Does a washing machine need to be connected to water to see if it will agitate?

SOURCE: Washing machine won't spin or agitate

It doesn't spin If your washer won't spin, check these:

It doesn't pump or spin
It pumps, but doesn't spin
It spins only with the lid closed
It doesn't pump or spin If it doesn't pump water out or spin, check to see if the motor is running, then proceed as follows:

• If the motor is running, your washer probably has a frozen pump pulley or a broken pump belt. To check the pulley, remove the pump from the washer and try to rotate the pulley manually. If it doesn't turn freely--if it's frozen or stiff--replace it. If the pump belt is broken or looks quite worn, replace it--but be sure to check the pump pulley before you change the belt.



• If the motor isn't running, the lid switch may be defective. If so, the washing machine can't spin and may not function at all. The switch is inside the washing machine main housing near the door frame. Often you have to raise or open the top or front of the washing machine to get to the switch. If it's defective, you need to replace it.

• The lid switch may be defective. If it is, the washing machine doesn't spin. The switch is inside the washing machine main housing near the door frame. Often you have to raise or open the top or front of the washing machine to get to the switch. If it's defective, you need to replace it.



• The motor coupler may be broken. Many Whirlpool®-manufactured washers use a small, relatively inexpensive motor coupling. It's plastic and rubber and is mounted to the shaft of the motor on one side, and to the transmission on the other. Over time, the coupler wears out and fails. You may need to replace it.



• A belt may be broken. Many washing machines have one or two belts. If a belt is broken or badly worn, you need to replace it with a genuine belt from the manufacturer. (Some washing machine belts are designed with special characteristics not found in automotive belts.)



• The clutch may be worn. If your washer is a GE, it may use a clutch to come up to the proper spin speed. As the clutch wears out, it may prevent the unit from spinning well or at all. If the clutch is worn, you need to replace it. For this job, you probably want to hire a qualified appliance repair technician.



• The drive motor may be defective. Many washer brands use a reversing motor. For agitation the motor runs in one direction, for spinning and draining, the other. It's possible for a motor to burn out in one direction and continue to operate in the other. If this happens, you need to replace the entire motor.



• The transmission may not be shifting properly. Older washers produced by Whirlpool® have a transmission with an electro-mechanical shifter. If the shifter becomes even partially defective, the unit may drain the water but not spin. This is a complex system, if your washer has a shifter problem, you may want to hire a qualified appliance repair technician to repair it.



• The spin bearing or basket drive may be worn or seized. These components allow the inner tub to spin freely inside the outer tub. When this is the problem, you usually hear a loud sound during the spin cycle. Call a qualified appliance repair technician.

SOURCE: washer machine not draining water

The GE serviceman repaired my machine approximately 40 minutes. I paid $189 for the issue to be resolved in 5 minutes. This is no exaggeration.

The serviceman arrived at 2:50pm and finished at 2:55pm. It took another 5 minutes for me to write the check and he was gone.

My recommendation is...
- Purchase the GE service plan prior to calling GE to repair the service. A 1-Year service plan is $40 and 2-Year is $75. It costs $99 just for the serviceman to come to your house.

- Fix the issue yourself. Of course, this only applies if you are handy. I am handy and I tried to fix the problem myself. I just couldn't figure out the location of the access panel.

Solution...
The access panel is on the front. This can be removed in less than 20 seconds. The notches on the access panel is in line with the edging of the washing machine door. To remove, slide in a flat object like a flat-head screwdriver. Wiggle up and down on each side until door comes loose. Lift up door and set aside.

The water pump is on the lower right in the front of the washing machine. If your wash machine has any water in it, you want to use a shop vac to empty it out. The serviceman used a clamp to stop the water from running down. A little water still came out but he used my shop vac to get it up. It was less than a cup full and I had a 1/2 tub of water. Afterwards, he stuck his fingers in the water pump and pulled out the item that was blocking the pump.

Guess what was blocking the pump? The item was my two-month old daughter's sock. He recommends using a washing bag.

Remember this solution is for GE 315 model that is a top load washer. This will most likely work with similar models. I knew my water pump was still working because it hummed during the rinse and spin cycles.

Good luck and I hope this saves you $189 or any other fees.

SOURCE: old model rca washer machine...will not agitate/wash the clothes,does spin.

If the washer fills up with water and you hear the motor running but the agitator doesn’t move, the agitator coupling is the most likely problem. First pump the water out by turning the timer to spin. Once the water is out, turn the washer off. Now pull up on the agitator until it comes off (it may be hard to pull off). Now that the agitator is off, you can see the agitator coupling, reach down and try to turn the coupling. If the coupling turns freely, it is striped out and needs to be replaced.

SOURCE: I need to remove the agitator from my washing machine.

On most Amana washers you pull on the agitator with brute force. It "snaps" on. It helps if you fill the washer with hot water and let it set for a few minutes... drain and then try pulling it out. When i last took apart my Amana it took me and a friend to pull the agitator off.

SOURCE: Amana washer won't agitate when full with laundry

The belt is probably worn down. Replace it.