouldn’t. It could be possible that you set this and then forgot it was on and that is why the display is off and you can’t start a cycle.
On some washing machine models like the Miele W1, you will know if this setting is on if you see the symbol “CL” on the display. To shut off the child lock so you can start a cycle you will first have to do the following operations:
- Hold the “Settings” and “Temp” buttons down until you have completed all the steps
- Press the “On/Off” button to turn the machine on
- Press the “Extended / Heavy Soil /Soak” button three times
- Release the “Sensitive” and “TEMP” buttons
At the end of those steps, the washing machine will be back to normal and the child lock feature will be deactivated. You probably don’t need to do a reset but if you want to reprogram your washing machine then you should do it.
Potential circuit board fault
If none of these things listed above is the issue, then there is one possibility that it could be. Unfortunately, there may be a problem with the Miele circuit board that is causing the control panel to not work. This means that you will need to call in a technician to fix it since it is potentially complicated. If you attempt it and you make a mistake then you will void your warranty.
You can open the machine up to inspect the board to see what the problem is so you can let the repair technician know about it.
To inspect it, make sure that the machine is unplugged and there is no power coming to it. Then, remove the cover to the panel by removing the two screws on either side.
You’ll see the board and be able to look at the back and sides where the wires come in to understand if there is a loose wire or if the board itself has any damage.
Common errors that require a rest
With many Miele models, you will see an error code on the display that lets you know the exact reason the washer is not working properly. You can then try to find a way to fix it yourself or call for a repair service technician if it is a complex procedure.
There are a number of error codes that are common with many washing machines that can be fixed by an owner without needing a lot of experience in repairing appliances. For instance, one possibility is that you were using too much detergent which creates too much foam in the drum. This foam will cause a technical fault and error code F16 since the machine sensor in the drum will think there is too much water in the tub and shut down the cycle. All you need to do is run a test cycle without a load so it can rinse away any excess detergent and then go easy on the detergent on your subsequent loads.
Here are some common error codes to look out for:
Error F10
This error code will flash when there is a problem with the water supply inlet valves. There isn’t enough water to complete the wash. The most likely culprit is that the water intake valve is closed and you just need to reopen it.
If the intake valve is open then check the intake screen for debris and then clear it off so that the right amount of water is able to flow through.
Error F11
If you see this drain fault code then expect to see some standing water in the drum of the washing machine. It signals that there was a problem with the water draining properly so the machine shut off before the spin cycle.
There are a number of reasons that this may have happened so you will need to take some time to make some inspections to find the cause of the error codes such as a faulty pump. The most likely cause is that there is a clogged pipe or drain pump filter. Before you do anything, you will need to manually clear the water from the tub.
- Make sure that the machine is unplugged from the power supply
- Turn off the water intake valve to prevent more water from coming in
- Locate the service flap at the bottom of the front of the washer
- Open the flap and look for either a drain hose or the cover cap for the drain pump filter
- If you see a hose, withdraw it hold it over a shallow receptacle and open the nozzle to release the dirty water
- Once it stops flowing, turn the cover cap counterclockwise and have a towel ready to collect any water
- Remove the filter and look for obstructions such as coins, small socks, or a build-up of lint that has turned to sludge
- Clean the filter and inspect the filter housing to make sure there is no debris or items stuck there
- Replace the cap and tighten it by turning clockwise, close the service flap, turn the water back on and plug the machine in
When you find a blockage there then this is the source of your washer error so you should be able to clear the error code and start a test wash cycle. If the housing and filter were clear then you will need to check the sump hose and drain pipes.
The drain hose is the flexible corrugated hose that leads the water out of the washing machine and into the drain. Since it is flexible it can get bent and the corrugations can trap debris. You will be able to flush out the drainage hose using a garden hose if you detach it from the machine after draining and bringing it outside.
When the error is cleared you need to direct your attention to the drain pipes that bring the water out of the house. The U-bend piece at the bottom of the pipe collects washer lint and any foreign objects that can block it. Take this off and clear it. If you see any objects then the problem is solved.
If none of these things were clogged or the error code won’t clear after resetting the machine then you likely have a problem with the washer drain pump and it needs a repair from a professional.
Error F20
There is a problem with your washing machine water heater when you see this error code. If your water is not being heated then your laundry isn’t getting fully cleaned. There could be a problem with the washer heater relay and this will require a Miele technician to assess and repair the error.
Error F34
This error code activates when the door cannot be locked. When the washer door can’t be locked then the machine will not start or it will stop in the middle of a cycle if the door comes loose from the lock assembly.
This error could be because there is an obstruction in the assembly or there is a faulty lock. The best thing to do is check it for any obstructions first to see if the washer door is blocked by something. Sometimes the lock latches get dirty so using some rubbing alcohol to clean them off will help the error sensor understand when it is closed properly.
If there is nothing there and the latches are clean then you will need to replace the assembly so look for the right one for your Miele washing machine model.
Final Word
Hopefully, you are able to get your Miele washing machine sorted out without needing to go through most of these instructions for troubleshooting. A washer can be fickle, but usually, they can be sorted out fairly easily after a reset.
