Fisher & Paykel Washer Error Code 252

Error code 252 on a Fisher & Paykel washer indicates a bridge test failure within the Motor Control Module (MCM). During startup or operation, the MCM performs a self-diagnostic test on the motor bridge circuit, which is the set of switching electronics (typically IGBT or MOSFET transistors arranged in an H-bridge or three-phase bridge configuration) responsible for controlling current flow to the drive motor. When this test detects current flowing through the bridge when all switching elements should be off and no current should be present, the MCM flags error 252 and halts operation to prevent damage.

The root cause of this fault is almost always internal to the Motor Control Module itself. A failed or shorted switching transistor within the bridge circuit is the most likely culprit, as a shorted transistor will allow current to pass even when the control logic commands it to be fully off. This condition can result from overheating, voltage spikes, or component fatigue over time. Because the MCM continuously monitors this circuit as part of its protection routines, even a partial or intermittent short will reliably trigger the error.

Because the bridge electronics are integrated into the Motor Control Module as a single assembly, individual transistors within the bridge are not serviceable separately in the field. The diagnostic path leads directly to replacing the Motor Control Module. Before replacement, it is worth confirming that wiring between the MCM and the motor is intact and free of shorts to ground or between phases, as an external wiring fault could in theory produce unexpected current readings, though internal MCM failure is by far the most common cause.