Replacing a washing machine lock on an Indesit hatch, LG, Bosch, Samsung, Ariston door

Each washing machine these days, for safe operation and in order not to flood the neighbors, is equipped with an electric locking mechanism. The lock is located on the hatch of the machine. In this article we will consider the issue in detail replacing the washing machine hatch lock. We will answer many questions about how to make a replacement on machines from such common manufacturers as Indesit, LG, Zanussi, Bosch, Samsung, Ariston, Siltal, as well as their analogues.

Lock

Purpose of the locking mechanism

The primary purpose of the locking mechanism is to lock the handle when washing. The moment you enter the selected program on the control panel and press the “start” button, a voltage signal is sent to the electronic locking mechanism and it is locked. It remains in this closed state until a signal is received from the water level sensor (pressure switch) that there is no water in the machine and the washing is finished. After a short time the electronic lock will open.

This is done only for safety reasons; you can imagine a situation where a washing machine is washing at a temperature of 90 degrees, at which time a child comes up to it, pulls the door handle, and it opens, the consequences are sad.

Signs of malfunction of the UBL or door lock elements

The exact answer about the causes of problems is given by a professional diagnosis of SMA by a master. But there are indirect signs that indicate a possible breakdown of the hatch locking device or the lock elements on the SM door. RemBytTech engineers have compiled them into the list below:

The door closes but does not lock. When closing, only the lock tongue clicks; the UBL mechanism does not click. Therefore, the wash cycle does not start when you press the “Start” button.
The door does not open after finishing the wash . During the previous wash or at the beginning of the current one, there was a smell of burnt plastic or insulation. After finishing the wash, the machine did not open the hatch either immediately or an hour later, even in a completely de-energized state.

The washing machine hatch does not close. There is no click of the lock when closing, and the door does not lock. Or the lock tongue does not physically fit into the UBL hole.

Attention! Similar “symptoms” may appear with other malfunctions. Therefore, you need to diagnose the car in any case. Because the door lock may be broken, for example, due to a breakdown of the electronic controller (control module), which cannot be detected without diagnostics.

Reasons for blocking the locking mechanism

There are several reasons why the locking mechanism is blocked; let’s look at the most common:

Locking the electronic locking mechanism when washing. This blocking is natural; it is included in the washing machine program (described above);
Locking the electronic locking mechanism after washing is natural and prevents injuries due to the high temperature of the drum;
Blocking the electronic locking mechanism during a power outage is also natural and prevents water from leaking out if water remains in the machine during a power outage;
Blocking of the electronic locking mechanism of the hatch due to a breakdown is classified as problematic and is divided into the following breakdowns: the handle is not working properly; the electronic locking mechanism has failed; electronics are faulty.

Calling a specialist: where to find and how much will it cost?

If you don’t have the time or opportunity to replace the handle yourself, it is recommended to call a professional. You can find a company that specializes in repairing household appliances on the Internet.

It is better to give preference to those companies that have been operating in the market for a long time and value the opinions of customers. This approach to choosing a specialist will help you avoid falling for scammers.

The average cost of work may vary by city and region. The price for the part is not included in the repair price and must be paid separately .

Sometimes it happens that replacing one part does not end the repair. If, along the way, faults are discovered in the device that require elimination, the cost of repairs increases.

In the capital, the average cost of minor repairs is:

replacement of the hatch handle – from 1,300 rubles;
door hinge replacement – from 1,200 rubles;
replacement of sunroof glass – from 1,300 rubles;
replacement of the entire hatch – from 1,200 rubles;
opening a hatch without repairs – from 1,000 rubles.

After troubleshooting, the technician provides a guarantee for the work performed.

Method No. 1

Suitable for cars where the door lock latch (pin) closes outwards. In this case, we will need a thin rope, fishing line or just a metal ruler. We wrap a fishing line or rope around the door and press the latch, the door should open, the same can be done with a metal ruler. We push a ruler under the door from the handle side and look for the latch, after finding it we press on it and the door will open.

Open by de-energizing

Sometimes the machine malfunctions and you can open the door by simply turning off the power. We disconnect the unit from electricity, and then turn it on again. It is recommended to wait 1-2 minutes between removing and putting the plug back into the socket. If this does not help right away, then you can also try again turning on some “fast” mode, for example, spin. Most likely, upon completion, the door will open.

Replacing the locking mechanism

So, now we come to the main part of the article: replacing the lock on the washing machine door.

Step #1. We identify the reason for the blocking. Using the reasons listed above, we identify ours and see if it is a natural reason or a breakdown.

Step #2. Disconnect the car from the power supply.

Step #3. We are repairing the locking mechanism.

To remove the electronic lock from a door:

you need to open the car door;
we find a ring made of steel wire that tightly compresses the cuff, now we need to take a thin screwdriver and carefully pick it up; after we have picked up the ring, we pull it out;
unscrew the two bolts securing the locking mechanism, then pull the cuff in the area of the locking mechanism to the side, put your hand under the cuff and pull it out;
disconnect the electrical supply terminal from the locking mechanism;
we replace the locking mechanism with a similar one or carry out repairs, due to the fact that the most common reason for the breakdown of the locking mechanism is burnt contacts and failure of the so-called “tablet”, it will be easier to replace the locking mechanism with a new one.

In the same sequence, only in reverse order, we collect all the parts.

We put the locking mechanism in place and fasten it with two bolts;
Install the rubber cuff into the groove;
Place the ring on the cuff and tighten it tightly;

We check the performance of our machine and rejoice, replacing the lock on an Indesit washing machine was discussed using an example, in step-by-step instructions, replacing the lock on a Zanussi ZWS 1030 washing machine is done by analogy.

Replacing the door latch mechanism

Now, after you have learned how to change the locking mechanism, it is worth taking a closer look at replacing the handle located on the door; the handle has a direct impact on the locking mechanism, and if the handle breaks, then you can also think about breaking the locking mechanism.

To remove the washing machine door, you must:

Unscrew the bolts securing the door to the car;
Remove and place on the floor for ease of use;
Unscrew all the bolts around the perimeter of the door;
Disconnect the door flanges; remove the glass with extreme caution so as not to accidentally break it.

Now we get to the handle or, in other words, to the door latch mechanism. Now you can safely inspect it, and if necessary, replace it with a new one. Now we replace the door latch mechanism with a new one and install the glass in place.

We install the flanges in the reverse order, after which we tighten the bolts into place and screw the door into place where it is attached to the machine. Replacing the lock on an LG washing machine is done in exactly the same way as the example of step-by-step instructions for an Indesit machine discussed above.

How to change?

A broken handle prevents you from using the washing machine normally. In order for the door to open, the broken part must be removed and a new one installed in its place. You will need a set of screwdrivers for this work.

Removing the part from the washer door

Before you begin to remove the handle that has become unusable, you must turn off the electricity and water supply. Algorithm for further actions:

Remove the hatch door. To do this, you need to open it and unscrew a couple of screws from the inside that hold it on its hinges.
Place the removed door on a horizontal plane with the convex part of the glass facing up.
Unscrew the bolts that connect both parts of the hatch.
Using a screwdriver (or a dull knife) release the latches that hold the plastic halves together. They run along the entire circumference.
Unfasten the plastic from the hatch.
Remove the sunroof glass.
Use a screwdriver to push the pin that holds the mechanism in place.
Disassemble the remaining handle fastening elements.

After some of the plastic and glass of the door are removed, you need to photograph the internal structure on both sides. This is necessary in order not to make mistakes during the assembly process and installation of the new handle.

Installation

After disassembling and removing the old handle, you can proceed to carefully installing the new part. Assembly is carried out in the reverse order of dismantling. If you have doubts about the correctness of your actions, you should check previously taken photographs, clarifying the position of all structural parts.

Procedure:

install the spring;
install the lock;
insert the pin so that it is inserted only partially to begin with - into one ear of the spring;
put the fixing element on the handle;
push the pin all the way;
check the correct installation using photographs before disassembling the hatch;
place the door glass under the handle;
Place the previously removed plastic part of the door on the glass;
snap the latches;
screw in the screws to secure the two parts of the door;
test the operation of the spring mechanism by pressing the handle;
put the door.

After installing the new handle, you must test run the washing machine without laundry to ensure the quality of the installation.

The process of replacing the hatch handle is in the video:

Carrying out diagnostics

You can check the proper operation of the UBL machine using a tester. This is the simplest and most reliable way. It will allow you to accurately determine whether the UBL needs to be replaced. However, to perform this type of diagnosis, you must first remove the blocker to gain full access.

It is worth considering the fact that different manufacturers produce UBLs for washing machines with different design options. If a user or master has never encountered a particular model, it is better for him to find a diagram on the Internet in advance in order to know which contacts to pay special attention to when checking. Here it is important to find the phase, neutral and common contacts.

It is better to use a multimeter as a tester. Diagnostics using it is carried out according to the following algorithm:

First, the device's toggle switch must be switched to the resistance test mode. After this, the probes must be set to phase and neutral contact.
Next you need to evaluate the performance of the device. If it shows a three-digit phase, this means that no breakdown is observed.
At the next stage of testing, you need to install probes on other contacts - neutral and common.
We also evaluate the results. If the indicators are zero or one, then we can talk about the presence of a malfunction.

Do not forget that the problem may lie in mechanical defects, and not in electronics. In such a situation, the UBL testing option described above will not allow obtaining the desired results. In this case, it is worth using an external inspection. In some cases, this may not even require disassembling the equipment. You just need to pay attention to the operation of the UBL when turning the machine on and off several times in a row. If signs of a problem are observed in all cases, then repair is needed.

Removal of UBL

You won't have to prepare for work for a long time. All you need to do is bring a screwdriver and a hex wrench to the machine - the tools you will need to remove the fasteners. Be sure to turn off the power to the equipment, disconnect the machine from the water supply and sewerage and move it away from the wall. This will allow free access to the rear wall of the case. The further algorithm of actions will be as follows:

Unscrew a couple of bolts securing the housing cover;
remove the top panel by lightly pushing it forward and lifting it (this will cause the latches to engage and the cover to give way);
tilt the machine slightly back and slide your hand down the front wall;
feel for the chip with the UBL wiring (if you can’t find the part, use a flashlight);
Unscrew the 2 bolts securing the locking device (with your free hand it is better to hold the lock on the other side so that it does not fall);
Pull the released lock out through the top of the washer.

You can get to the UBL on Indesit either through the top of the machine or through the front wall by removing the hatch cuff.

When the first method fails to dismantle the blocking device, you can try to remove it in another way. For this:

open the machine door wide;
pull out the outer clamp securing the hatch cuff;
tuck the rubber seal inside the drum;
unscrew the door;
remove the locking mechanism along with the UBL.

It is still better for a beginner to try to reach the blocker through the top of the washer. In this case, you do not have to touch the cuff. Returning the rubber seal to its place is not so easy; due to inexperience, making a mistake, you can easily break the seal of the machine, which will lead to leaks.

Emergency opening

Most modern washing machines have a special cable for emergency opening of the hatch (yes, the creators have provided for this possibility). As a rule, it is located somewhere in the area of the bottom panel and is painted in a bright color. All you need to do is get to the cable and pull it.

Important: if there is water left in the drum, you should place some container under the hatch in advance!

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Instructions: what to do if the washing machine door does not open

Models are available for sale that have a built-in emergency cable, which allows the door to be opened in an emergency. If you still cannot get into the car because the door does not open, and the above methods have already been tried, then you can try opening it manually.

Before opening a locked door, you should study the advice of experts

The most important thing is:

Accuracy;
Definition;
Sequencing.

The cable is placed on the front panel near the drain filter. To activate the part, just pull the cable. If there is no cable, then the top panel is removed, for which the element is unscrewed using a screwdriver. As soon as the panel is removed, the machine tilts back to move the drum from its location, after which you need to remove and move aside the latches, due to which the lock is removed.

Where to go for help

Opening the washing machine yourself if the handle is broken can lead to even bigger problems. Careless or sudden actions can seriously damage this household appliance, and instead of replacing only one handle, you will also have to repair the door.

It is recommended to contact a special service center to troubleshoot problems with household appliances such as a washing machine. Specialists will not only carefully open the locked door, but will also supply you with a new handle. An example is Gost Service in Samara, details on the website gostservissam.ru. After a high-quality repair, you will be able to use your washing machine for a very long time.

Frequent causes of breakdown

Before you begin to directly repair the problem, you need to identify the source of the problem. Among the most common causes of washing machine malfunction are the following:

the door support hinge has become loose;
the sunroof glass was cracked;
the latch on the door is loose or stuck;
The hatch lock has stopped functioning normally.

Mechanical damage can be repaired at home without the services of a specialist, but if the control unit breaks down, difficulties may arise, so diagnostics are carried out using special devices. Here it is better to seek help from a specialized service.

Before starting repairs, you will need to stock up on the necessary elements. You need a screwdriver to disassemble the mechanism, as well as a spare part for replacement.