High pitched washing machine whine?

This topic has 8 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 6 December 2025 at 21:29 by Michael Gilligan.

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6 December 2025 at 14:15 #827926
Andrew Tinsley
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@andrewtinsley63637
My Bosch washing machine is working fine, but it has a loud, harsh, high pitched whine, which varies with the motor speed. It isn’t motor or drum bearings as I have checked these out. I strongly suspect that there is a component which is vibrating in the motor inverter circuit.

Not being a washing machine expert, is this a likely explanation? If it is a possibility, I would like to find the component before it fails! Are there any other likely explanations for this weird sound?

Regards,

Andrew.
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6 December 2025 at 14:32 #827929
bernard towers
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@bernardtowers37738
cooling fan?
6 December 2025 at 14:43 #827930
MichaelR
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@michaelr
Have you checked the drive belt
6 December 2025 at 14:47 #827931
John Haine
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@johnhaine32865
Some modern machines dispense with the drive belt. Probably is the inverter has it just started?
6 December 2025 at 15:06 #827933
IanT
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@iant
Our Bosch washing machine had a problem like that earlier this year. It started with the belt rubbing somewhere I think (it’s hard to see everything) and then coming off twice whilst on high spin. I tried a new belt but it didn’t stay on for long – a couple of washes. Decided it was just worn out after 11 years of regular use but as it didn’t owe us anything, I decided to get a new one.

I’d pulled the machine in & out and had the lid off quite a few times by then. They are heavy and not really designed to be easily repaired. It seemed wiser to just give up before I managed to damage my back again!

Regards,

IanT
6 December 2025 at 16:35 #827948
Andrew Tinsley
Participant
@andrewtinsley63637
No fan on this one as far as I can see and certainly not drive belt Had this off to check drum and motor bearings and it was fine.

I am pretty sure the noise is coming from the invertor, it doesn’t sound in the least bit mechanical. I am tempted to use some potting compound on the board, should quieten it down of it is the inverter.

Andrew.
6 December 2025 at 17:19 #827954
Howard Lewis
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@howardlewis46836
Are the screws securing the inverter board tight?

Not in the same league, but my mill started making a buzzing noise.

Tightening the securing screws of the Control Switch cured the problem.

The energy from the AC mains, being converted into slight mechanical movement and so into sound.

Howard
6 December 2025 at 18:34 #827962
Andrew Tinsley
Participant
@andrewtinsley63637
Now that would be a simple fix Howard! I must admit that I have not probed as far as the inverter board as yet!

It started at a low sound level about 6 months ago and rapidly rose to its present loudness. It is about time I made an effort to make it silent once more.

Andrew.
6 December 2025 at 21:29 #827987
Michael Gilligan
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@michaelgilligan61133
If this is representative of the build-quality, then I think Howard may be onto something !

https://buyandrepair.com/inverter-technology-for-bosch-siemens-washing-machines-part-nr-bsh-11032423/

MichaelG.
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