The key or lock indicator on the washing machine is on
Most washing machines have a key or lock indicator located in the form of a separate light on the control panel. In some models of washing machines, the function of indicators is performed by symbols on the machine display.
This indicator is rarely paid attention to unless it is constantly on. What does this signal mean, in what cases does it light up, and does anything need to be done?
What does a lit key or lock indicator mean?
The key or lock indicator may not only light up, but also flash. In this article, we will consider only those situations when the indicator is on and not blinking. So, there may be several such cases:
- The key indicator lights up during washing, indicating that the door is locked and cannot be opened during washing. There is no problem, the washing will end and after a few minutes the door will automatically unlock;
- The key or lock indicator is on all the time, even when the door is open and there is no washing, the washing machine does not respond to key presses. In this case, you need to check the locking device, door lock and hinges, as well as the control board;
- The key indicator lights up when the wash is finished, but the door does not open. The cause may also be a jammed locking device or control board.
Note! When the child lock protection of the control panel is turned on, the key indicator on the washing machine may also light up. So make sure the feature is disabled before troubleshooting.
What to do first?
In any situation when the key or lock indicator on the washing machine is on, The first thing you can try is to remove the lock by pressing the program start button and holding it for 5 seconds. After this, the system board reboots, and the lock is usually disabled.
If the machine does not respond to pressing the buttons, then you can turn off the washing machine and unplug the power cord from the outlet, then wait 10 minutes and turn it on again. After such a reboot, the lock should be disabled. If such actions do not lead to anything, and the indicator continues to light, then repairs cannot be avoided.
For your information! According to service centers, most often a similar problem occurs with old generation LG, Samsung, Bosch, Indesit washing machines. In such machines, error notification is carried out through indicators, and not through the display.
Replacement of door hinges and hatch locking device
Before changing the locking device, you need to check whether the door lock, or rather the tongue on the door itself, is broken. You also need to check the serviceability of the door hinges; it happens that small children hang on the door, which leads to its bending. Then the door either does not close at all, or closes, but then jams and does not open. In this case, it is necessary to replace the hinges. Let's look at how to do this using an example LG washing machine.
- Disconnect the machine from water, sewer and electricity.
- Using special tongs or pliers, you need to remove the metal clamp on the cuff of the washing machine and remove the cuff from inside the drum.
- Disconnect the wire from the door locking device.
- At the bottom of the washer, open the filter door and unscrew the screw holding the plastic housing of the filter door.
- Now you need to unscrew the screw holding the front part of the machine body.
- Next, you need to remove the top cover of the machine by unscrewing 2 screws from the back.
- Remove the powder receptacle from the machine.
- Remove the screws behind the powder tray and the screws behind the control panel.
- Remove the control panel from the latches, doing this from left to right.
- Loosen the screws holding the front of the case.
- Remove the front part of the case and place the front on a soft cloth.
- Unscrew the plastic casing covering the door hinges, and then unscrew the hinges from the washing machine door.
- Unscrew the hinges from the washing machine body and remove them.
- Take new hinges and install them in place of the faulty ones, reassembling the machine in reverse order.
As for the hatch locking device, replacing it is also not difficult if you bought an original spare part for your washing machine. The entire process is presented in detail in the video below.
If the door is locked and closed, you will have to remove the top cover of the washing machine to replace the locking device. Next, you need to feel the lock with your hand and move the latch so that the lock opens. When the drum hatch is open, you can proceed to replacing the locking device.
What to do if the control board is broken?
If at the end of the wash the control board does not send a signal to the door locking device, the control board is broken. Perhaps the malfunction occurred due to moisture on the board or contacts, or due to a power surge in the electrical network. In this case, an accurate diagnosis of the breakdown and checking the board will be required.
Important! In many cases, there is no need to buy a new control module because the old one can be repaired.
Carrying out such repairs is quite difficult, so we would not advise you to do it. After all, you can aggravate the situation, and then expensive repairs are inevitable.
Thus, the key or lock indicators on the washing machine play an important role. They can not only inform you about the progress of the program, but also about a serious breakdown of one of the machine parts. We hope you now know what to do when this indicator is on.
Interesting:
56 reader comments
How to remove the key from a Siemens S 16-74 washing machine
I turned on the lock, but now I can’t turn it off! I unplugged it for 10 minutes and it didn’t help... what should I do?
Empty the drum!
The problem was solved thanks to your hint, but I was thinking of calling a repairman! Thank you!
On the LG washing machine, a lock lock and CL flashing appeared on the light display, what should I do?
It was the same situation. There was water in the drum. I put it in spin mode. After the end of the mode, the Samsung door unlocked.
Signal flashing lock on display. I can't turn it off.
It means that the machine door is not locked. You don't need to do anything with it. This is true for many models. This is fine. It will turn itself off during washing.
What if it doesn't turn off? It still burns. It happens as Elena writes.
The castle is on fire
The wash is finished, but the lock icon is on and the word is flashing. After a forced shutdown, the letters disappeared. The door opens, but the lock remains. I disconnected it from the power supply - the same result.
What to do if a key appears?
And I fixed it.
What to do? New Samsung washing machine. I put the washing machine on and the lock lights up and doesn’t turn on. The display is working. But the buttons do not press and do not erase.
If the lock shows, but the indicators do not work, you need to simultaneously press the temperature and spin buttons for about three minutes
Thank you. Your advice helped.
Thank you! Your advice helped me too.
Indesit machine. The lock indicator is flashing. The door does not lock. The machine does not draw water and is silent.
Help is needed! I turned on the wash and it doesn’t spin or drain the water! I opened the bottom, drained the water, tried again, the same thing did not drain! What to do, who knows?
On a Bosch machine, a flashing key is protection against switching on.
This mode is activated and deactivated by pressing the start button for 5 seconds.
Thank you. I pressed start for 5 seconds and the lock went away.
Samsung washing machine. After washing, the lock indicator flashes, but does not affect the operation of the machine. Doesn't turn off. Unplugged it from the socket and turned it on. Doesn't blink.Please tell me what could be?
Bosch washing machine. Doesn't open, lock indicator blinks.
Ariston machine. The lock icon is flashing and all buttons are locked, what should I do?
Press spin and temperature at the same time.
Washing machine Lindo 100 Zanussi. The lights are on and flashing. Doesn't start.
The technician came today and did a diagnostic. He said we need to change the brushes. I skated away, he put them in place and left. I went, bought brushes, and started replacing them. And then we saw a cut wire from the engine neatly hidden in insulation. They didn’t call another master, they started calling to find out the company’s address. They say different addresses. Don't use their services - they are scammers.
Samsung washing machine, the key indicator blinks when turned off?
This means that the door is not blocked and can open freely. There are no breakdowns, don’t worry :)
We sent the control board from a Samsung machine for repair. They said that the lock on the door needed to be changed because the circuit board had burned out. And they charged a good price for the castle. Tell me, is it really possible that the castle was the reason?
Machine Burning. When I press start, all the lights flash. And when they stop flashing, the key light comes on. Tell me what to do?
Thanks a lot! They helped a lot!
Good evening. Tell me, the lock/key indicator on the panel does not light up.or it lights up, the machine starts to wash, the key goes out and the machine stops, the door opens freely. What's broken and where to look?
Samsung washing machine. The protection and child lock indicator lights up. The door opens, the indicators turn on, but the machine does not work. Tell me, please, how to start it?
Press spin and function at the same time and hold. And everything will pass.
Thank you, your advice was very helpful! God bless you!
The lock on Indesit is on all the time after washing, what should I do?
The lock on the Gorenje washing machine is on and the indicators are flashing, what should I do? The machine is new, washed 2 times.
BEKO washing machine. The key is on. All buttons work, but the machine does not start.
It helped. Thank you!
Indesit 85105. The doors are locked, the key is constantly on.
Machine Ariston ALS109X. When you turn on the washing modes, the key is on, the power light is not on, the program does not start, the water does not fill, nothing happens at all. What is the reason?
Hello, Samsung washing machine. After washing and opening the door, the machine turns off, but the closed door indicator remains on; after disconnecting from the network, it stops blinking. I also noticed that during washing the glass does not heat up, that is, the water is cold. What could this be, is the heating element burnt out? The washing machine is almost 5 years old.
Hello, the machine takes in water, as soon as the drum starts turning, the lock goes out and the machine stops washing. What is the problem? Please tell me.
Help me please! On the typewriter Burning w 7202/s, when turned on, all the lights flash 3 times. As I understand it, error e3. How to remove it?
Hello, please tell me the Indesit machine. The lock flashes, the door does not lock, does not erase. What to do?
On the Atlant washing machine the lock icon is on. The washing machine doesn't react to anything. What should I do, please tell me?
Electrolux.
I washed it as usual. As soon as the wash was finished, the lock started beeping and flashing. The doors opened. It beeps for any action and that’s it.
It was disconnected for an hour and it didn’t help.
Machine Burning. When you press start, all the indicators light up, then the key lights up. There is no washing. What is the reason?
Hello, LG machine, the red lock is on, the door opens, the program is not installed, CL is blinking. I can't turn on the wash. Help me please!
Burning - the key is on, the modes do not change
Atlant machine. The key is on. Programs do not turn on. Disabling it didn't help.
Whirlpool machine. The lock key is on. No buttons respond. When you press a couple of buttons, as indicated above, the sound increases, the block is not removed.
Solution.
Below the place where you can select to add functions like “quick wash” or “stained laundry” to the main program is shown. You need to press and hold it for 3 seconds, everything will unlock
The key is on in the LG car, the door does not open, what should I do?
I plug it into the network and the lock immediately turns on without typing any program. If I managed to dial the program within one minute, the washing goes fine, but after the end of the washing the lock does not open. After standing for about a minute, the lock and spin indicators turn on (blink) and the pump starts working.
Thank you for your work. Thanks to the situations described in detail and the actions to take on them, I was able to cope with the task without a specialist.