I just had to add on from my last post because I get so angry about the " mystique" surrounding washing m/c breakdowns.
I learnt a great deal when i worked for Hoover. Because it is a big lump, people assume there must be lots of complicated stuff going on in there.
One of the worst things that can happen is when the water will not pump out.
This will more than likely be that there is something in the pump, probably a bra bone. The pump is probably the easiest thing to get to. I know this from experience. I fixed my own about 40 years ago.
My OH replaced the bearings for £10. Can you imagin what they would charge for that.