The top 5 reasons why a front load washer might stop spinning

1.  The Drive Belt might be broken – to check this, take the back off the machine and look for a broken belt.  If there is a broken belt, then you know that is the problem. Replace the belt.

2.  The Door Latch might have gone bad – to check this you must remove the door latch and test with a continuity meter. Look where the door shuts and latches. There should be screws you need to remove for the latch assembly to slide out. If the latch is bad, replace it.

3.  The Motor Control Board might be faulty – the motor control board is located by the motor in a plastic box. It cannot be tested very easily, but you can open it and look for burn marks or anything that may be broken. If the motor control board is bad, you will need to replace it.

4.  A Damaged Stator / Rotor – not all washers have a Stator/Rotor. It looks like a doughnut and would be located on the back of the drum. When you take the cover off you will see several copper items. This part uses a strong magnetic field which causes the drum to spin. The Stator/Rotor cannot be tested. You must take it apart and physically inspect it, looking for anything worn or broken.  If the Stator/Rotor is bad, replace it.

5.  The Drive Motor might be going bad – the motor is located at the bottom, on the back side of the washer. This isn’t a common problem, but if the motor hums but doesn’t run or runs but doesn’t run freely, then the motor should be replaced.

Did you know that you can watch videos on how to fix your appliances? Go to www.RepairClinic.com Enter your model number and select the video you wish to view. This will help locate the parts that you wish to check and show you how to check them. You are also able to order replacement parts from the same site.

Some things to consider before you call for service

One thing to think about is that most appliances have a 10-year life span these days, which is sad but true! So first know the age of your appliance. Look up the part on www.RepairClinic.com if you know what part it is. This will help give you an idea of the cost to replace the part.

Call a service repair person and ask what they charge for a service call. Remember if they need to order parts, they will have to make a second trip. Decide if it is worth fixing or not before you have him come out, depending on what is wrong and the cost. It is sometimes cheaper to cut your losses on the old machine and purchase a new one.