I have a Miele W1986 Washer purchased in 2003.  No problems with it.  This month I noticed that it is sometimes leaving a lot of water in the FS dispenser.  The water flows through the FS dispenser for the last rinse of every cycle and the dispenser compartment has a tube with a cap which causes the left over water to be siphoned out.

Doesn’t leave water every time, but perhaps every other time the dispenser will be completely full of clear water; sometimes ½ full.   It does this even when the dispenser is empty – no Fs being used in the load.

I’ve cleaned the entire detergent drawer/FS dispenser, the siphon tube and  it’s cap, so everything is clean.

Anyone have any ideas as to why this has just started happening and why it is not a consistent problem?

Thanks for your reply.  During the wash the water comes in, then stops and then the clothes begin to tumble and as you say there are several fills to re-satisfy to the correct level.  But the rinses work differently in that the water comes in, the washer starts to tumble and the water continues to run in while tumbling takes place. Eventually the correct level is reached, the water stops and the tumbling continues, so there has never been any re satisfy for for the rinses. 

All of the left over water  in the dispenser is clear so the FS has been completely flushed out of the dispenser.  It's as if the siphoning just stops for some reason.  Strange, I've had the washer since 2003 and just now this is occurring, and not with all loads, and I can't think of anything I am doing differently.  

Thanks for your reply Andrew. 

I did two loads today.  Before the first one I remembered to check the inlet openings.  I always clean the dispenser but actually have never looked at the ceiling of the compartment that much.  Well...it was so gunked up I couldn't see ANY inlet holes.  I sprayed it down with Simple Green, wiped it with a Dobbie pad, then took a hose with a jet stream and sprayed it out using hot tap water.  The water ran into the tub, so I ran a fine rinse program(two high fill rinses) to clean the tub.  As soon as I started the fine rinse and heard the water running into the dispenser I was shocked.  Such strong water flow.

Anyway with the fine rinse and two loads so far there is nothing left in the FS dispenser.  So you may be SPOT ON with your idea of clogged inlet holes.  The entire dispenser ceiling was just clogged and gunked up.  Embarrassing but the truth.  And oh the washer fills so much faster now.  duh?

Mikeklondon.... Thanks for your reply. Yes I understand because I did all of that with the tube but the problem continued.

I washed another 2 loads today and the FS compartment is completely free of water...so I really am thinking the problem had to do with the feed holes being blocked.  

Will do more loads this weekend so that may help decide what 's going on.

I like the looks of your units.....very nice.

Mikeklondon.... Thanks for your reply. Yes I understand because I did all of that with the tube but the problem continued.

I washed another 2 loads today and the FS compartment is completely free of water...so I really am thinking the problem had to do with the feed holes being blocked.  

Will do more loads this weekend so that may help decide what 's going on.

I like the looks of your units.....very nice.

It's been almost a week and I have used the machine several times.  No more problem with water being left in the FS dispenser so I think the problem was caused by the intake holes being blocked.