Wascomat Washer Error Code 45: Motor Not Following
Code 45 means the motor control gets no rotation feedback from the tacho sensor. The motor may turn for at most about 10 seconds at start before the code is set. A technician should check the tacho cables, the sensor and the motor control.
High: the motor control stops the drum without rotation feedback, and the washer will not run.
What does Wascomat error 045 / motor not following mean?
The motor control needs to know that the motor is really turning, and it learns this from pulses from a tacho sensor on the motor. At start, the motor may turn for at most about 10 seconds without feedback. If no rotation feedback arrives by then, the control sets ERROR 045 / MOTOR NOT FOLLOWING. This is a loss of feedback, not a mismatch between a commanded and actual speed. The manual lists five causes: a break in the cables between the tacho sensor and the motor control, a break in connectors in the tacho cables, a break in one motor phase, a failed tacho generator, and a problem in the tacho circuits of the motor control. The remedy is to review the FC error logger, which holds the code 45 counter, the last 8 codes and the tacho cut-out counters, and to replace the defective part.
Affected models and control systems
Wascomat washer-extractors W465H-W4300H, W475S-W4330S and W475N-W4330N with the Compass Control and its motor control (MCU).
Code numbers and their meaning can change between control generations. We match the full model and control before acting on a code.
What you may notice
- ERROR 045 / MOTOR NOT FOLLOWING appears seconds after the drum is commanded to turn
- You hear the motor hum or twitch but the drum barely moves
- The code appears at start every time
- The drum turns for a moment and then the cycle stops
Possible causes
Listed in Wascomat's documentation
- Break in cables between tacho sensor and motor control
- Break in connectors in tacho cables
- Break in one motor phase
- Failed tacho generator
- Problem in tacho circuits of motor control
Other likely causes — what usually sits behind error 045 / motor not following on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- A belt or drum jam that stops the motor from turning at all
- A tacho magnet or sensor loosened so it no longer produces pulses
Safe checks before calling for service
- Switch the machine off at the disconnect and wait a minute.
- Check the drum for a jammed item, such as an object caught between drum and tub, if visible.
- Restart a short program and note whether the drum moves at all.
- Write down what you hear at start and how many seconds pass before the code, then call us.
How a technician diagnoses error 045 / motor not following
- Read the code and the FC error logger: code 45 counter, last 8 codes and tacho cut-out counters.
- Check that the drum turns freely by hand with the power off.
- Inspect the tacho cables and connectors for breaks.
- Measure the three motor phase resistances for a broken phase.
- Check the tacho generator output and magnet.
- Replace the defective cable, sensor, motor or motor control.
- The tacho and phase tests mean measuring in the motor connector and control with power nearby.
- Telling a broken phase from a bad tacho needs a meter and the logger counters.
- A mechanically jammed drum needs the correct procedure to clear safely.
How error 045 / motor not following differs from similar codes
Code 54 TACHO, NO SET SIGNAL and code 58 SET SIGNAL NO TACHO are the DLCU's versions of the tacho check, while code 45 comes from the motor control.
Technical reference
- Maker documentation
- Wascomat owner support
- Edition
- 438 9228-61/EN, 2011.08.25
- Models / control
- Compass Control W-series washer-extractors (MCU motor control)
- Section
- Troubleshooting, Description of error codes and causes (manual pp. 108-138)
- Checked
- October 2026
We use the maker's document to read the code and do not reproduce it. Always confirm the complete model and control before applying these steps.
Related Wascomat washer error codes
Does code 45 mean the motor is too slow?
No. It means the motor control received no rotation feedback from the tacho.
Can the motor be fine?
Yes. A cable, connector or tacho problem can trigger it even when the motor itself is good.
What does the logger tell us?
The code 45 counter, the last 8 codes and the tacho cut-out counters show whether the problem is steady or intermittent.
Need help with Wascomat error 045 / motor not following?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.