An automatic washing machine is a type of household appliance that is found in 8 out of 10 apartments of modern families. The machine makes life easier for housewives. Therefore, equipment malfunction is a serious problem.
Automatic cars are equipped with an automatic hatch locking system. One of the most common problems is a malfunction of the locking devices. As a result, the owners of the car begin to feverishly look for a way out - pulling the hatch, trying to open it by force and doing other stupid things. We will tell you what to do and pay attention to each of the popular manufacturing brands.
Washing machine door lock system
The purpose of the devices is to ensure safe washing by blocking the door. The system works automatically. The hatch remains locked after washing for 1-2 minutes - a standard function included in the machine program.
The equipment sometimes malfunctions, as a result of which the door is blocked and cannot be opened even after the wash is completed. Causes of malfunction:
- machine software failure. Problems with electronic components arise from voltage surges, power outages or interruptions in the water supply process;
- the hatch closing block is worn out;
- The drain hose is clogged. Some of the water remains in the drum, and the automation thinks that the wash is not finished. As a result, the lid cannot be opened just like that;
- The child safety system accidentally turned on.
If you have problems with the power supply, you need to wait until the system resets. In different models, the process takes from 20 to 30 minutes, after which the computer automatically unlocks the hatch. This option will not help if there is water left in the drum of the machine.
A protective function that prevents children from getting into the car and harming themselves. If you accidentally turn on the function, opening the hatch will also be problematic. The protection is turned off by simultaneously pressing two keys on the unit’s dashboard. Combinations are unique to each manufacturer and are specified in the instruction manual.
If the wash is finished, but the water has not completely left the tank, try one of the options:
- restart the “Spin” program. The option with the “Rinse” function also helps;
- if repeating one of the two above operations does not help, you need to check the condition of the drain hose. If the element is clogged, clean it, and then start the “Spin” again;
- The third option is to use the emergency release cable. The option is usually located near the filter, usually in the lower right corner. The cable is painted red, less often - orange.
Important! Don't pull the cable. You need to pull the handle smoothly and carefully.
- The last method is suitable only for self-confident people. If you cannot find the release cable, you can try to manually remove the lock from the hatch. To do this, disconnect the machine from the power supply and remove the top cover of the unit. Next, disconnect the locking device and carefully tilt the machine. This will tilt the drum back and give access to the closing block. Now feel the lock tongue and open it.
Attention! The option is difficult and requires considerable physical strength. You won't be able to complete the task on your own, so ask someone to help you.
Using one of these principles, with a 95% probability you will be able to open the hatch of the washing machine. The remaining 5% are various nuances of individual brands of equipment and serious breakdowns that only a qualified technician can solve.
Why might a Bosch washing machine be blocked?
A Bosch washing machine may be blocked for the following reasons:
- This feature was enabled by the user himself. It allows you to protect the device from accidental key presses while executing the selected program. Sometimes opening the hatch can be dangerous, for example, during washing at 90 degrees. The locking of Bosch washing machines is activated by simultaneously pressing the “Spin speed” and “Time to end” buttons. They must be held for 3 seconds. After this, the “key” icon should appear on the display.
- The device detected an error in the operation of one of the nodes, or the program crashed. In this case, the washing machine is blocked, and a code appears, decoding which will allow you to troubleshoot.
- There was a one-time failure in the operation of the control board. Most often this happens during voltage surges in the network.
- The hatch locking device is broken. A signal about its incorrect operation is sent to the control board, which causes it to block the door.
After identifying the cause of the blocking, you can eliminate it using one of the available methods.
How to unlock an LG washing machine
The LG product range is equipped with a child safety locking system. To disable the function, you need to simultaneously press the combination of the “SUPER RINSE” and “PREVENT” keys. Next, you need to press “START/PAUSE” to enter your own, necessary settings.
Manufacturers of LG washing machines are concerned about their customers. The instructions for using the equipment have a separate paragraph with a detailed description of the actions that will allow you to unlock the door.
In what cases is the situation normal?
The washing is finished, which the washing machine notified with a loud sound signal, but for some reason the hatch does not open. Don't get angry ahead of time. This is a completely normal situation.
The fact is that at the end of the operating cycle, the washing machine needs another one or two minutes to correctly certify all previously running processes, after which the hatch will automatically unlock.
Due to overheating of the door lock, the time to unlock the door may increase to three to four minutes. There is nothing wrong with this situation, you just need to wait. If the hatch door does not open five minutes after the end of the wash, it is necessary to diagnose the problem and take the necessary measures to eliminate it.
How to unlock a Bosch washing machine
To open a Bosch brand machine, you need to stop the washing process and activate the “RINSE/SPIN” function. The second way is to activate the “DRAIN” program and press the “Speed Perfect” button two or three times. The option may not work the first time, so you can try repeating it several times.
Bosch units also provide an emergency cable, which is located at the bottom of the machine, near the filter. There is also an emergency drain hose there. The first element will help open the door if there is no water, the second - if there is still liquid in the drum.
The handle mechanism does not work
If the reason for the locked machine is a faulty lock or it still breaks when trying to open the door, then the algorithm of actions will change. You can deal with the blockage, you just need to find a lace or rope. The instructions are:
- we find a rope up to 5 mm thick and a length equal to the diameter of the hatch plus 25 cm;
- we stretch the cord between the body and the door (if you can’t push it manually, you should use a slotted screwdriver or a spatula);
- Pull both ends at once until the lock opens.
The method with a spoon also helps a lot. You need to take the cutlery and try to fit the flat part into the gap between the handle and the body. If you try, the piece of iron will move the locking hook and the hatch will open.
If you find a locked door, don't panic. It is much more effective to rule out trivial reasons and try to open the machine on your own. If the described methods do not help, contact the service center.
Source
How to unlock a Samsung washing machine
If the unit has not opened for more than 5 minutes, you need to perform an emergency reboot of the equipment and turn off the machine for half an hour. The computer will reset the last program and open the hatch. The “Spin” mode will help if there is water left in the drum.
If the automatic water pumping system breaks down, you need to drain the water yourself. To manually remove the liquid, there is an emergency drain hose near the filter in the lower right corner of the machine. The door will automatically unlock after all the liquid has been drained.
Another emergency function for opening the hatch is located there - this is an emergency cable. The element must be carefully pulled and the door will open.
The manufacturer recommends contacting repair specialists, even if you managed to fix the problem yourself. The reason is that the malfunction may occur again, which in the future will lead to a serious malfunction and failure of the entire mechanism.
Helpful information
Tips for using the lock function on Bosch washing machines:
- If there are small children or large animals in the house, you need to use the key lock function every time you wash.
- Depending on the model, the set of buttons for locking the hatch may differ. Please refer to the User's Guide for exact information.
- If you are unable to independently determine the reason for the hatch blocking, you should not try to open it using any mechanical object or by applying force. This will cause damage to the UBL or handle. As a result, expensive repairs will be required.
- If there is water in the tank, it means that the device has not completed the cycle. You should not try to open it at this moment.
How to unlock an Indesit washing machine
To open a locked Indesit machine door, first check for water:
- if the unit has drained water. First try rebooting the machine. To do this, you need to disconnect from the power supply and wait about half an hour. During this time, the computer will reboot and the hatch will unlock. There is no way to wait and you need to quickly open the door - start the wash again. The machine will check whether the door is locked - first remove the lock, and then turn it on again. It is enough when the door is open to interrupt the wash and open the hatch. A characteristic click will indicate that the lock has been removed. The third option is to carefully pull the emergency opening cable, which is located at the bottom of the unit;
- If water remains in the drum and the “DRAIN” function does not help , you need to manually remove water from the machine through the emergency drain hose. Next, the machine will unlock automatically or you will need to use one of the three options described in the previous paragraph.
Unlocking after an error code
Sometimes the blockage is caused by a malfunction of the washing machine. In this case, a code will appear on the screen indicating an error.
First you need to check whether the hatch is tightly closed. Sometimes the lock icon and digital code are a signal that the door is not properly sealed. It is enough to close it for the device to continue working.
Another way to unlock the sunroof after an error code appears:
- turn on the device;
- press the “Start” button and at the same time turn the programmer 2 steps to the left;
- release the "Start" key;
- the machine should unlock.
You can try to reset the error code in the following way:
- Turn the programmer to the “Spin” position.
- While holding the speed button, turn the controller to the “Drain” position.
- Release the "Revolution" button.
- Turn on the quick wash program and after 2 seconds turn off all programs by turning the controller to the “Off” position.
It also happens that the error code and blocking cannot be eliminated using such simple methods. If there is a complex breakdown, you will not be able to handle it on your own; you will need the help of a professional.
How to unlock an Ariston washing machine
According to information from Ariston, most often the door is blocked due to voltage surges and power outages. Solution - you need to use one of two possible options:
- emergency release cable;
- manual drainage of water.
Both functions are located near the filter in the lower right corner of the unit.
The instructions for the technique indicate other possible solutions:
- If you select the “Baby” wash cycle or turn on light ironing, the machine will slowly rotate the drum at the end of the wash. To stop the machine and unlock the hatch, press the “START/PAUSE” button. You can also restart light ironing;
- Using the “Silk” function sometimes results in the water not draining out at the end and remaining in the machine. To drain the water, press “START/PAUSE” or light ironing mode.
Mechanical damage
Mechanical damage to the hatch door can be caused by careless handling or natural wear and tear. This happens when heavy wet things are hung on the hatch door, leaned on, or slammed hard.
— breakage of the hatch door handle
In some cases, the machine may not lock due to damage to the washing machine hatch door handle. This may occur due to improper use. To eliminate the problem, the handle must be replaced.
The hatch handle is replaced with the washing machine door removed.
To do this, dismantle the front clamp - a crimp ring that tightens the rubber cuff of the hatch. After this, the cuff must be bent and, using a wrench, the nuts securing the bolts intended for fixing the hinge must be secured. This will allow you to unscrew the bolts that connect the hinge to the body of the washing machine and remove the hatch along with the hinge. If necessary, at this stage you can completely replace the hatch door of the washing machine by repeating the above steps in reverse order, but using a new, working hatch.
The removed door should be installed with the glass facing up on a flat surface so that there is access to the fastening screws connecting the halves of the plastic case. Along the perimeter of the door, all the screws are unscrewed and the halves are disconnected. Next, you need to remove the glass and lay the inner part of the rim on a flat surface - this way you can gain access to the fastening of the machine handle. The handle is connected to the body using a pin inserted into the holes in the handle and body of the washing machine.
To dismantle the handle, move the pin to the side and disconnect the handle, mounting spring and tongue in turn. The handle is usually supplied with consumable parts - a tongue, a pin and a spring. When installing a new handle, start with the spring, then install the tongue. When installing parts, care must be taken to ensure that the holes of the parts and the housing are aligned. After this, the pin is inserted and the handle is installed.
- skewed locking tongue or hinges on the door
If the door cannot be closed completely, and something prevents it from closing completely, most likely the main functional elements of the door - the hinges or the locking tab - have shifted or failed.
To eliminate the malfunction, check the level of the door and the tightness of the fixing elements of the hatch. If there is a visible distortion, the door must be adjusted or damaged hinges replaced.
Replacing the washing machine hatch door hinge is easy to do with your own hands. First of all, you should disconnect the door and hinge from the machine body.
To replace, the hinge must be separated from the door. Washing machines of different brands have different types of hinge fastenings. Some manufacturers (Ariston, Indesit) fix the hinges in such a way that they can be dismantled without removing the door. To do this, just unscrew 4 screws. In most washing machines, the doors are designed in such a way that to remove the hinge, you must disassemble the door.
To disassemble the door, unscrew the screws that connect the plastic halves with glass installed between them. With some effort, you should separate the halves from each other. You don’t need to press too hard - this could break the entire door; you need to press in different places in a circle. After the plastic halves of the doors are disconnected, you can replace the old hinge with a new one by installing it in the same location. After installing the hinge, the plastic halves of the door must be pressed firmly against each other until a click appears. To install the door, perform the above steps in reverse order.
If the door is locked correctly, then the fault lies in the locking tab. This happens if the tongue does not fit into the lock. The reason for this phenomenon may be the displacement of the metal rod designed to fix the tongue in a certain position.
To eliminate the malfunction, it is necessary to disassemble the hatch door and place the rod in its original place. If the rod is damaged, the rod must be replaced.
- deformation of the plastic guide
If the door closes normally, but without a click and the hatch cannot be locked in the closed position, it means that the plastic guide, which is used in some models of washing machines to lock the hatch door, has become deformed. It is made of a thin layer of plastic and can be erased as the washing machine is used. To eliminate the malfunction, it is necessary to replace the part by first disassembling the hatch door.
