What 231 (SmartDrive) Means
Fault 231 is a Phase 6 code that F&P explains in one sentence: a part has failed on the display board. The MW and GW in its name are the model prefixes the code applies to, and the documented action is replacement of the display module.
Common Causes of 231 (SmartDrive)
- A failed part on the display board
- Damage from a supply surge reaching the console
- Age-related failure of the console electronics
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
Unplug for five minutes and restore power once. A display board that fails its own check will report the same error again immediately.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- Unplug the machine before the console is opened, as the display board sits on a mains-fed harness.
- Display and motor control modules are separate parts here, and the cheaper of the two is the one this code names - which makes correct identification worth the diagnostic time.
- Console boards are static-sensitive and can be damaged in handling before they are ever connected.
- Fisher & Paykel no longer supplies washers to the US market, so a display module has to be matched by exact reference rather than by appearance.
Opening a panel to inspect or repair something yourself doesn't automatically cancel your manufacturer's warranty — but it can risk accidental damage, and some manufacturers do have specific service conditions. Check your product's warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.