Why won't my laundry center washer spin?

A broken lid switch or lid lock assembly can prevent the washer on a laundry center from spinning. A faulty drive motor, drive system failure, drain system problem or a control system failure can also prevent the washer from spinning. The following laundry center troubleshooting advice may help you diagnose and fix the problem.

Check the drain system

The washer typically won't spin the load unless the control system detects that the drain pump drained the water from the washer tub.

Follow these steps to check the washer drain system:

1. Open the washer lid and check to see if water drained from the washer.

2. If the tub is full of water, check the house drain for your laundry center for a clog and clear the house drain if clogged.

3. If the house drain for the laundry center is okay, check the drain pump and drain hose for clogs and clear any clogs in the drain system.

4. If the washer's drain system is clear, reassemble the washer and run a cycle without clothes to see if the drain pump runs when activated. If the drain pump doesn't run or the pump motor runs but the pump doesn't drain out the water, then you may need to replace the drain pump.

Check the lid switch or lid lock

If the washer drain system is okay, check the washer lid switch. Many laundry center washers won't spin the load if the lid switch doesn't detect that the washer lid is closed. To check the lid switch, unplug the laundry center and check continuity through the lid switch with the lid closed using a multimeter. Replace the lid switch if the meter measures no continuity through the switch with the washer lid closed.

Some laundry centers use a lid lock assembly to lock the washer lid shut during the spin cycle. The drive motor won't start in the spin mode if the lid lock assembly doesn't detect that the lid is shut and locked. If your laundry center uses a washer lid lock, check to see if the washer lid locks shut during the spin mode. If the lid doesn't lock in the spin mode, then you may need to replace the washer lid lock assembly. If the washer lid locks during the spin mode, then a lock switch on the lid lock assembly may not be detecting that the lid is locked. Unplug the laundry center and check the lid lock switch for continuity with the washer lid locked. Use the wiring diagram as a guide for checking continuity through the lid lock switch. You can typically find the wiring diagram inside the laundry center console (also known as the control panel) or as a page of the parts diagram. Replace the lid lock assembly if you don't measure continuity through the lid lock switch with the lid washer lid locked.

Check the drive system

If you find no problems with the drain system and lid switch or lid lock assembly, then a drive system failure could be preventing the washer from spinning the load. Laundry center washers use various types of drive systems. Some laundry center washers use a direct drive system while others use a belt-drive system to drive the agitator and spin basket.

In a laundry center that uses a direct-drive system to move the agitator and spin basket, a flexible coupling on the motor shaft connects the motor shaft directly to the gearbox input shaft. The flexible coupling protects the drive motor from damage if the gearbox or drive system seizes up. The washer won't spin or agitate if the flexible coupling breaks even though the drive motor runs in both spin and wash modes. You may not notice whether the washer agitates when you discover that the washer isn't spinning, so move the washer timer to the wash mode and see if the agitator moves. If the washer doesn't agitate or spin and the motor runs in both modes, then you'll likely need to replace the flexible coupler.

A failed gearbox or clutch can also prevent a direct-drive laundry center washer from spinning. If the agitator works in the wash mode but the wash basket doesn't spin in the spin mode, then you may need to replace the clutch or the gearbox.

In belt-drive laundry center washers, a worn or broken drive belt can prevent the washer from spinning the load. Unplug the laundry center and check the washer drive belt. Replace the washer drive belt if it's worn or broken. If the drive belt is okay and the belt rotates the gearbox pulley but the gearbox doesn't spin the wash basket, then you may need to replace the gearbox.

If the washer drive system is okay, then a failed drive motor could be preventing laundry center washer from spinning.

Check the control system

For a laundry center that uses a timer to control washer operations, a failed contact in the timer can prevent the timer from sending current to the drive motor in the spin mode. Using the laundry center's wiring diagram as a guide for which timer contact to check, use a multimeter to check for continuity through the timer drive motor contact in the spin mode. Replace the timer if you measure no continuity through the timer's drive motor contact because the timer isn't sending current to the drive motor in the spin mode. You can typically find the wiring diagram as a page of the parts diagram or it the wiring diagram may be stored inside the laundry center control console.

For a laundry center that uses an electronic control board to control washer operations, the control board will typically signal an error code when a component failure prevents the washer from spinning. Use the information in the error code chart to help you diagnose and repair the failure that is causing the error code. Clear the error code and the washer should resume spinning.

If the electronic control board doesn't signal an error code, unplug the laundry center and check the circuit board for a burned spot, indicating a failed control board. Replace the control board if you find a burned spot.

These tips will help you with Whirlpool, Frigidaire, GE and Kenmore laundry center troubleshooting when the washer won't spin.