The F18 error code on an Indesit washing machine means that there has been an internal data error which is a problem with the printed circuit board.
Most of the time this fault can be fixed by performing a hard reset on the machine and restarting the cycle.
This problem can also be caused by faulty wiring inside the machine and poor connections to the circuit board.
It’s important to remember that before you attempt to repair your washing machine you should isolate it from the electrical supply for safety reasons.
This is what you should do if your washing machine has the F18 fault code:
Try resetting the machine
A quick and easy way to fix the F18 error code is to perform a hard reset on your washing machine.
Indesit washing machines don’t have a programmatic reset meaning that isolating the machine from the power and discharging the capacitors will reset the control board.
This is how to reset an Indesit washing machine:
- Turn the control knob to the off position – This is usually the 12 o’clock position on the front of the machine
- Unplug the machine from the power supply – Wait for around 10 minutes so that all of the capacitors on the control board will discharge any power they are holding
- Plug the machine back in and turn the control knob to a short test cycle
If the F18 error goes away after performing a reset, then there’s a good chance that it won’t return any time soon.
If a reset didn’t help in clearing the error code, then you should move on to inspecting the cables and the printed circuit board.
Check the cables
If your washing machine has been moving around while spinning, then it might have caused the cables to come loose or unplug themselves.
You should remove the lid on your washing machine and check the cables that go into the control board.
Most of the electrical parts on a washing machine will feed back to the control board so you may see a lot of cables plugged into the control board.
Make sure that all of the cables are properly pushed into the circuit board and there is nothing obstructing them from being securely fitted.
It’s also a good idea to look out for any signs that the cables might have been damaged from burning or melting.
When an electrical cable carries a high amount of electrical current the chances of them overheating and melting are increased on a washing machine.
If you do find that any of the cables are damaged, then you can either repair them or replace them.
Most Indesit washing machines have all of the spares readily available including the wiring loom which includes all of the cables for your washing machine.
Inspect the control board
If all of the cables seem to be in good working condition, then you should move on to inspecting the control board.
It’s common for control boards to suffer from electrical short circuits if another part of the machine has started to fail.
This can result in the circuit board blowing which damages the electrical tracks on the board and ultimately causes different problems in the machine including error codes.
Take a look at both sides of the control board and look out for any signs of burning or blow marks. If you find any black marks that can’t, be rubbed away then there’s a good chance that the circuit board has failed and needs to be replaced.
It is possible to repair a damaged control board, but it can be quite difficult without the correct equipment and knowledge.
Most of the time you will be better off replacing the control board with a new one as long as it’s economical.
Depending on the model number of your washing machine you might find that replacing the control board is not worth it and opt to replace the machine.
Summary
That’s everything that you need to know about the F18 error code on an Indesit washing machine.
Here is a quick breakdown of everything we have covered:
- Start off by resetting the machine – Most of the time the F18 error code will be fixed by resetting the machine and allowing all of the capacitors on the control board to discharge
- Check all of the cables that are connected to the control board – Make sure that they are all plugged in firmly and there are no signs of damage such as burning or melting
- Inspect the control board for signs of an electrical short circuit – If you find any black marks that can’t be rubbed away then there’s a good chance that the control board has failed and will need to be replaced with a new one
As we mentioned earlier, if you do find that the control board has failed it can be an expensive washing machine repair and it might be better to replace the machine.
Sometimes if the control board has failed it might not be a physical problem but an issue with the programming. This means that the control board needs to be reprogrammed which requires specialist equipment from the manufacturer.
If you need any more information on Indesit washing machine error codes, you can go and take a look at our entire walkthrough of every error and what they mean.
