Laundry Center: Why won't my laundry center's washer agitate or spin?

A failed lid switch or lid lock assembly can prevent the washer from agitating and spinning. A bad drive motor, broken motor coupler, failed timer or a bad electronic control board can also cause this problem.

If the washer doesn't start to agitate after the tub fills with water, a failed lid switch or bad lid lock assembly could be preventing the motor from running. Control systems in laundry centers vary so some laundry center washers will agitate without the lid locked, but the washer drive motor will stop if you lift the washer lid. Some laundry center washers will continue to agitate if you lift the lid but won't spin if the lid isn't shut and/or locked. Refer to the wiring diagram for your laundry center to determine how the lid switch or lid lock assembly controls current supply to the washer drive motor during agitation and spin modes. You can typically find the wiring diagram in the laundry center console (also known as the control panel) or as a page of the parts list diagram. If the lid switch or lid lock assembly prevents the washer drive motor from running in both agitation and spin modes, unplug the laundry center and use a multimeter to check continuity through the lid switch or lid lock assembly with the washer lid closed and/or locked. Replace the lid switch or lid lock assembly if the meter doesn't measure continuity through the lid switch or lid lock assembly with the lid closed and/or locked.

If the lid switch or lid lock assembly is okay, then a bad timer or failed electronic control board may not be sending current to the drive motor, preventing the washer from agitating or spinning.

If the washer in your laundry center uses a timer to control washer functions, unplug the laundry center and check for continuity through the timer contacts that send current to the drive motor during the spin and agitation modes. Use the wiring diagram for your laundry center as a guide for which contact spades to check on the timer. If your meter doesn't measure continuity through the timer's drive motor contacts, replace the timer.

If your laundry center uses an electronic control board to manage washer operations, then the electronic control board will typically signal an error code when the control board detects a part failure that prevents the washer motor from running. If the control signals an error code, look up the information for the code on the error code chart for your laundry center. Once you find and repair the cause of the error code, the washer drive motor should run.

If the electronic control board doesn't signal an error code when the motor doesn't run, unplug the laundry center and check the control board for a burned spot. Replace the electronic control board if you find a burned spot because that indicates a circuit board failure.

If the timer or electronic control board sends current to the washer drive motor but the drive motor doesn't run, then you may need to replace the washer drive motor.