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.
Limitations for self-repair
Compliance with basic safety rules will save you and your equipment from unforeseen emergency situations.
What should you absolutely not do?
It is prohibited to carry out any work on the washing machine if it is energized. Otherwise, you may get an electric shock. In addition, the rotating drum can cause injury to your hands when the hatch is open.
Do not try to forcefully open the door, especially if there is water left in the tank. Possible electric shock and irreversible damage to equipment.
It is not recommended to “decipher” the error code without additional study of the instructions, even if you are well versed in electronics, as you can completely ruin it. Be sure to read the instructions.
If an error code or the word “door” flashes on the machine’s display, then you should immediately refer to the instructions to decipher it
It is forbidden to break any wires if you are not sure of their purpose, and to correct module failures on your own (especially soldering anything, without experience with such equipment).
When should you call a professional?
If it is not possible to open the hatch using known methods without damaging the car, it’s time to call the specialists.
For example, the door handle broke. A user who does not have technical knowledge will find it difficult to select the appropriate part on his own.
A new handle for the washing machine hatch should be selected carefully, paying attention to the manufacturer and model of the machine on which you will mount the new part.
A specialist will be required if there is still water in the drum after the wash is completed. This may happen because the pump has failed.
In the worst case, the reason may lie in a failure of the board or water sensor. Faults of this kind can only be repaired by an experienced technician.
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.
Mechanical breakdowns
When these actions are unsuccessful, it is not normal failures that should be diagnosed, but mechanical damage. The locking mechanism or handle is probably worn out and needs to be completely replaced.
It happens that children hang on an open hatch and begin to swing. Such entertainment causes the loading door hinges to bend. The element stops closing or opening normally, and the mechanical latch often jams.
In this case, it is recommended to change the hinges or the lock itself. To change the locking mechanism, you have to remove the top panel of the washing machine, find the locking element, and open the latch. The lock mechanism will immediately unlock. After the hatch allows penetration into the drum, the blocker is changed.
With loops the situation is somewhat more complicated. If you do not have the necessary skills, then it is recommended to invite a specialist to perform such work, who will promptly correct the breakdown.
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 open a locked door?
Sometimes this needs to be done while the process has begun. For example, they didn’t put something in the washing machine that needed immediate washing, or they didn’t take out a bunch of keys from their pockets, which began to rattle in the drum.
Just pause the washer and wait a few minutes. If the door does not open, remove the plug from the electrical outlet. Many devices at such moments begin to drain the water on their own, then open the hatch to load.
If this measure does not help, turn on the washer again and start the “drain” function; it should start immediately. If the reason for the failure of the blocking device lies in the clogging of the filter element, water remains in the drum. Because of this, a special sensor prevents the hatch latch from opening.
This problematic issue can be resolved by simply cleaning the filter. As a rule, it is located at the bottom of the machine and is closed with a plug. If everything is in order, then screw the plug into place and try to set the “rinse and spin” modes. If such actions do not help, disconnect the washing machine from the power supply and wait at least a quarter of an hour. If this does not help, you will have to remove the top cover and try to open the lock from the inside.
It happens that the washing machine does not want to open the hatch when the button that blocks the door from small children is accidentally pressed. In such a situation, all you have to do is hold down the “start” button for about five seconds to unlock the washing machine.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Why won't the machine open?
The loading door is sometimes blocked due to malfunctions that are associated with equipment breakdown:
- failure of the electronic intelligent control module;
- disruption of the program;
- water sensor malfunction;
- lock or door jamming;
- module or pump malfunction;
- broken door handle;
- blocking of the hatch due to the presence of water.
Reasons that are not related to the breakdown of the automatic washing machine:
- lack of power supply;
- standard locking during operation;
- accidental activation of the child lock function;
- filter clogged;
- incomplete closure of the drum;
- software feature of unlocking a few minutes after stopping.
Some problems can be solved on your own:
- If the device stops performing tasks due to voltage fluctuations, completely disconnecting from the network will help. Once reconnected, the machine will operate normally.
- The cause of the blockage may be a pump malfunction. The electronic part works correctly and locks the door due to the presence of water in the tank. To unlock it, you need to drain it through the hatch at the bottom of the unit.
Replacing the locking device
Those owners who have the skills to repair home appliances can independently replace a failed UBL.
To do this you need to do the following:
- Remove the retaining rim and release the right segment of the door cuff.
- Unscrew the two screws that secure the UBL and carefully remove it.
- Install a new UBL and, performing the steps in reverse order, fix it.
It is very important to remember the order of disconnecting the wires from the UBL, so that later when connecting a new device you do not disturb it. After the new UBL is installed and connected, the operation of the machine should be tested
