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Amana Washer Lid Lock Not Working

White modern washer with clothes

Amana is part of the Whirlpool family and known for innovative designs, reliability, and quality. But nothing in this world is flawless, and even Amana washers can have problems pop up on occasion. Sometimes, the washer lid can be the root of your problems, and solving the issue isn’t too difficult.

If your Amana washer lid lock is not working, it could be that the lock switch is stuck, and you’ll have to reset the machine. To reset your Amana washer, press and hold the End Cycle/Signal Cycle button for 20 seconds.

There may be many reasons for a lid lock acting up, and this article will discuss all of the possibilities while also showing you how to deal with them.

Amana Washer Lid Lock Flashing

You may have noticed that your lid lock’s light is flashing, but you can’t think of a reason why that could be happening. The Amana washer’s lid lock light will start to flash for a few reasons. It could be that the lid was not closed properly (there was interference) or that the lid lock wasn’t moved into the lock position correctly.

To fix an Amana washer lid that is flashing, push the Start button for about three seconds until you see that the lid lock button is off. Then, put the lid down properly and push the Start button again, locking the lid in place as it should be.

If the lid lock was not moved back into place correctly, you may have to try and open it again before closing it properly. However, this should be done very gently so nothing is broken when it’s pulled forcefully. You may want to use a flat object that won’t scratch the washer to move the lock out of it’s current position in case it only went into the striker partly. Be careful not to damage your washer.

There may be two other reasons why the lid lock light is flashing, but there are solutions to both issues.

The first could be that there is a build-up of wash media like lint, detergent, and so on. This build-up might be close to the lock striker or the lock itself, causing an obstruction. 

To make sure that’s not the case, take a soft and damp cloth to wipe away any spills that may have occurred. You may also use a soft sponge to clean up the dirt. Take care to only use mild soaps and cleaners when cleaning your external Amana washer surfaces.

The second possibility is lock interference with your lock striker ( the piece on the lid that should fit inside the lock). Make sure nothing is preventing the striker from going inside the lock.

If these solutions do not solve the problem, you may have to call a technician or professional to replace a wiring harness. It is not advisable to fiddle or mess with your washer too much if you’re not finding the root of your problems. You may cause irreversible damage that could be very costly.

Amana Washer Lid Lock Clicking

White modern washer with clothes

Your washer’s door lock secures the door during operation, but if the door is defective, the lock won’t latch properly. The lock can fail electronically or mechanically. This can lead to the lock clicking. You’ll have to inspect the door to try and identify the cause. Again, be very careful with your inspections; you should not fuss too much or handle the washer too harshly. It will break.

When your Amana Washer lid lock is clicking, use a multimeter to test the door lock switches for continuity. If you find that one (or more) of the switches don’t have continuity, you will have to replace the switch. If the door lock has been damaged somehow, you will also have to replace it.

It could also be that the washer’s door latch assembly is defective. Take a close look at the latch and see if you can determine if there’s any damage. If that’s the case, you’ll have to replace it.

Another common reason for the lid door clicking is damage to the door strike assembly. This should also be inspected, and if it’s broken, you’ll have to replace it; it cannot be repaired.

A rare reason for this kind of problem can lie with the main control board. But before you replace the main control board, check all of the components of your lock mechanism. If you find that none of the parts are broken or defective, you may have to replace the main control board.

If you’re replacing the lock, here are the steps you need to follow, described briefly:

First, shut off the machine and move it to a safe area with enough space. Then, remove the top panel so you can access the lock assembly. 

You may not be able to remove the cover and will likely only slide it forward so you can work.

Now, carefully remove the lock by unscrewing it and put the screws in a safe place, so you don’t lose them. You will likely use a ¼-inch nut driver to remove the mounting screws.

Next, take the new lock and put it in the correct place. Before you put the lock in, clean it thoroughly to ensure there isn’t any debris that could cause trouble.

Replace the screws and put the panel back where it should be. Make sure everything is securely tightened and then move your washer back to the room where you store it. Plug the machine back in and test the lock. Hopefully, it worked! 

Amana Washer Lid Lock Stuck

White modern washer with clothes

Amana has a safety feature that helps to prevent clothes from being ruined by overloading and keeps people (and children) from accessing or using the clothes while they’re washing. This feature is activated when you run the ‘fresh hold’ cycle, and power is cut off after it ends, causing the lid to seem stuck.

When an Amana washer lid lock is stuck, cancel the locking safety feature by simply pressing the cancel button. This will cancel the cycle immediately and solve your problem. Alternatively, you can disconnect or unplug the appliance to turn it off quickly.

Another reason why your lid lock might be stuck is that you accidentally turned the washer on before you turned on the water connection. This may seem like a silly reason, but the lid may become locked and go into drain mode. You might see an error code (F8E1/LO FL).

If that is the case, you simply have to press the power button to start a draining cycle. This will take between eight and ten minutes. Once that is done, you should be able to use your washer like normal.

There could also be lock interference, or the lock might be dirty. Make sure that there is nothing causing any interference with the lock striker. Using a soft, damp cloth, clean away any debris that may have built up around the lock. You may have to turn off your washer and wash away any built-up if your lock is dirty.

Amana Washer Lid Lock Broken

White modern washer with clothes

If you are unfortunate enough to have a lid lock that has been broken or damaged too much for repair, you’re going to have to replace it. 

To determine if your Amana washer lid lock is broken, ensure the appliance is switched off and unplugged. Then, inspect the lid lock and try to find signs of damage or disrepair. It might also be that the lock is defective. Once you’ve found the reason for the breakage, you must replace the lock.

Replacing your Amana washer lid lock isn’t too difficult. Here are the steps to follow for a smooth experience:

Step One

Get all the tools you’re going to need ready. This will include a Phillips head screwdriver, a 1/4 inch nut driver, and a 1/16 inch nut driver.

Step Two

Make sure your machine is unplugged and move it to an area where you have enough space to work safely.

Step Three

Turn the machine around and remove some of the screws that are keeping it together. Be sure to put the screws in a safe place so they don’t get lost.

Remove all screws you need to from the panel to get the control console off. Typically, you will have to remove four of them. Use the nut driver for the removal of the top two screws of the panel. The screwdriver will help you remove the other two screws.

Step Four

Next, move the control console gently forward and let it lean down. Find the lid switch and proceed to gently remove it. You do this by removing the grounding wire. Here, you will use the nut driver (the 5/16th inch one this time) and lift the clip to pull out the wires.

Step Five

Now you have to find the tab and pinch on the tap. When you have done this, ensure the door is correctly and properly open. You should be able to pull the switch out without any difficulties now. If you do not succeed at opening the door this way, the switch should remain locked in its place.

Step Six

Now, take your switch and place it in the correct place. You have to push it in for it to fit right. Next, connect the correct wire harness to where it should go. Use the nut driver (again, the 5/16th inch one) for the reattachment of the machine’s grounding wire. Simply screw it down. 

Step Seven

This is the final step. You now have to return the control console to its place and then replace the screws that you have removed.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on September 4, 2022.

How to Reset Amana Washer Lid Lock

White modern washer with clothes

If all else fails, you may have to reset your washer lid lock. Though this sounds like a complicated thing to have to do, it’s not. Just make sure you’ve tried other solutions. 

To reset your Amana washer lid lock, simply tap and hold the End Cycle or Signal Cycle button. You’ll have to hold the button down for about 20 seconds for the machine to register what you want it to do.

Alternatively, you can turn off your washing machine and unplug it from the socket. Wait a few minutes and plug the machine in again and turn it on again. This will automatically reset the washer’s lid lock, and you’ll have solved the problem.

Can You Bypass Amana Washer Lid Lock?

White modern washer with clothes

If you have tried all the solutions available but nothing has seemed to work, you have one final thing to try. This is only an option if nothing else has worked and should be considered a last resort.

You can bypass an Amana washer lid lock, and it doesn’t take too much thinking or a lot of work. There are a few steps involved, though, so you will have to plan for this if it’s what you want to do.

Note that you have to be careful when you try to bypass your washer’s lid lock. This is likely not recommended by the manufacturer and you may lose your warranty if something goes wrong. It might be best to ask a professional or someone with good knowledge about washing machines to assist you.

How to Bypass Amana Washer Lid Lock

White modern washer with clothes

Amana washer lid locks are designed to help prevent injuries and accidents, but sometimes they act up and stop working as they should. When that happens, your only option may be to bypass the lock and get your machine back to working as it should.

You can bypass the Amana washer lid lock in just a few steps, but it’s important that you plan it well and do it properly. If you fail the bypass, your machine won’t turn on, and it might not work properly again. Take bypassing the washer lid lock seriously.

If you’ve come to the conclusion that you need to bypass your Amana washer lid lock, here’s what you have to do:

Step One

Turn off the washing machine and then unplug it from the socket. Move the machine to an area with enough space for you to work safely.

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on September 4, 2022.

Step Two 

Pull out the machine’s horizontal panel. You do this by removing the screws that hold it together or snapping the tabs off. You will have to grab the panel firmly and pull it forward in order to lift the whole thing.

Step Three

Flip up the back panel, and you will find different wiring harnesses. Look through the wiring to find the connector that connects with the lid switch. This tells your machine whether the lid is closed or open.

Step Four

Once you have found the correct connector, pull it out to disconnect it from the lid switch.

Step Five

Now, to bypass the lid switch, you have to connect the two outside terminals of the connector. You must take a piece of wire, strip it off the insulation on both ends, and bend it to shape it into a ‘U’.

Step Six

Take the wire that you’ve shaped into the letter ‘U’, and push it into both sides of the connector. Use electric tape to wrap up the wire so it won’t come off while the washing machine is in use. (washing machines shake back and forth, and this will loosen the wire if it’s not secured well)

Step Seven

Replace the back panel in its original place and make sure everything is secure. Then move your machine back to where you normally use it, plug it in, and turn it on to see if your bypass has been successful.

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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on September 4, 2022.

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