Error F09 in Ariston washing machine

A washing machine error does not always indicate a mechanical problem - sometimes the problem is caused by electronics. For example, error F09 in an Ariston washing machine informs the user that a firmware failure has occurred, which will require the household appliance to be reflashed. It is very difficult to do this at home, because you need to have special equipment, find download and install working firmware, for which you need to have a perfect understanding of complex technology. Typically, this work is entrusted to specialists from service centers, but if you are confident in your abilities, then this publication is for you.

Determining SM by barcode

Every washing machine has its own barcode, usually located behind the drum door. It is on this label that all the necessary information is indicated in order to successfully repair the CM control module. Usually the sticker indicates:

• model name;
• serial number;
• product code.

The selection of firmware for the “home assistant” must be selected taking into account the data indicated on the official barcode.

The first is the name of the washer, usually written in letters and numbers. At first it may seem like a random set of symbols that have no meaning, but each symbol represents important information, such as the maximum spin speed, the type of load of laundry, and so on. The second is the serial number, which was assigned at the plant where the equipment was produced. Finally, the third is a model of household appliances, interpreted in a number of 11 characters.

Be sure to copy the data from the tag onto a separate sheet or into the smartphone’s memory, this will help you in finding the latest firmware.Transfer the information carefully, because if you make an error, you may download the wrong software.

Finding free firmware

Perhaps the most important thing to do after the F09 fault code appears is to download the appropriate firmware for your equipment. The search on the site is organized in a simple way - just enter the SM model into the search bar without spaces, hyphens and other characters, but taking into account periods, slashes and other characters, if they are in the model designation.

When you enter the data correctly, you need to click on the “Find” button and wait until the portal displays all the options that suit you. Additionally, you should carefully monitor the product code of the machine, because sometimes there are several product code options for the same model of washing machine. It turns out that this code more accurately describes the model of the equipment, which is why when choosing software you should also focus on the code.

This can be very important in a common situation where a site provides two different firmware for the same model of washing machine, but one is designed for a product code above a certain value, and the other below. Be sure to check the firmware information down to each number or letter so as not to accidentally damage your “home assistant” with inappropriate firmware.

Install the firmware

You can update the firmware on a washing machine yourself, but it is extremely difficult. Before you begin this time-consuming process, prepare thoroughly. You should have on hand:

• programmer;
• laptop or desktop computer;
• downloaded software for the washing machine.

A number of washing machines cannot be flashed, as they only require authorized software.This does not apply to Ariston brand equipment, the control units of which can be flashed yourself.

The programmer is needed to connect the control module of the machine to the computer and load the prepared firmware. For our purposes, you can purchase an inexpensive programmer from the Chinese company USBDM.

Also, to reinstall the firmware, you will need to remove the CM control module from the case. What should I do to quickly and painlessly remove the element?

• Disconnect the washing machine from all communications.
• Remove the household chemical dispenser.
• Remove the bolts located behind the powder receptacle.
• Unscrew the screws installed at the end of the control panel.
• Using a slotted screwdriver, carefully release the panel latches.

Be sure to take photographs of dismantling, especially at the stage of disconnecting the wiring, so that later you will have examples of the correct connection of wires and other parts.

• Disconnect the connectors on the control module.
• Remove the part by first removing the clamps.

This completes the partial analysis, all that remains is to change the software. You need to connect two outputs of the programmer to the computer and the CM control module. After this, you can start downloading the device driver.

To be on the safe side, you can also check whether the computer is able to identify the devices that are connected to it. To find out, go to “Start”, and then to the tab where all devices connected to the PC are listed. There you need to find the “USBDM” tab, where the name of the programmer should be correctly indicated. And you can find the control module in the “Target” tab, go to the “Device Selection” subsection and make sure that the correct module number is indicated there.

Now you can proceed to installing the firmware.To do this, download the previously downloaded software to the programmer, as well as the appropriate driver. What to do next to reinstall the firmware on the washing machine?

• Go to the "Target" tab again.
• Load the firmware by clicking the “Load Hex Files” button.
• When the download is complete, launch the newly installed firmware by clicking on “Program Flash”.

Then you just have to wait for the installation to complete. If everything went without any fault codes, then the repair is complete. Reassemble the washing machine according to the instructions in reverse order and run a test cycle to check the operation of the equipment.

Reader comments

• Share your opinion - leave a comment