This advice is for Kenmore Elite and Whirlpool Duet model FRONT LOADING washing machines.If you experience a problem where the washer does not drain properly or the drain pump makes excessive noise, here’s the information you need to check the drain pump: Symptom: PUMP IS RUNNING, BUT NOT DRAINING PROPERLY.
Unplug the washer while servicing inside the unit.
Remove the lower kick panel under the door by removing the three 7mm screws under the bottom edge of the panel.HINT: Use a couple of blocks of wood to prop up the front feet of the washer to gain better access to the screws.Once the screws are removed the panel should drop down, and then pull off.If the panel becomes stuck, a slight tap on either side will dislodge it.
Locate the drain pump.It will be located directly under the wash tub (it is the only pump this washer has).
There is an access removal cover on the pump that can be removed to clean out the trap.BEFORE doing this, it is strongly recommended that you remove all residual water from the wash tub & drain line or you will have about a gallon or so inside your washer and on the floor to clean up.
Here’s a helpful way of quickly removing the residual water.If you own a wet/dry shop vac, remove the drain hose from the standpipe at the wall and pull a vacuum with the shop vac.This will empty the wash tub, pump and drain lines.If you don’t own a shop vac, grab a bunch of old towels and open the access on the pump slowly so that it comes out at a trickle.Allow the towels to soak up the majority of the water.Close the access and stop the water if you need to get additional towels.
Open the pump access and remove once you have all the water drained.Check the drain pump for foreign objects and debris.Check the pump impeller and make sure there’s nothing caught in it.Items as small as toothpicks or cotton swabs have been known to stop this pump from working.
Clean out the pump thoroughly and reinstall the access cover.Make sure the cover is snug, but do not over tighten.
Place the drain hose back in the standpipe (IMPORTANT – DO NOT FORGET!).
With the bottom panel still off, plug the washer back in and select the following on the operator console – DRAIN SPIN, NO SPIN, and then press any button under OPTIONS 4 times (it must be the same button).“C00” will show on the console display as the washer begins diagnostics mode.
Check the drain pump for leaks as the washer fills.The pump is gravity filled and will hold water even it is not pumping.Allow washer to run through diagnostics until it begins the wash tub tumble cycle.
At this point, you can stop the diagnostics procedure by pressing PAUSE/CANCEL 2 times.The drain pump energizes and the washer will begin to drain.
If the drain pump works normal and there are no leaks detected, reinstall the bottom panel and tighten screws.
NOTE: It is normal to have residual water left inside the wash tub under the wash basket.This is why it is important to leave the door ajar when not in use so this water does not become sour.
Comment by jsrock516, posted on Aug 06, 2008
PLEASE NOTE: I failed to mention in my initial symptoms that it IS possible for the drain pump to be running and still NOT drain water. If the pump impeller shears off, or the motor shaft is stripped, the pump will still give the indications that it is running, but will not drain. The usual result would be an error code.
I had an F02 fault and what sounded like loose change rattling inside the pump as it ran. When I removed the pump I noticed a wad of hair wrapped around the impeller shaft. Over time the hair had built up and pushed the impeller out from the motor until it was grinding against the housing. I cut away the hair and pushed the impeller back down on the shaft...not quite good as new because the plastic impeller and the housing have a small gap from the grinding, but it's working fine for now.
Wow - that really worked! By the way, I fix medical equipment for a living, and can never believe the docs when they say that something "somehow" ended up in a vacuum line. Well, my experience with this pump has caused me to re-think my position - I found a SOCK just like other people in the trap. How do they get down there? I will have to pardon my dryer as others have stated. Other interesting finds included money, a christmas tree light bulb, paper clips, a bra underwire(!) and a whole load of lint. It's probably a good thing that the trap is there - any one of these things would break the impeller motor on the pump for sure, and that is a much more expensive fix!
Dryer, you are exonerated from all accusations of eating socks. Washer on the other hand, you are convicted on three counts of sock eating. One from four years ago, the other two hard to say but once you got the taste of the first you just couldn't help yourself. I submit to you the following evidence and rest my case.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, A MILLION TIMES I THANK YOU!!! ALMOST GOING TO GO OUT AND BUY A NEW WASHER OUT OF FRUSTRATION AND THEN CAME ACROSS UR POSTING!!! YOU HAVE GIVEN ME A SMILE FROM EAR TO EAR!!!!!! THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT TO HELP THOSE YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW..... WISH WERE THERE WERE MORE LIKE YOU OUT THERE! I INTEND TO PAY THIS FORWARD......
I don't know who you are ...and I can across this just looking for the troublshooting on line...BUT your a ROCK STAR AND I LOVE YOU!...I found hhmmmmmm coins, lollypop sticks, buttons a braclet, and other gross stuff...your directions were so so so EASY...hardest part was the screwdriver tip they put on this thing I had never seen...but I dug around the tool box and found one that fit!..Wish you could help me with my iphone!! THANK YOU!
I am a woman that is not the most mechanically inclined, but this was extremely helpful. The process was quick and painless. I was finished in less that 15min. and everything is working wonderfully. Thank You very very much for your help.
Had a F 02 problem in my Whirlpool Duet, and your step by step instructions on clearing the drain pump, saved me a house call..!! Very clear and well explained!
Thanks so much!
Comment by precious_pud, posted on Jan 08, 2009
I should say as well, that I found a part of a coat hanger, money, lint, plastic ****** stick, plastic kids jewellery and a braclet clasp...
I printed out the instructions for checking the drain pump and was headed for the laundry room when a sick child required me to run to the store instead. To my amazement, while I was gone, my 14-year old son took the directions and fixed the washing machine himself! Not only were you able to give me the knowledge to fix the problem, but you were so easy to understand that my son did it for me! Thank you!
I have a question............I took the lower kick plate off..........I saw a brown cap that unscrewed, I unscrewed it and had towels prepared to catch the water.......once I got all the water, I finished taking the cap off, looked inside and there was a very small mount of lint on the cap itself.........I screwed the cap back on and ran cycle. There is nothing that is wrong with my machine but I just wanted to check after reading this.........Not sure what a standpipe is? Is there more to this procedure? I was afraid to mess with anything else. When you say "open pump access" do you mean the cap that unscrews? How do I check the impeller? Do I have to actually take the hose out?
Thanks for the great write up. We were able to avoid a service call with this and the comments from others (remove pump to check the impeller). Our Duet does not have NO SPIN and I could not find any other info on how to get diagnostics to run on our machine. However once we cleared the trap and pump it seems to be much happier. Thanks again!
My washer was not completing a cycle and giving a f 02 code on the display. My washer is a Duet. This problem did not happen over night. It would work 75% of the time then 50%, and then great it's broken I need to call a repair man uuggghhhh. I read your very informative instructions, thanks for prepairing me for the water coming out of the pump. You saved me a big mess! I had change, two baby socks, a broken pencil,screws, chapstick, alot of lent. I knew after I pulled a bowl full of **** out of there that had to be the problem. My husband is so impressed. The washer is faster, I think it is getting more water out of my cloths. In turn will make my dryer better to. I can not tell you how much I apriciate this. Thank You!
Comment by marmejean, posted on Dec 09, 2008
I had this same problem. got to this web page there are verry good instructions on how to fix this problem. It is verry easy I had a a clog in my pump and there is a trap that you need to clean out good luck
This worked for me. I was getting a F05 fault code. I found a sock, legos, money and more in the trap. I also removed the valves at the back and found that the screens were plug pretty good with minerals. Thanks a bunch. I never knew that pump trap existed.
Thanks. Imagine my delight when opening the hatch and finding a sock wrapped around the pump impeller, which caused my F21 code. Removed the sock and replaced the cover and the access panel and VOILA! Fixed! This tip saved us the inconvenience of not having a laundry as well as the money associated with what would have been a repair call. Very helpful and satisfying.
Thank you! Wow, this was a huge huge help! The drain pump was FULL of stuff and it the washer works better than ever now. One complication was that the middle screw holding the panel (I would have saved a few minutes had a read more carefully and saw jsrock specified that the screws were 7mm) was stripped, I guess at the manufacturer, so I had to pry the panel off around it...
A thousand thanks, for sure! A clear simple set of instructions for fixing a common problem. Absolutly wonderful. My impellor was jammed with a small child's sock. And people, use the tip about the wet/dry vacume, it works great! Thanks again, Mike
This article came in very handy while vacationing in my friend's house this weekend and doing our laundry before leaving. The washer indicated the F02 code and my friend was ready to call Sears and wait 'til next week to get it fixed while leaving us with a soaked load. I reminded him of Google and within 5 minutes we had found this site and article.
3 screws out later, uncorking of the pump filter and voila, we found the problem: part of a bra pad was clogging the pump.
This also worked on my GE front loader, The start button was flashing and the washer was pausing between each cycle.
So I followed this advice and pulled 2 dollars in change and a a lint/hair ball the size of a large fist out of the drain. Works like new now
Thanks
Fourdugos
F02: The wet vac was a great tip. Pulled the pump and detached the impeller housing and found a piece of a pencil jammed in the impeller. Consider making a small registration mark on the impeller housing to the motor before removing the screws. Mark the screw holes as there are only 3 screws but 5 locations for a quick re-assembly.
This saved my a phone call to my plumber. In the filter itself, I found a child's sock, a AA battery, toothpick, coffee stirrer, stick from a sucker, parts of a mechanical pencil and a big glob of lint. In the drain hose coming from the wash tub..I found yet another child's sock.
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