If your washing machine fills, but won’t spin, drain, or wash. Here’s how to fix it. This washer repair tip is for machines that don’t have a lid lock.
Faulty Lid-Switch: How To Replace Your Washer’s Lid Switch
The most likely cause of a washer that fills but won’t wash, drain or spin is a faulty lid switch. The lid switch is a safety switch that shuts off the washer (except for filling) if you open the lid. This is intended to protect you from moving parts. If this switch fails, the washer malfunctions.
Repair Instructions For Whirlpool, Kenmore, and Amana washers from the early 2000s
To repair the washer, unplug its power cord and unscrew the control panel that contains the knobs. The screws are at the back bottom and back top portions of the control panel. You may need a 1/4 inch socket driver as well as a phillips screwdriver to remove them.
Slide the control panel forward and pull upward to lift it. Rest it somewhere safely and you should now see the lid switch. You can test the lid switch for continuity by connecting the probes of a continuity tester to the switch’s wires. If the tester beeps or otherwise indicates that current can pass through freely, then the lid switch isn’t the problem. Note that the lid needs to be closed to conduct this test. If current does not pass through, you can bridge the two wires of the lid switch to turn on the washer, but keep the lid closed for your safety and wear gloves. Bridge the two wires before plugging in the washer, remove your hands from the wires and then try to turn on the machine.
If the machine starts working normally again, then switch it off and unplug it. Unplug the lid switch and detach it from the lid hinge assembly. Take the old lid switch to an appliance parts store to purchase a replacement. These switches often cost less than $20 and are among the most frequent causes of the issue mentioned above. If the solution above doesn’t work for you, then you may need to check if the spindle motor, timer (behind the cycle setting knob), and the wiring are functional.