Many people love having a washing machine in their homes. A few things can, however, go wrong with your washing machine, and when they do, you can find that it isn’t operating correctly or, worse yet, not operating at all.
Do you have a Whirlpool washer that won’t start or is locked? This is a fairly typical Whirlpool washer machine issue. This article will offer a solution to lower your number of journeys to the repair shop.
Whirlpool Washer Locked and Won’t Turn On: Troubleshoot and Diagnosis
Things may get quite stressful when your washing machine breaks down. This is why you want an efficient solution to help your Whirlpool washing machine to operate correctly for as long as possible.
Do not attempt to force open the door of your locked Whirlpool washer. Find one of the causes below, then address it.
Control Lock is Active
Why is your Whirlpool washer locked? Control Lock is an optional setting on a Whirlpool washing machine. This setting allows you to lock the start and cycle buttons and prevent changes to your Whirlpool functions.
The Control Lock button on the washer’s control panel has frequently been mistakenly engaged. The washer’s functionality is inhibited when Control Lock is activated, making it impossible to switch the washer on or off or react to other buttons.
The Lock Control feature on your Whirlpool washer can be turned off in several ways. For information on how to deactivate your specific model, consult your user manual.
LC or LoC won’t be shown on your washer’s control panel once Lock Control has been successfully disabled.
Reset the Washer
Sadly, Whirlpool washers occasionally lock up.
If this happens to your washer, you must unplug it, wait 45 minutes, and then plug it back in.
This will reset the Whirlpool control panel and programming, letting the door lock reopen.
The Drum Still Contains Water
There is still water in the drum if the washer is still locked. To empty a front-loading washer, you must perform a drain cycle. If there is a clog, you will need to drain it physically.
Do not worry! The drain hose can usually be accessed through a small hatch on the front of a front-loading washer.
Pressure Switch Hose Blockage
The pressure switch keeps an eye on the water level in the washer drum and shuts off the motor if there is too much water usage.
This switch may become faulty and prevent the washer from draining correctly if it is subjected to damaging lint and residue. Cleaning your washer regularly is crucial, especially around the hose and where the major electrical components are situated. Damaged hoses should also be replaced as soon as possible.
Unlock the Whirlpool Washer Manually
If your door is locked, try using a flathead screwdriver to unlock it. First, ensure the machine is not spinning by looking through the door.
If the screwdriver fits between the door and the washer, turn the latch clockwise until it comes to a halt. Your door should now be unlocked, allowing you to open it.
A Faulty Lid Switch
Your washer’s door not closing is typically caused by a faulty switch. Fortunately, you can do this repair yourself because most of these switches are easy to replace.
Below are the steps on how to repair a faulty lid switch:
- Unplug your washer.
- Find the lid; if you’re uncertain how to, go to your manual.
- Once you’ve located it, make sure it’s not loose and that it is properly aligned. If not, realign it and test to see if the issue has been resolved.
- Remove the switch from the washer if it is correctly aligned so that you can check to see if electricity is still flowing through it.
- If you use a multimeter to test this and detect continuity, the switch is functioning correctly.
- The next step is to return it to place. The switch must be changed if there is no continuity. After being replaced, verify that the door lock is functional. If not, proceed on to the following section.
Faulty Actuator Switch
The Whirlpool washer actuator motor is one of your appliance’s most vital parts. Your washing machine may experience various issues if the motors’ parts are damaged or worn out.
Your washer won’t be able to open or close its door, which is a safety, concern if the cables connecting to these essential components are loose or misaligned.
Turn on your washing machine and listen to a loud grinding noise from the actuator before using a multimeter to test for a defective washer actuator motor. If noise can be heard, the motor is damaged. You’ll have to get a new one. If there is no sound, unplug the device and look for the actuator motor (follow your manual).
Once you locate it, confirm that all cables are firmly connected. Next, check the motor’s continuity with a multimeter. If there is continuity, the motor is operating correctly, and you may move on to testing the drain pump for issues. You will need to replace the motor, though, if there is no continuity when you test it.
A Defective Drain Pump
There are a few potential reasons why the door of your Whirlpool washing machine won’t unlock. Your washer’s power supply might have unexpectedly failed, or your drain pump can be blocked or malfunctioning.
Even if you can hear the rest of the machine operating regularly, the door may lock and stay locked when any of these situations occur.
Below is how to diagnose a Whirlpool washer pump
Before continuing, you should confirm that the washer’s electricity is still off.
Next, locate your drain pump
Inspect the impellers of the drain pump to make sure they can spin freely (like a fan). If not, this is a strong indication that there is a problem with the motor. Utilize a multimeter to test the motor.
Test the Whirlpool washer’s drain pump motor. The pump motor is operating correctly if the circuit already has continuity, as determined by a multimeter. If not, a replacement will be required. Next, check to see if your problem has been resolved after replacing the pump motor.
Faulty Control Board
Your washer’s primary control board is most likely broken if you have difficulty unlocking the door.
Depending on how old your washer is, this can be very expensive and might not be worth the repair.