The washing machine does not spin: how to find the cause and solution

The washing machine washes and rinses properly, but does not want to spin the clothes? Of course, you can wring out the laundry yourself, but this is not a way out. If the machine does not turn on the spin cycle, this is the first warning of a breakdown, which may worsen without diagnosis.

Why problems with spinning occur and how to fix the problem, read the article.

Causes and signs of failure

How to understand that the washing machine does not go into spin mode? Signs indicating a malfunction:

The program has ended, but the water remains in the drum. No drain.
You remove wet items from the drum that have not been wrung out.
The drainage of water is very noisy.
The water drains normally, but the laundry is not wrung out.
The spin cycle works every once in a while, the machine does not respond to the set parameters.
The washer hums as if it is spinning, but it doesn’t.
The water drains very slowly.

These are the main signs that you should pay attention to if the machine does not switch to spin.

What could be the reasons that the washing machine is broken and does not spin out the laundry completely? There are technical faults that require diagnosis and repair:

Problems with the drain pump . If the washing machine has stopped spinning, the drain may not be working, so the water simply has nowhere to go.
The level sensor is malfunctioning . If the sensor breaks down, the electronic board does not receive a signal about the amount of water in the tank, and therefore does not send a signal to drain.
The control module or its triacs are faulty. Each triac is responsible for the operation of a specific part in an automatic washing machine. Therefore, if it burns out, the board cannot control or issue commands.
Malfunction of the electric motor . The brushes could wear out or the wiring could burn out. If there are problems with the operation of the motor, the drum will not rotate fast enough for a high-quality spin. Or the machine will not work at all.
, which controls the number of engine revolutions, does not work Signs of failure are the same as in the previous case.

If a semi-automatic machine without a centrifuge does not spin by itself, then a broken automatic machine shifts this responsibility to you. You shouldn't put up with this. Carry out a thorough inspection and diagnostics of LG, Samsung, Indesit, Kandy and other models of washing machines.

Read on to find out where to start checking.

Incorrect use of programs

Most often, the spin function can be disabled due to inattention. The situation is as follows: a program was turned on, which included spinning, but when the laundry was completely washed, it turned out to be wet.

The reason for this may be that the spin was deactivated before the wash started.

Also, very often many people use programs designed, for example, for gentle washing of silk or woolen items. They do not provide for spinning clothes so that the clothes are not damaged.

To solve this problem, just carefully study the instructions for the washing machine. And next time, choose the right program or turn on the spin cycle.

What to do if the washing machine does not spin

Before you do anything or start repairs, you need to make sure that the problem is broken. Perhaps you simply turned off the spin, so the machine does not finish the program.

Look at the control panel; perhaps the no-spin mode is accidentally turned on, or the delicate wash program is set, in which there is no spin. Then you need to set the normal washing mode and adjust the number of revolutions.

Top-loading washing machines may react to an overload of laundry. Also, with a small number of things, an imbalance could occur, when all the laundry gets bunched up into one lump, and the work of the SMA stops. In this case, the washer may try to spin the drum several times, after which it stops. You need to open the door and remove excess clothing or distribute it throughout the drum.

Modern machines are equipped with the “Imbalance Protection” function. Therefore, such problems occur in older models.

If you have checked all the options, but the SMA still does not turn on the spin mode, then proceed to diagnose the parts.

When draining

If the Bosch, Ardo, Ariston or Zanussi SMAs stop and do not drain water, the reason must be sought in the drain pump. There may also be a situation when the machine drains the water, but does not spin it out. There may still be some water left in the drum, which is why the spin cycle does not work.

What do we have to do:

There is a drain hatch at the bottom of the front hull.
Release the hatch latches and open the door.
Place the container and remove the filter.
To check the pump impeller, run the spin or drain mode.
Shine a flashlight into the hatch hole and check if the impeller is spinning.
If it does not spin, you need to disassemble the pump.

The drain pipe is checked at the same time as the pump. Depending on the model of the washing machine (“Atlant”, “Whirlpool”, “Veko”, “Gorenye”) you can access the pump through the bottom, front or back of the case. We wrote more about this in previous articles.

Unclench the clamp of the pipe from the tank to the pump, disconnect it and check for blockages.
Then disconnect the pump wiring and its mountings.
Inspect the structure for debris; there may be something wrapped around the impeller.

If the pipe is clogged, the machine may hum, but not press, trying to drain the water. After installing the parts in place, check the operation of the machine. If the spin does not start again, replace the pump completely.

When washing

When the machine washes but does not spin, the problem may be in the washer motor. In this case, spinning is simply impossible, or it passes, but too weakly.

Remove the rear housing and pull out the motor for inspection.
Take out the electric brushes, which are located on both sides of the case.
If they are worn out, replace them with new ones.
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Also check the wiring for signs of burnout and test the coils with a multimeter.

If the motor coils are not working, you will not be able to perform repairs yourself. The engine needs to be completely replaced.

If the drum is not working well

If the SMA drum does not spin up or gain the proper speed, the reason is the Hall sensor. The device monitors the engine, but if it breaks, the engine may run erratically. The drum can spin, but not spin out the laundry, because it does not develop the required speed.

To check the tachometer, you need to remove the engine as described above. The device is located on the motor housing. If the sensor breaks, it cannot be repaired; it must be replaced with a new part.

If the wash is finished, there are no errors on the display, but the laundry is wet

In this case there are several reasons:

The speed is set to low (from 800 to 1000). Some device models cannot produce high-quality spins at low settings.
Underweight. When washing one or more small items, spinning is difficult. It is recommended to fill the drum at least half of its required weight.
Washing bulky laundry. When placing bedding in the bin, it often clumps or gets tangled during the spin cycle, so it remains damp.

The washing machine does not open the door

If the water level sensor malfunctions, the system does not receive a signal to start draining water. Therefore, the machine does not press or open. In order to open the door and remove the laundry, you need to drain the water through the filter. Then wait until the lock is unlocked and open the door.

How to check the pressure switch (level sensor)? In all SM models “Ariston Hotpoint”, “Electrolux”, “Siemens”, “Daewoo”, “Atlant” the device is located under the top cover.

Remove the two screws from the back.
Move the cover away from you and remove it from the body.
You will notice a pressure switch near the wall.
Disconnect its tubes and check for blockages.
The device itself is checked with a multimeter. Its probes are applied to the contacts of the device, and the indicators are measured.

If the sensor is faulty, install a new device.

Failure of the pressure switch (water level sensor)

A pressure switch is a special sensor that determines the water level in the washing machine and also controls its quantity. It is possible to understand that the problem is in the pressure switch by the following signs:

The wash cycle has already begun, but water is not being collected;
During washing, the machine picks up too much or, conversely, too little liquid;
Water remains in the drum even after the wash cycle has completed. As a result, the laundry remains wet. Unfortunately, in the event of a serious breakdown, it is impossible to repair the pressure switch at home. This part is calibrated at the factory. However, you can replace the spare part yourself by purchasing the required one in the store. To do this you need:

unscrew the top panel and carefully remove the cover - the sensor is located at the top of the washing machine on the side;
disconnect the pressure switch by unscrewing the bolts and disconnecting the tube and contacts;
connect the new device and assemble everything in reverse order.

More detailed information is in the article: Water level sensor in a washing machine repair and replacement

After this, you need to check the device by running a washing cycle on the machine. If you do everything correctly, the problem will be fixed.

Spin does not turn off

Problems with the control module in the washing machine can result in the drum not stopping and the spin cycle not turning off. After such revolutions the car simply freezes. It may also be that the SMA squeezes, rinses, but does not wash. Or vice versa - it washes, but does not rinse.

All these signs indicate problems with the “brain” of SMA, so it begins to work incorrectly.

You can only visually inspect the control board yourself. It is better to entrust basic diagnostics and repairs to professionals.

Unplug the washing machine.
Remove the top cover.
Pull out the dispenser tray. Pull it towards you, pressing the latch in the center.
Remove the screws securing the control panel.
Release the plastic latches and remove the panel.
Release the wiring.
To remove the board, also release the latches.

If no signs of damage are found on the surface of the board, contact the service center.

Malfunctions requiring specialist assistance

There are some malfunctions that it is not recommended to fix on your own without special training and knowledge. There is a high probability of damage to other elements.

What to entrust to the service center masters:

tachometer repair;
diagnostics of pressure switch;
engine repair;
reflashing the control module or replacing the stabilizer.

In the video, the author explains how to solve the spin problem in an Indesit brand washing machine.

How to avoid breakdown

It is always better to prevent a breakdown than to repair it later. Moreover, the operating rules are simple:

Before loading laundry into the drum, check all pockets and remove foreign objects.
Install and connect the machine correctly according to the instructions.
Sort your items before washing. Place clothes with decorations in special bags.
Do not load too much laundry. This leads to rapid wear of the washing machine and poor quality washing.
Install a voltage stabilizer. It will protect expensive equipment from sudden breakdown.
Clean the drain filter and detergent dispenser periodically.
Do not close the hatch door after removing the laundry. This promotes the formation of fungus and mold.

Now you know why the drum in a washing machine may not spin and wring out clothes. Be attentive to the first signs of damage, then you will be able to avoid expensive repairs.

Bearing failure

The drum of any model of washing machine rotates due to the bearing. If the bearing seal becomes unusable, a number of problems arise due to moisture getting there. Including the spin function is disrupted. You can understand that the problem of failure lies in the bearing by the following signs:

The washing process is accompanied by extraneous sounds. This may be a hum, crunching, crackling or metallic grinding sound.
During spinning or working at high speeds, an uncharacteristic whistle is heard.
The car begins to jump strongly, the amplitude of rotation of the tank increases.
The drum begins to wobble a lot (play).
The quality of laundry spinning deteriorates.

If the cause of the failure lies in a faulty bearing, it is necessary to replace it in a timely manner. Otherwise, operating a faulty machine will lead to more serious problems. To replace a bearing, you must follow the following algorithm:

Be sure to disconnect the device from the power supply and turn off the water supply tap.
After this, unscrew the back and top panels. Then carefully remove the control module and dispenser.
Remove the heating element and other parts that prevent you from reaching the motor.
Remove the motor and pull out the drum.
Then remove the tank and take out the bearing. To do this, you will have to make an effort. Use a hammer and screwdriver.
Install a new oil seal and reassemble the machine.