What 44 (SmartDrive) Means
Fault 44 covers SmartDrive phases 2 to 6 and means the module sensed a water level in the bowl while the machine was spinning. F&P attributes it to a slow pump-out caused by a partial blockage in the pump or its hose, and adds a specific check: whether water siphons back when the pump stops at 600 rpm.
Common Causes of 44 (SmartDrive)
- A partial blockage in the pump or drain hose
- A drain hose kinked, compressed, or over-extended
- Water siphoning back into the bowl when the pump stops
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
Unplug the machine and check the drain hose is not kinked or compressed, and that any extension is no longer than one meter. Both are on F&P's own list and both are visible without tools.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- Unplug the machine before the pump is reached, and expect water, since spinning with water in the bowl means it has not drained.
- Spinning a bowl with water still in it loads the suspension unevenly, so repeated attempts do real mechanical damage.
- Reaching the pump from the top means removing the deck and inner bowl, which is not a job to start halfway through a wash.
- A partial blockage clears enough to pass a quick test and then re-forms under full flow, so it has to be removed rather than dislodged.
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.