The washing machine does not open after washing

Like any technology, automatic washing machines have problems. A common problem is that the door does not open after completing the wash cycle. In this article we will tell you what to do if the machine completely refuses to open the door after washing.

Relevant for all popular car brands: AEG, Ardo, Bosch, Beko, Candy, Daewoo, Gorenje, Electrolux, Haier, Hansa, Hotpoint Ariston, Indesit, LG, Samsung, Siemens, Vestel, Whirlpool, Zanussi, Alenka, Atlant, Vyatka and others, including models with a touch screen and without a display.

To start

Before we get started, let's study what exactly the problem is - a machine breakdown or a program failure, and whether it is possible to cope with it ourselves.

When a locked hatch is normal

Often washing machines do not open the doors immediately after washing things. It may take 1 to 5 minutes for the program to complete.

If you have received such a machine, do not pull the handle forcefully when completing the wash, even if the signal sounds to indicate the end of the procedure. Wait five minutes. This time is enough for the drum to stop completely and the hot laundry to cool down (in some modes). This is done for user safety reasons.

If you don’t hear the characteristic click of the door opening, check whether the water has drained from the machine - if not, it needs to be drained manually, more on that below. The problem may also be a faulty door lock mechanism.

De-energize

Any electronic device will glitch from time to time. Disconnect the machine from the 220 V network and turn it on again after two to five minutes - the “washing machine” will reboot. Some time after switching on, the latch will unlock.

Drain the water

If there is water left in the drum, the security system will not allow the door to be opened. This is done to prevent water from leaking and to prevent a flood in the bathroom.

If the water does not drain automatically, drain it manually: open the water drain hatch at the bottom of the machine, most often on the right side of the front panel, and carefully drain the liquid into a basin or bucket. Once the drum is dry, the door will open.

Control module is faulty

The machine is connected to the network, the hatch lock, as well as the locking device, is working, there is no water in the drum, but the door still does not open? The control module responsible for sending the signal to unlock the loading door may have broken down. He is also responsible for temperature control, motor rotation speed, cycle time, water pressure and supply, and starting pumps.

If this intelligent device fails, the machine may freeze completely. The indicator begins to flash randomly. Signals stop entering the blocking device. The loading hatch is blocked. The cause of the breakdown may be water getting on the electrical board, excessive carbon deposits, or a short circuit due to the bodies of insects or rodents. Repairing the controller board yourself is highly undesirable. A control module that burns out as a result of inept actions will cost a tidy sum.

The workshop can reflash the intelligent module. It is also possible to reset the programmer. If a serious fault is discovered, the board may need to be completely replaced.

Emergency opening methods

If neither rebooting nor draining the water helps, then the problem is more serious, and the door must be opened emergencyly. Despite the scary name, most methods are simple and will not lead to further damage.

Restart the program

If the cycle has completed and there is no water in the loading hatch, try starting a new wash program - for example, rinse or drain. Before starting a new program, the door will unlock briefly and then lock again. It is important not to miss the characteristic click, open the door and cancel the set program.

Emergency opening cable

At the bottom of the washing machine, in the same place as the drain hatch, under the plastic cover inside there is an emergency opening cable. Most often it is bright in color, such as orange, light green or red. Simply pull it and the hatch will open.

With a rope

If your car model does not have an emergency release cable, you can open the door using a regular rope or cord. It should be strong, but thin and flexible enough to fit through the hole in the lock. Place the cord so that it goes under half the length of the door, and the middle is where the lock is. Pull towards the loops and the cord will open the lock.

How this is done in practice, watch the video at the end of the article.

If the handle is broken

If you overdid it a little and broke off the handle of the washer, good old pliers will come to the rescue. Carefully pry the locking device with them and the hatch will open. If there is nothing to pry or it doesn’t work, it’s better to contact a specialist.

Disassemble the unit

If the UBL (hatch locking device) is faulty, it must be dismantled, the door, hook and loops must be completely removed, and new parts must be purchased. Repair is impossible here - most often these mechanisms break down due to overheating or jamming and must be completely replaced. Replacing the mount, hook and blocker is easy - you just need a regular Phillips screwdriver and straight hands.

Major breakdowns

Various signs indicate the nature of the breakdown. For example, the car does not open, but the hatch handle moves freely - this means that the handle itself is broken and needs to be replaced. Nothing terrible, in general, small parts often break, especially if brute physical force is applied to them.

If the handle is in order, but the door does not open, the problem is in the hatch locking device. Here you will need to use force to open the door to replace the device. It is better if a professional does this so as not to damage anything else.

If the handle is not broken and the door does not open, then the module that sends the signal to unlock may be faulty. Here you need to reflash the board if the machine is electronically controlled, or reset the programmer if the washing machine is electromechanically controlled.

Reasons for blocking the washing machine hatch

Mechanical damage and wear

Mechanical damage - careless transportation, rough operation, excessive load, and so on - can quickly cause the machine to break down. But even for the most careful owner, not a single mechanism will work forever: over time, its parts lose the ability to perform their direct functions. .

Program crash

Any electronics is programmed to perform a certain algorithm. If there is a problem in the program and the door is tightly jammed, contact specialists who will help you reprogram the device.

The filter or drain hose is clogged

A common problem is a clogged drain. It can be mechanical or natural. Natural blockage comes from fabric fibers, which inevitably end up in the drain, and salts due to hard water. Mechanical blockage is caused by foreign objects getting into the drain hose: buttons, coins, etc.

A clogged drain does not drain water from the washing machine, so the hatch does not open to prevent flooding of the room.

Therefore, it is important to clean the drain after washing - with hot water, pipe cleaner or, in difficult cases, with a special cable.

Broken sensor or control board

The washing machine works by having a group of sensors transmit data to the main board. A common problem with door locking is a faulty water level sensor (pressostat): when there is no longer water in the drum, the sensor shows that there is some, and the main board does not send a signal to unlock the lock. The problem may also be in the main board itself: either its components are not working correctly - this often happens due to sudden power surges - or the microcircuits have become unusable due to moisture or old age.

How to unlock the lock during washing?

In some cases, it is necessary to urgently open the machine doors before the end of the wash. However, at the same time, water remains in the tank, and the system will not allow the hatch lock to be unlocked. However, as we know, there are no hopeless situations - there are ways not only to stop the washing process, but also to gain access to the contents of the SM drum. Similar actions will need to be taken if there is a long power outage. To unlock the lock mechanism during washing, you will need to follow certain steps. In this case, you should take into account the design features of washing machine models of different brands.

In different cases, the algorithm of actions will look like this.

In situations with Samsung products, the determining factor will be the device that controls the water level in the tank (pressure switch). Based on this, in the event of an emergency stop of the car, it is recommended to first completely drain the liquid, and only then open the hatch.

It is recommended to forcefully open the car doors after turning it off. In most cases, it is necessary to first drain the water from the tank. You should also remember that excessive efforts will only make the situation worse.

In the next video you will learn what to do if the washing machine door does not open after washing.

Features of popular brands

Indesit, Samsung, Electrolux, AEG

On modern models "Indesit", "Samsung", AEG and "Electrolux" error codes are displayed. Models without a screen indicate breakdowns by flashing lights in a certain order. All codes or combinations of blinking lights are given in the instructions for the machine (in our case, unlocking the Indesit door may display error F-17 or “door”).

Atlant

On the machine's screen, the error is displayed as an alphanumeric code or an English word indicating the source of the problem. In our case, when the lock does not work as it should, the error code is “door”. On models without screens, the first, third and fourth lights light up.

LG and Beko

These companies use letter designations for major faults. Our problem is hidden behind the letters dE - “door open error”.

Bosch

“Bosch” indicates faults with the code Fnn, where nn is the fault number (in our case F01). The instructions indicate all types of breakdowns and how to fix them yourself, if possible.

Ariston

Ariston uses codes similar to Bosch.

Top Loading Models

The main reason for a top-loading machine door to lock is a problem with the drum flap. This is often the fault of the owner who did not close the top lid tightly or did not accidentally remove the laundry that was “bitten” by the flap. But factory defects are also possible, and over time the lids may become loose. It is better not to try to open the machine yourself, but to immediately contact a specialist.

A simple solution

Why doesn't the hatch open even though all washing modes are finished? As we have already said, there are quite a few answers to this question - there are objective reasons resulting from the failure of mechanical components or automation.

Every time you need to thoroughly diagnose it before coming to any decision. In conclusion, I would like to offer a rather unique unlocking method when the door in a washing machine still does not open after all washing modes have completed. Watch a short video and everything will become clear to you:

LG Unlock Procedure

It is most often possible to disable the system that blocks the loading hatch in machines from this company using the usual measures applied to other machines - Indesit, Samsung and other brands.

The factory version is applied exclusively to the method involving child locking. To install it, press a couple of buttons at the same time - “super rinse” and “prewash”. The program is canceled by the same action, after which the process can be continued by pressing the “pause/start” key.

Fault prevention

There are not so many tips, but you need to follow them constantly:

Treat household appliances with care; close and open the hatch for loading laundry gently and without unnecessary force, so that you do not have to spend money on repairing the locking mechanism.
Never overload the machine, the automation has a strict program: it will not even allow you to close the door in this case.
Pay attention immediately to the occurrence of malfunctions: one will lead to a whole series of failures, and repairs may require more costs than replacing a small part.

If you follow these simple recommendations, household appliances will serve according to the assigned resource, without causing trouble or unnecessary problems.

Calling a specialist: the price of the issue

In case of breakdowns and malfunctions that cannot be eliminated on your own, the help of a specialist is needed. To do this, you need to call a specialist from a household appliance repair company. Information about such companies can be found on the Internet, read the price list in advance, and read reviews.

Machines that are under warranty must be serviced by a specialized service center. Contacts of such companies are provided to the buyer at the time of purchase of the goods.

The call to the repairman is made by phone, specifying what kind of breakdown occurred , the brand of the device, a convenient time for the repairman to arrive, etc. The cost of repair includes payment for labor, the price of new parts and consumables, if they are needed.

The cost of payment is calculated in each specific case, and may differ by city and company providing services.

Average price for work:

replacing the handle on the hatch door – from 700 rubles;
replacement of the locking device – from 800 rubles;
repair of the control module - from 1,000 rubles, etc.

After completing the repair and test running the device, the technician issues a warranty.

If you call for help from a random craftsman who works privately, then there can be no confidence in the quality of the work. Such an employee does not issue a guarantee, may not have experience or qualifications, and in the worst case, he will turn out to be a fraudster who will lure money supposedly to buy new parts and simply disappear.

Recommendations from professionals

There is no natural way to open the door when the locking mechanism is broken, because the door is automatically locked. Here it will take a lot of time and effort to perform a natural opening using additional devices. Most often, this method is used for front-loading machines, where the latch moves to the side when activated.

To avoid causing damage to the laundry washing unit, it is recommended to call a professional. It will perform the following manipulations:

take a strong cord or thread,
inserts them into the space of the door and body,
the thread clings to the hook of the locking device,
Now all that remains is to carefully pull the thread.

All actions must be carried out as carefully as possible; with their help, the lock will come out of the grooves and the loading door will unlock.

There is a more universal way to open the machine door, but to do it you will have to remove the top panel by unscrewing a couple of bolts.

The machine tilts back a little, which causes the drum to tilt and gives access to the locking mechanism. Use a finger or a screwdriver to press the hook. It will unlock. Now you can take things out. But here it is necessary to remember one feature. Further operation of the machine is prohibited; a specialist should be called to fix the problem.