LG makes some of the most robust washers and appliances around today. They are well known for their slew of modern features, reliability, and service quality, making them one of the most popular and trusted brands.
Despite this stellar reputation, some of their appliances do run into problems from time to time. One of the most common issues with the LG washer is that the washer drum will stop spinning.
Not only can this problem catch you off guard, suddenly leaving you with no feasible way to wash your clothes, but it can also be challenging to diagnose and fix if you don’t know what you’re doing.
So in this article, we’re going to explain why this issue occurs and how to correctly go about fixing it.
Why is my LG washer not spinning?
There are two main contributors to an LG washing machine not spinning. The first is a component-level failure. As washers have become more feature-rich, they have become more complicated, which means there are more possibilities of a part going bad and rendering the machine inoperable.
Luckily parts are easy to source and replace thanks to LG’s fantastic customer service.
The other problem is user error. You may be operating the machine incorrectly, which has caused some issues. This is even easier to solve as you need to adjust your operating procedure slightly, and we’ll explain exactly how to do that.
1. A power supply issue
With so many electronic components, washers need a good solid power supply. If the power is either insufficient or inconsistent, it can result in the washing machine not having enough juice to spin.
The most common cause of this is a faulty power cable. These are easy to fail and should be tested/replaced as needed.
It may also be an issue with your home’s power supply where the outlet has developed a problem.
Finally, it may be an internal transformer malfunction that will need addressing by a trained LG technician.
2. The load is off balance
For the main washer drum to spin smoothly and freely, it must be balanced.
But sometimes, you must wash big heavy blankets that might bunch up and throw the balance off. If that weight imbalance is too much, it will cause the washer to stop spinning.
LG’s engineering is excellent, and you will find that it can cope with some pretty heavy loads, but if the balance is off, you may need to either distribute the items around a bit better, so they don’t just all bunch up on one side or possibly remove them and wash them in 2 loads.
In some rarer cases, the bearing that the drum spins on may have gone bad. You can identify this problem by turning the washer drum by hand and seeing if there is either resistance or a loud churning sound as it spins.
3. The LG washer isn’t level
Most LG washers have independently adjustable feet at the bottom, allowing you to balance the machine.
The idea behind this is that sometimes the floor underneath the LG washing machine isn’t level, and because of the forces exerted on the washer when the drum is spinning at high speed, if it’s not level, it can cause some real problems.
This may make the bearings wear down. So making sure the washer is nice and level is vital.
4. Incorrect use of detergent
Depending on which brand of detergent you have purchased, the exact amounts you should be using can vary greatly.
It’s essential to check the instructions carefully as overuse of detergent can result in various problems, such as the washer being unable to drain properly, or it can clog up certain components and prevent the cycle from completing.
5. Incorrect dryer settings
Another easy user error to overlook. Various settings can affect the washer’s performance or even lock it out completely, which you may have turned on by accident.
For example, a child lock feature is designed to lock the LG front load washer and prevent it from spinning in case a curious child decides to see what all those buttons do.
It’s easy to forget this option is switched on, resulting in what appears to be the washer not spinning.
Various error codes may also be displayed on the control panel, which need addressing before it will spin again.
6. Broken speed sensor wires/motor wire harness
There are a lot of complicated sensors and components in your LG front load washer that all need to work together to create a smooth operating experience.
The wires that connect these components can sometimes degrade through heavy use of the machine, or they may have become damaged in some way, such as through a power surge or physical disturbance, such as being dropped.
In this case, you should power down the machine and perform a thorough inspection to ensure all the connections are in good order, nothing is corroded, and the drum motor is working.
Should any bad connections be spotted, they will need to be repaired.
7. The rotor position sensor has gone bad
There is an essential sensor in the washer which monitors the rotation speed of the drum. This is designed to keep it under control and stop any component damage that might result from running too fast.
Sometimes if the washer is not spinning, it’s not a motor failure but a problem with the sensor instructing the machine not to spin.
This sensor can become faulty or damaged over time and must be tested and replaced accordingly.
8. A drive belt issue
The drive belt attaches the drive motor to the drum and facilitates the spinning motion.
This is an easy component to wear down over time. You can often inspect these visually by checking to see if it looks cracked, frayed, or old.
If it looks worn out, then it can be replaced. But if it still looks in good order, it may need to be tightened slightly to make a better connection to the drum.
How to fix an LG washer not spinning
As you can see, the root causes of an LG Washer not spinning are often easily addressed with basic repairs and component replacements.
Let’s walk through how to fix these issues to get your LG Washer spinning again.
1. Fix the power supply issue
A power supply issue with your LG Washer will most commonly be due to a power cable or power outlet failure.
Try using another device in the outlet to see if it works. If that also fails to work correctly, it’s an issue with your home’s electrical supply, not the LG Washer itself.
If you are using a power strip, remember to turn it on and test that it is working correctly too.
As LG Washers are computer controlled, sometimes there can be a simple bug or glitch in the software system that a ‘hard reset’ will address. Power turn the machine and unplug it from the outlet for 30 seconds.
Then plug it back and hold power + start buttons for five seconds, followed by the play + pause buttons for five more seconds. This will fully restart the machine.
2. Adjust the wash load
An off-balance wash load causing issues with the washer not spinning is usually because a heavy object, such as a blanket, has bundled up and is creating a large uneven amount of weight on one side of the drum.
Try untangling the washing and spreading it out to help the weight be more even. Alternatively, you can always remove a few pieces to lighten the load.
In some rarer cases, the drum bearing might be damaged. If you have tested spinning the drum by hand and found this a problem, you will need to contact LG, who will help you fix it.
3. Level the washer
For optimal performance, the washer must be level. Fortunately, this is very easy to adjust.
Use a spirit level to check if it’s level. If not, identify which corners of the washer are too high/low and plan which feet need adjusting to get it level.
Use a wrench to loosen the bolts holding each foot of the washer down, then adjust the washer to the required level and retighten the bolt.
4. Use the detergent properly
If you’ve been using too much detergent and it’s caused a build-up in the machine. You can use a simple warm water and vinegar solution and then perform a normal wash cycle with the highest heat possible.
This will flush the system through, remove any residue, and clean everything out.
Once this is complete, adjust the amount of detergent you move using forward by following the instructions indicated on the detergent packet/bottle.
5. Check the menu settings
Check that the child lock feature is disabled, as this will prevent the wash cycle from starting. The’ CL’ letters can be found on the main control panel.
If this is on the display, you should press and hold the child lock button for 3 seconds to disable it.
Additionally, you should check for any other error codes on display and address them accordingly.
6. Fix the sensor wires and motor wire harness
If the wiring or motor has experienced a fault, you may hear it making strange noises, a symptom of something failing.
If you suspect this is a problem, we do not recommend repairing this yourself, as it can be quite a complicated process. Instead, contact LG Support, who will arrange for a technician to come out and fix it.
7. Repair/replace the rotor position sensor
If the motor itself is still in working order, it may be that the sensor associated with it has failed, preventing the washer from spinning.
Here you can test it with a multimeter to ascertain if it’s failed. If it has, it will need to be replaced with a new one.
8. Repair the drive belt
The drive belt is a common point of failure as these suffer a lot of wear and tear during use.
If you have visually inspected it and it looks worn, it will simply need to be replaced.
However, if it still looks pristine but has an issue, you should contact LG Support to investigate the issue further, as it may be a bearing problem that is harder to address yourself.
Adrian is an ISCET licensed professional that has completed the National Appliance Service Technician Certification Exam and has the expertise to diagnose and repair any appliance. He is well-versed in the latest technologies and techniques and is always up-to-date on the latest industry standards.
