Washer fills with water but will not agitate or tumble, drum does not move during wash.
Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
Possible Causes
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Unplug the washer before accessing the rear or bottom. The drum and motor can move suddenly.
Step-by-step:
- Listen for motor: Start a cycle and listen. A humming sound with no drum movement suggests a jammed motor or seized load; silence may indicate no power to motor.
- Check belt (front-load/belt-drive): Remove rear panel and inspect the drive belt between motor and drum pulley. Refit if slipped; replace if cracked or broken.
- Inspect shifter (top-load direct drive): On Whirlpool top-loaders with a shift actuator, access the bottom and check the actuator for damage. Replace if noisy, cracked, or not moving the splutch.
- Spin drum by hand: If the drum is hard to turn or grinds, bearings may be failing, requiring tub/bearing replacement.
- Test motor: With power off, measure motor winding resistance per tech sheet. Replace motor if open/shorted.
When to call a technician: Bearing and motor replacements are advanced repairs; professional service is recommended if basic belt or shifter checks do not resolve the issue.