Whirlpool Washer Stuck On Sensing Or Wash Cycle? Best Fixes

Whirlpool washers boast high-quality and top-shelf features that make life easier. As excellent as these machines are, they are not foolproof. It should come as no surprise when the washer starts to malfunction – hardware problems are inevitable with any machine.

Your Whirlpool washer stuck on sensing or wash cycle could cause your frustration and confusion to build up, wondering what could be causing it and how to fix it. Keep reading as we discuss a few reasons behind this malfunction and the best fixes to make your life easy again.

How to Fix Whirlpool Washer Stuck On Sensing

To fix your whirlpool washer stuck on sensing, you should try to reset the washer. To reset your washer:

  1. Turn OFF the machine
  2. Disconnect it from the power source and leave it for about 20 minutes
  3. Then power it ON again and start a new wash cycle to test it

Another way to reset your washer is to:

  1. Disconnect and reconnect it to the power source
  2. Turn the machine ON
  3.  Raise and close the lid repeatedly for about 6 times within 12 seconds
  4. Then start a new cycle and see if it works

You can also reset it with these steps:

  1. Turn OFF the machine
  2. Shift the mode dial to ‘Normal’
  3. Going anticlockwise, turn the dial one click left, three clicks clockwise, one-click anticlockwise, and one-click clockwise
  4. Test to see if it works

When trying to reset your washer, it would be best to find model-specific instructions or simply check the manual for instructions. After resetting the washer, you can start a new cycle and test to see if it works.

Fix 2: Clean the Drain Pump

If you are trying to fix your whirlpool washer stuck on sensing, you might want to check that the drain pump is not clogged with a sock, lint, built-up dirt, or other small objects that might be stopping the machine from moving on from the sensing phase. To do this:

  1. Find the drain pump. It is usually located at the bottom of the crankcase of the machine.
  2. Once it is located, simply unscrew the screws holding it in place
  3. Then clean out whatever might be stuck in there
  4. After doing this, try to restart the wash cycle and see if it works

How to Fix Whirlpool Washer Stuck On Wash Cycle

To fix your whirlpool washer stuck on wash cycle, you should first try to replace the washer timer. The first thing to do would be to diagnose the situation and confirm that the washer timer is the issue before attempting to replace it. You can check if the timer is mechanical, if it is, check if power is being supplied to the timer motor. An automatic timer would only work when power is being supplied to the motor. This means that it would not move to another cycle otherwise. Once the washer timer is the confirmed cause, you can proceed to replace it with these steps:

  1. First, get a replacement washing machine timer for your particular model
  2. Disconnect the machine from the power source and turn OFF the water
  3. Take OFF the plastic disc holding the knob on the timer and remove the knob
  4. Remove the screws keeping the front panel in place and slide it down to access the timer
  5. Remove the screws holding the timer in place and take the timer out of the washer
  6. Remove the wiring harness from the timer by sliding the wiring harness clip off
  7. Remember to arrange the parts you remove in an order that would make it easy to replace them
  8. Also, keep the screws and other tiny parts safely in a bag to avoid losing anything
  9. Fix in the replacement timer and reassemble the other parts you took out
  10. Then power ON the machine, turn ON the water and start a new cycle to test if it works
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Fix 2: Check the Valves and Filters

Your whirlpool washer stuck on the wash cycle might result from gunk stuck in the valves, filters, or water hoses. To fix this:

  1. Turn OFF the washer
  2. Disconnect it from the power source
  3. Remove the water hoses and check the valves for any gunk or debris stuck there
  4. If anything is found, carefully remove the valve assembly to clean it out
  5. Squirt water into the filter to clean it as well
  6. Replace the valve assembly, reconnect the machine to a power source and turn it ON
  7. Then, start a new cycle to see if it is fixed
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Conclusion

Sensing describes your machine’s process to determine the load size and the amount of water required to clean the load.

The sensing light on your washer comes up when the machine is started, and after sensing is done, the machine gets filled with the decided amount of water. The sensing light begins to blink when a new wash cycle starts.

While this is perfectly normal, if you notice that the light keeps blinking for too long, it means the washer is stuck in the sensing phase.

This usually indicates an issue with the load size, sensor, faulty equator, or clogged drain pump. Checking or replacing these things might just fix your washer and get it back to normal.

Your Whirlpool washer stuck on wash cycle might be due to a clogged pressure switch, valves or filter, faulty washer timer, or a faulty fuse. You would first need to diagnose and identify the exact reason for the malfunction and then fix it accordingly.

The best and safest fix for any issues with washers would be to call a technician to fix them. This is recommended because of the size of the machine. However, there are a few fixes you can try yourself that could save time and money.