Lid locks are designed to keep you and your family safe when the washer is in use.
If something goes wrong and the lid lock doesn’t work, your washer is automatically programmed to stop working for safety reasons.
To reset your Maytag lid lock, press the Cycle Signal button on the washer’s control panel. This deactivates the machine’s lock controls. Then check the LCD on the control panel to see if the lock icon has turned off. You can also switch the washer off at the wall socket to reset it.
If you switch the washer off, wait for at least 30 seconds before switching it on again.
It is not advisable to bypass the lid lock when the washer is running. Should you catch your hand in the rotating drum you can suffer a severe injury.
Maytag Washer Lid Locked No Power
If you have no power, then you’ll have to wait for the thermal lock to cool down before the lid will open.
Maytag washers have a thermal lock that prevents the lid from being opened when the washer is in use. When there is no power, the thermal lock will continue to operate for a few minutes as the machine cools to a preset temperature. Once the temperature is reached, the lock opens automatically.
The thermal lock operates by expanding when it is hot. Sometimes, these locks get stuck and refuse to open.
To open the washer lid, unplug the washer and leave it for at least 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, the lock will unlock but may still be jammed closed. You can strike the lock area with your hand or something firm but soft, in order to shock the lock into releasing.
You may have to bang on the door a few times before the lock releases.
Maytag Washer Lid Flashing
The lid lock is there for your safety. If the lid lock is flashing, then it means that the lid is still unlocked.
If your Maytag washer lid is flashing, the lid lock is in the unlocked position and the lid can still be opened, it may mean that something is stuck in the lid and the lock cannot engage properly or that the lock is not powered due to wiring or other issues.
You should first check your manual to see if your lid locks immediately or if it only engages once the washer starts to fill with water.
To diagnose the problem, switch your washer off before investigating the locking mechanism.
The most common problem is when something gets caught in the locking mechanism and prevents the striker from seating properly. Clean out the lock with a damp cloth and mild soap. Try to remove as much soap residue or build-up inside the lock. Remove any lint or other material that may be stuck in the lock or on the striker.
Plug the washer back in and then press and hold the start button. If the wash cycle starts and the lid locks, then the problem is resolved. If the lid still does not lock, then you may have a problem with the lock mechanism, wiring, or the control panel.
Maytag Washer Lid Lock Light Not On
Occasionally, the washer lid light will fail to come on. This could be something minor or it could indicate that you have more serious problems with your washer.
If your Maytag washer lid lock light is not on, check that you have power to the washer and that it is plugged in. You may not be holding the start button down long enough or the lid may not be properly closed. You may also see an error code that will help you to diagnose the problem.
It is important that you hold the start button down for at least 3 seconds. If you don’t, then the washer may not start the wash cycle and the lid light will remain off.
Check your distribution board to see if any of the breakers have tripped. This may be the reason that your washer lid light is not coming on.
The next thing to check is whether or not the lid is completely closed and the latch has engaged fully with the striker. If any of the washing has got caught in the lid and prevents it from closing, the light will not come on. Open the lid and rearrange the washing so that it is clear of the lid.
If these steps have not sorted out the problem, then you may have an error code that will help you to sort out the problem.
An LF or F8E1 error code together with the wash or spin lights blinking could indicate that the washer is not draining or is taking too long to fill.
Filling problems are often caused by incorrect plumbing installations. The drain hose may have been installed with its end reaching farther inside the standpipe than 4.5″ (114 mm). If the pipe goes in too far, the washer will not drain properly and the lid light will remain off.
If the top of the drain pipe is covered with tape or something else is preventing the flow of air, it will cause the washer to siphon. This means that the washer will fill and empty at the same time, resulting in the water never reaching its correct level.
If the inlet water supply is faulty, then you will get the F8E1 or the LF error codes. You need to check that the hot and cold water connections are properly in place and that the taps are open. There is a water pressure sensor inside the washer that monitors the water coming into the machine. If it fails to detect the required pressure then the washer lid light will not come on. Both inlet connections must be operating properly for the washer to work.
If the sensor does not detect the required water pressure, the lid locks, and the washer will enter a pump-out mode that lasts for approximately 8 minutes.
You may also need to check that the washer is filled properly. A whirlpool washer, which is one of the Maytag brands, requires that the washer is connected directly to the water supply and you cannot use an anti-flood device or control valve between the washer and your water supply.
You may also inadvertently have set the control knob to the wrong setting. Check that you have selected the required cycle and that the start button has been pushed.
An open lid may cause the washer to cease operations. This will extinguish the lid lightly. For most modern washers, the lid must be closed and locked for all operations to proceed. If the lid is left open for too long, the washer will enter a draining mode automatically and then switch off the machine.
Maytag Washer Lid Lock Light Stays On
Maytag washers have a safety feature that ensures that you cannot get hurt by a spinning washer drum.
If your Maytag washer lid lock light stays on then the lid lock is operational, but there is a problem. The most common cause is an actuator motor fault. The Actuator motor switches the washer from agitation mode to spin mode. If it is faulty, you can replace it and the lid lock light will operate normally.
The washer lid lock is activated for several reasons when there are problems with the washer. While the problem may be a faulty lid lick switch, these do not often fail. It is more likely that the actuator motor has failed and needs replacement.
You can access the actuator motor by removing the rear panel and locating the actuator underneath or next to the drive motor and drum.
Also known as the shift actuator, the lid lock light indicates that the washer has a problem. If the diagnostic mode indicates that the problem is the actuator, you can replace it easily by unplugging the washer. The shift actuator is a red-colored device. It is held in place by two Phillips head screws. Remove the wiring connector and the drive belt cover.
Pull the actuator off the washer and then replace it with a new one. Make sure that you locate the white tabs correctly when connecting the actuator.
Maytag Washer Lid Lock Clicking
While Maytag washers are very reliable, they have a weak spot. It’s their lid locking mechanism.
If a Maytag washer lid lock clicks and the washer refuses to complete the cycle, then you have a lid lock fault and the mechanism must be replaced. To replace the lid lock mechanism, open the top of the washer and locate the lock on the right-hand side. Unclip the old one and install the new lock.
Often, owners will remove the striker plate and shove it inside the lock mechanism to bypass the locking problem. While this is a short-term solution, the lid is not locked and you can get seriously injured by the rotating drum if you lift the lid in the middle of a cycle.
Maytag Washer Lid Lock Error
The lid lock LED on a Maytag washer is used to indicate various faults.
The most common Maytag washer lid lock error is a blinking light that indicates the lock mechanism is broken. This usually occurs when the washer enters the spin cycle and the light starts to flash. To fix it, you must remove the lock and replace it with a new one.
To get to the lid lock, you have to remove two screws on the rear panel. You are then able to slide the top cover up and forward to remove it. Attached to the underneath of the top panel is the locking mechanism for the lid.
You can unclip it and then disconnect the wiring connection. Slide the new mechanism in place and close everything up in the reverse order.
Maytag Washer Lid Lock Stuck
All washers will break down as they get older.
The most common problems revolve around the lid and the lid lock, as this part gets the most wear and tear.
If a Maytag washer lid lock is stuck, then you can release it by switching the washer off for 8 minutes, after which time the lock will release. If it does not, then bang the washer over the lock area to get the lock to release as it sometimes gets stuck due to corrosion or debris in the lock.
If the lock refuses to budge, then you have to replace it. To do this you’ll need to access the underneath of the top panel where the lid lick is located.
After removing the screws holding the back panel, remove the top control panel and disconnect the lid lock wiring from the controller.
Then feed the cable back through the machine and remove the lid. Unscrew the two screws holding the lid lock in place and replace the lid lock. You’ll have to feed the connecting cable back through the control panel to connect it to the controller.
Maytag Washer Lid Lock Broken
It is always advisable to replace a broken lid lock. It is a safety feature that protects users and their families from serious harm.
If your Maytag lid lock is broken, it is an easy process to replace the locking mechanism. The lock is located under the top panel of the washer and to get to it you need to remove the rear panel screws. Once removed, you can slide the top control panel off and lift the top panel.
This gives you access to the underneath of the top panel and the locking mechanism.
How To Reset Maytag Washer Lid Lock
All washing machines develop problems at one time or another.
One of the more common areas that causes minor problems is the lid lock.
To reset the lid lock on a Maytag washer, switch off the washer and leave the machine for at least 8 minutes. Then switch the washer back on and the lid lick should have reset itself. If it hasn’t reset, press and hold the start button for at least 3 cycles.
Can You Bypass a Maytag Washer Lid Lock?
As washers get older, they develop the occasional problem.
If you have a lid lock that you urgently need to bypass, then this is what you can do.
You can bypass the lid lock on a Maytag washer by disconnecting the wires and connecting them to a manual switch. The washer will not start if the lid lock is activated before it has started to fill. It will then not spin if the lid lock is not closed just before the spin cycle.
How To Bypass Maytag Washer Lid Lock
Lid locks can be expensive.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on August 23, 2022.
So, if you don’t want to go to the expense of buying a new one, there is a way that you can bypass the lid lock mechanism.
You can bypass the lid lock on a Maytag washing machine by splicing a switch into the locking mechanism wiring. To do this, you need to remove the lock mechanism and disconnect the wiring. Remove the three wires from the lock and connect them to an AC switch.
Using an AC switch, splice the blue and white wires from the lid lock mechanism together and attach them to one side of the manual switch. Then attach the red wire from the lid lock to the other lead on the switch.
You can then manually activate the switch when you need to.
If you don’t get the timing right, the washer will not enter the rinse and spin cycle. All you need to do then is to switch off the washer at the wall and wait for a few minutes. Then switch the washer back on and move the selector to rinse and spin.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on August 23, 2022.
After the washer has filled sufficiently, flip the switch and the washer will think that the lid is locked and finish the cycle.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on August 23, 2022.