When a washing machine stops spinning, the laundry remains wet, the cycle drags on, and sometimes the machine gets stuck on the drain. Most often, the cause is either a drainage problem, imbalance errors, or wear and tear on the components responsible for spinning.
Below are typical situations you can check yourself, as well as signs of malfunction that indicate it’s best not to continue experimenting. If you need guidance on next steps, more information about repairs is available on mannyappliances.com.
Component failures: symptoms and solutions
If simple checks don’t help, the cause is often in the components responsible for drum speed and condition monitoring.
- Worn motor brushes (in commutator motors): the drum spins during the wash cycle, but doesn’t spin, sparks or an odor appear, and the drum doesn’t pick up speed.
- Drive belt: slipped, stretched, or broken – the motor may run, but the drum doesn’t spin properly.
- Tachometer/Hall sensor: the machine doesn’t “understand” the RPM, causing the spin cycle to fail or not start.
- Pressure switch (water level sensor): incorrectly detects the presence of water – the spin cycle is blocked or only drains.
- Shock absorbers and suspension: Strong vibration, knocking, or the machine “dancing” – the electronics may reduce the speed or cancel the spin cycle.
- Control module: logic failures, pump/motor not turning on at the correct stage, intermittent errors.
If you suspect an electrical problem (motor, module, sensors), it’s best not to disassemble the machine without experience: there’s a risk of damaging the wiring, flooding the module, or getting a recurring error. More repair information on https://mannyappliances.com/washing-machine-repair/lg/.
Quick checklist: check the mode and speed > correct imbalance/overload > ensure water is draining (filter/hose/pump) > check the hatch closure > if the problem persists, the brushes, belt, sensors, or module are likely at fault.
How to distinguish a spin failure from normal operation
To determine if there is a malfunction, it’s important to evaluate not just one symptom (for example, the lack of high speeds), but the entire scenario: the selected program, the presence of water in the drum, the behavior of the drum, the final moisture content of the laundry, and the appearance of error codes. Read more about this on mannyappliances.
Signs of normal operation and signs of a malfunction
- Normal: a draining sound is heard before the spin, the drum rotates jerkily, then gradually reaches speed. Error: Water doesn’t drain, the drum doesn’t spin at all.
- Normal: The machine “thinks” for 2-10 minutes about distributing items, especially towels/blankets. Error: Spinning attempts are repeated for tens of minutes without success, the cycle freezes.
- Normal: On delicate, wool, and some eco programs, the spin speed is reduced or can be canceled by the program. Error: On standard programs with a preset spin speed (800-1400 rpm), there is no spin, even though it is selected.
- Normal: If there is a significant imbalance (one heavy item), the machine reduces the speed to prevent “jumping.” Error: The machine always spins at minimum speed, even with an even load.
- Normal: After spinning, the laundry remains slightly damp, but without dripping water. Error: The laundry is wet, heavy, dripping, and water is visible in the drum.
- Normal: When “No Spin” or “Stop with Water” is selected, the drum does not spin. Error: The spin cycle stops automatically without any options selected.
- Normal: The spin cycle is sometimes canceled due to overload or underload – the machine is protecting itself. Malfunction: The problem recurs with different laundry loads and different programs.
- Check the settings: the spin speed is not set to “0,” and “No Spin” or “Stop with Rinse” are not enabled.
- Check the drainage: is there a characteristic pump sound and is water draining (through the hatch or by the level in the drum).
- Check the load: remove one heavy item or add 1-2 light items for balance, distribute the laundry.
- Compare the program: run a short “Rinse + Spin” cycle or a separate “Spin” with an empty drum (if allowed by the instructions).
- Check the result: if, after correct settings and a normal load, the laundry remains consistently very wet, this suggests a malfunction.
Result: Normal spin operation includes draining and Balancing, possible reduction in speed, and “pauses” before spinning. A malfunction is most often indicated by a lack of drainage, endless attempts to spin, constant cancellation of the spin cycle on standard programs, and excessively wet laundry despite the correct settings and load.