If your Amana washing machine will not start, this detailed guide will explain the causes of this issue and provide steps on how to resolve them…
Table of Contents
Amana Washing Machine Will Not Start — Solved
Here are the issues to look for if your Amana washing machine will not start…
1. Power Supply Is Off
If your washing machine will not start, the first thing you should check is the power outlet; make sure the outlet is turned on before trying to start a cycle.
If the outlet is turned on but the machine will not start, unplug the washer’s power cord and try plugging another device in. If the other device also doesn’t work, the issue is from the outlet. You’ll need to get an electrician to take a look at the issue.
2. Failed Start Capacitor (Top Loaders)
Do the following to replace a failed capacitor in your Amana top loader washing machine…
Step 1. In order to prevent any chances of electrocution or water leakage, make sure to shut your machine’s water supply and unplug the power cord from the outlet before starting this repair.
Step 2. Using your pliers, squeeze the clamp on the drain hose at the back of the machine and slide it out of place. Pull the drain hose off your washing machine.
Step 3. Unscrew the COLD and HOT water inlet hoses connected to the ports at the back of your machine (spread a towel on the floor under the hoses to catch any water leaks).
Step 4. Secure the lid of your washing machine by putting some tape over it. With the help of another person, tilt the washing machine backwards and lay it on the floor.
Step 5. Use a nut-driver to take out the bolts holding the belt guard. Take the belt guard off the machine and set it aside.
Step 6. Unplug the wire connector attached to the capacitor. Use your screwdriver to take out the screw holding the capacitor to the bottom of the machine. Set the capacitor aside and take the new start capacitor out of its packaging.
Step 7. Mount the new capacitor at the bottom of the machine and apply the screw to secure it.
Step 8. Plug the wire connector into the new capacitor. Put the belt guard back in place and apply the mounting bolts with your nut-driver.
Step 9. Lift your washing machine upright carefully and peel the tape off the lid. Reconnect the drain hose to the outlet port and secure it by sliding the retaining clamp in place.
Step 10. Secure the two water supply lines to the ports at the back of your washing machine (ensure that the hoses are properly secured so water won’t spill out).
Step 11. Plug your machine back into the power supply and turn the water valve back on. Make sure the machine works properly by running a wash cycle.
Click here to learn how a capacitor works.
3. Door Isn’t Locked
As a safety precaution, many washing machines will not start a cycle unless the door is locked. Ensure that you firmly shut your machine’s lid/door before starting a cycle.
If your machine’s door doesn’t lock, it indicates that the door lock is defective. Here are the steps you’ll need to take to replace a damaged door lock in your Amana washing machine…
Changing Failed Door Lock In Amana Front Loader Washing Machine
Do the following to replace a failed door lock in your front loader Amana washing machine…
Step 1. In order to avoid electrocution, make sure your washing machine is unplugged from the power outlet before starting this repair.
Step 4. Open your washing machine’s door. With a pair of needle nosed pliers or a flat-blade screwdriver, carefully take out the retaining band around the door boot seal (ensure that you don’t damage the seal).
Step 5. Peel the door seal away from the door lock. With your Philips screwdriver, remove the screws holding the door lock to the cabinet. Reach inside the machine and pull the lock assembly out.
Step 6. Unplug the wire connector attached to the door lock and set the lock aside. Remove your new washing machine door lock from its packaging.
Step 7. Plug the electrical connector to the terminal on the new door lock. Install the new lock in the machine and apply the mounting screws with your Philips screwdriver.
Step 8. Carefully fit the door boot seal back around the door opening. Use your needle nosed pliers or flat-blade screwdriver to fit the metal retaining wire.
Step 9. Close your washing machine’s door and plug the power cord back into the outlet. Make sure the issue has been fixed by running a wash cycle.
Changing Failed Door Lock In Amana Top Loader Washing Machine
Here are the steps to replace a failed lid lock in your Amana top loader washing machine…
Step 1. Turn off your washing machine’s power supply before starting this repair in order to avoid electrocution. Put some tape over your washing machine’s lid to secure it.
Step 2. Use a nut-driver to take out the bolts at the back of the machine securing the control panel’s rear access cover. Pull the cover off and set it aside.
Step 3. Unplug the lid lock’s wire connector from the control board and release the wire from the retainer.
Step 4. Use the nut-driver to take out the nuts holding the top panel to the cabinet. Pull the top panel forwards, lift the top panel, and support it.
Step 5. With a flat-blade screwdriver, release the lid lock wire from the retainers at the bottom of the control panel.
Step 6. Remove the screws holding the lid lock to the control panel. Pull the lid lock off the panel and set it aside.
Step 7. Remove your new washing machine lid lock from its packaging. Mount the new lid lock on the top panel and secure the mounting screws with a Philips screwdriver.
Step 8. Secure the lid lock wire in the retainers on the top panel. Pass the lid lock connector through the opening on the top panel.
Step 9. Lower your washing machine’s top panel and snap it back into the cabinet. Peel the tape off the lid and apply the screws at the back to secure it.
Step 10. Plug the wire connector of the new lid lock into the control board. Put the rear access cover onto the control panel and apply the bolts with your nut-driver.
Step 11. Turn your washing machine’s power supply back on and make sure the problem has been fixed by trying a wash cycle.
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Amana Washing Machine Not Draining/Won’t Stop Draining [Solutions]
Admiral Washing Machine Lid [Issues & Solutions]
Amana Washing Machine Sensing [Issues & Proven Solutions]
4. Control Board Failure
If your Amana washing machine won’t start, the fault could be from the control board. Here are the steps you’ll need to take to replace a defective control board in your washer…
Replacing A Damaged Control Board In Amana Top Loader Washing Machine
Take the following steps to replace a faulty control board in your top loader Amana washing machine…
Step 1. In order to prevent any chances of electrocution, make sure to unplug your washing machine’s power cord from the outlet before starting this fix.
Step 2. Insert a putty knife underneath your washing machine’s control panel to release the two retaining clips. Detach the control panel from the base and lay it on top of the cabinet.
Step 3. Pull the air pressure tube off the port on the control board. Unplug each electrical connector from the control board.
Step 4. With a Philips screwdriver, remove all the screws holding the control board to the panel. Lift the board off the panel and set it aside.
Step 5. Remove your new washing machine control board from its packaging. Mount the new board on the control panel and apply the screws with your screwdriver.
Step 6. Connect the air pressure tube to the port on the new control board. Plug each wire connector into the appropriate terminal on the control board. Secure the wires in the retainer.
Step 7. Lift the control panel and snap the selector knob onto the shaft. Snap the control panel back into the base.
Step 8. Turn your washing machine’s power supply back on and test the machine by running a wash cycle.
Replacing A Damaged Control Board In Amana Front Loader Washing Machine
To change a failed control board in your Amana front loader washing machine, take the following steps…
Step 1. In order to prevent electrocution, ensure that your washing machine is unplugged from the outlet before starting this repair.
Step 2. Using a 1/4 inch nut-driver, take out the bolts at the back of your machine holding the top panel. Slide the panel backwards about an inch or so, and lift it off the machine.
Step 3. With a flat-blade screwdriver, release the control board from the cabinet by prying on the tabs.
Step 4. Pull the cover off the control board and unplug each electrical connector (make sure you take note of where each connector goes).
Step 5. Set the control board aside and take the new board out of its packaging. Plug each wire connector into its appropriate terminal on the new control board.
Step 6. Snap the new control board into the slots on the cabinet. Slide the top panel back onto the machine and use your nut-driver to apply the screws. Plug the power cord into the outlet and test the machine to make sure it runs fine.
5. Faulty Timer
Although this isn’t a very common issue, a damaged timer can prevent your washing machine from starting. Here are the steps you’ll need to take to replace your washing machine’s timer…
Step 1. Turn off your washing machine’s power supply before attempting this repair in order to avoid electrocution.
Step 2. Insert a putty knife under the two bottom corners of the control panel to release the retaining clips. Lift the control panel and let it hang over the rear panel.
Step 3. Using a pair of needle-nosed pliers, squeeze the little pin inside the hole at the back of the timer. While squeezing, pull the timer knob and dial off the control panel.
Step 4. Unplug the two electrical connectors attached to the timer. With a flat-blade screwdriver, release the tab holding the timer to the control panel. Set the old timer aside and take your new one out of its packaging.
Step 5. Snap the new timer assembly onto the control panel. Plug each wire connector into its corresponding terminal on the new timer.
Step 6. Push the timer dial and knob onto the shaft on the control panel. Lift the control panel and snap it back into the cabinet. Plug your machine back into the electrical outlet and ensure that the machine works properly by running a wash cycle.
Note: The procedure above is only applicable to top loader washing machines.
6. Damaged Motor
Take the following steps to replace a damaged motor in your Amana washing machine…
Replacing Failed Drive Motor In Top Loader Amana Washing Machine
Follow the steps below to replace a damaged drive motor in your top loader Amana washing machine…
Step 1. Disconnect your washing machine’s power cord from the outlet and turn the water valve off before starting this repair. To secure the lid of your machine, put some tape over it.
Step 2. Use a pair of pliers to squeeze the clamp on the drain hose at the back of your machine and slide it out of place. Pull the drain hose off the washer.
Step 3. Spread a towel on the floor underneath the two inlet hoses to catch any water leaks. Disconnect the COLD and HOT water inlet hoses from the ports at the back of your machine.
Step 4. With the help of another person, tilt the machine backwards carefully and lay it on the floor.
Step 5. Use a nut-driver to take out the bolts holding the belt guard. Take the belt guard off the machine.
Step 6. Carefully take the drive belt off the motor pulley and transmission pulley. Unplug the wire connector attached to the motor assembly and release the wire from the retainer.
Step 7. Using a socket wrench, take out the mounting bolts holding the motor assembly to the bottom of the machine. Carefully pull the motor off the tub and set it aside.
Step 8. Take your new motor out of its packaging. Mount the new motor onto the machine and apply the bolts with your socket wrench.
Step 9. Plug the wire harness to the terminal on the new motor and secure the wire in the retainer.
Step 10. With the grooved side facing inwards, loop the drive belt around the transmission pulley and motor pulley. Put the belt guard back on and secure it by applying the nuts.
Step 11. Carefully lift your washing machine back onto its feet and peel the tape off the lid.
Step 12. Reconnect the outlet hose to the port on your machine and secure it by sliding the retaining clamp in place.
Step 13. Reattach the HOT and COLD water supply hoses to the inlet ports at the back of your washing machine (in order to prevent water leaks, make sure to secure the hoses properly).
Step 14. Turn your machine’s water supply back on and plug the power cord back into the outlet. Test the washer by running a cycle.
Replacing Failed Drive Motor In Front Loader Amana Washing Machine
Take the following steps to replace a damaged motor in your Amana front loader washing machine…
Step 1. Turn off your machine’s power supply supply before attempting this repair in order to avoid electrocution.
Step 2. Using a 1/4 inch nut-driver, take out the bolts at the back of the machine holding the rear access panel. Lift the panel off the cabinet and set it aside.
Step 3. Carefully pull the drive belt off the drive pulley and motor pulley. Unplug the electrical connectors attached to the motor assembly and release the wires from the retainer.
Step 4. Use a socket wrench to take out the mounting bolts holding the motor assembly to the bottom of the tub. Carefully pull the motor out and set it aside.
Step 5. Take your new motor assembly out of its packaging. Mount the new motor at the bottom of the tub and secure it by applying the bolts.
Step 6. Plug the wire connectors into the terminals on the new motor and secure the wires in the retainer.
Step 7. Loop the drive belt around the drive pulley and motor pulley (make sure the grooved side faces inwards).
Step 8. Put the rear panel onto your machine and apply the bolts with your nut-driver. Plug the power cord into the outlet and test the machine by running a wash cycle.