Error F3 in the Atlant washing machine

error F3 on SM Atlant The Atlant washing machine is not the most reliable equipment; according to statistics from service centers, breakdowns with machines of this cheap brand happen quite often. The machine reports any breakdown of the internal unit in the form of a code that can occur at any stage of the wash. For example, error f3 in the Atlant washing machine occurs regardless of the program, but washing can continue. What does this code mean and how to fix the problem?

Explanation and reasons

The Atlant washing machine issues code F3 if the water in the tank is not heated. On machines without a display, in a similar situation, the third and fourth drain indicators light up. The reasons why the water may not heat up are as follows:

the most obvious one that comes to mind is heater failure. Over time, the heating element fails and burns out; one of the reasons for this may be scale and limescale;
faulty wiring in the area between the heater and the control module;
failure of elements on the electronic module.

Replacing the heating element

Replace the heating element in washing machine Atlant even a beginner can do it. There is nothing complicated in this work, the main thing is to buy original spare parts. It is best to do this after you are sure that the heating element is faulty. Prepare a flathead screwdriver and a wrench and get to work:

turn off the water supply valve to the machine tank;
disconnect equipment from the network, drain and water supply;
turn the back of the machine towards you for ease of operation;
open the back panel by unscrewing the bolts around the perimeter;
disconnect the wires from the heating element;

You can take a photo of the location of the wires so as not to make a mistake when connecting.
check the serviceability of the part using a multimeter;
After making sure that the heating element has burned out, unscrew the nut on the bolt with a wrench and press the bolt inward, you can gently hit it with a hammer;
using a flat screwdriver, pry the base of the heating element and pull it out of the hole;
install the new part, carefully adjusting the rubber seal with a screwdriver to heat it tightly into place;
assemble the machine and check how it works.

Electrical and electronics testing

After opening access to the washing machine heater and making sure that the heating element is working, do not rush to assemble the equipment. You can immediately start checking the wires and their contacts. To do this, take a multimeter and ring each of them one by one, in some cases the whole problem lies in oxidized contacts, just clean them and everything will be solved.

Lastly, when error F3 is displayed, check the electronic module; it is located at the bottom of the machine closer to the back wall (but not on all models). As you can see, by opening the back of the case, you will provide access to three elements at once: the heating element, the electrics and the module. It is easy to remove the module from the car; you just need to disconnect the chips and wires from it. But then it’s better to give this module to a specialist for testing than to try to find something you don’t know on your own.

An experienced technician can easily find a burnt-out triac, which is responsible for the operation of the heating element. But if you are interested in what it looks like, let’s look at the example of boards 521xx, 5522xx, 5524xx for the Atlant washing machine. In the figure below, pin 3 of the J1 connector is marked in red; a heating element with a 6.35 mm terminal is connected to it.

Atlant scheme

For your information! The maximum power of the heating element that is installed on the Atlant washing machine is 2.2 kW at 230 V.

So, first of all, you need to check the J1 connector on the board; if necessary, the element is soldered to a working one. But we would recommend that you entrust this work to a master, especially if you have never encountered this before. Good luck!